Name: Yusuff Ali M.A.
Designation: Chairman and Managing Director
Company: LuLu Group
Yusuff Ali M.A. is the Chairman and Managing Director of LuLu Group, one of the largest and most successful retail conglomerates headquartered in the UAE. He moved to the UAE in 1973, beginning his career in his uncle’s distribution business and gaining in-depth experience across the FMCG and retail sectors.
At the age of 34, he opened the first LuLu Hypermarket in Abu Dhabi, establishing the foundation for a global retail empire. Under his visionary leadership, LuLu Group has grown to over 272 hypermarkets, operating across the Middle East, Far East, North Africa, and India. The company employs more than 65,000 people from diverse nationalities and reports an annual turnover exceeding $8.4 billion, reflecting its significant impact on regional and international retail markets.
Beyond its core retail operations, the Group has diversified into hospitality, food processing, and real estate sectors. Yusuff Ali M.A. is widely recognised for his philanthropic initiatives, supporting education, healthcare, and social welfare projects through charitable foundations. He champions sustainable business practices and invests in community upliftment, often collaborating with organisations to enhance societal welfare.
Strategic acquisitions and investments in sectors such as banking and infrastructure also mark his approach to business expansion. His leadership emphasises operational excellence whilst maintaining competitive pricing strategies that benefit consumers across all markets. Driven by a vision to deliver quality and affordable products whilst fostering economic growth in the regions it serves, his ongoing efforts include launching digital and omni-channel retail innovation. His leadership continues to exemplify resilience, innovation, and a commitment to empowering communities worldwide.
