Name: K. Jacob John
Designation: Chief Executive Officer, Construction & Manufacturing
Company: AI Ghurair Construction
Category: Contracting Giants
Jacob John serves as the Chief Executive Officer of a diverse cluster of companies under the Al Ghurair Group, spanning industries such as construction, manufacturing, engineering, power, switchgear, metal industries, façades, and aluminium contracting. In this strategic leadership role, he is responsible for the comprehensive oversight and operational execution of these businesses in alignment with Al Ghurair’s long-term vision for innovation, sustainability, and excellence.
With over 38 years of extensive industry experience, John joined Al Ghurair in early 2017 with a clear mandate: to develop and transform several businesses from their foundational stages. His mission is deeply rooted in the Group’s core ethos, building reliable and innovative engineering solutions for the infrastructure sector, while upholding the highest standards of quality, health, safety, and environmental responsibility. Jacob remains steadfast in preserving the legacy and values of the Al Ghurair founding family while positioning its companies for future growth.
Prior to joining Al Ghurair, he spent more than 26 years at ETA, one of the region’s largest construction conglomerates, where he played a pivotal role in the Mechanical and Engineering (M&E) Division. Rising through the ranks, he served as General Manager and later as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing M&E operations across the MENA region. His extensive leadership background also includes serving as a Board Member of HI-STAR Water Solutions, a joint venture between Al Ghurair and Hitachi, focused on water and wastewater management services.
John’s professional journey began in India, where he spent over five years executing large-scale turnkey industrial and high-voltage power station projects in sectors such as cement, textiles, and steel. His academic credentials include a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, a General Management Programme from the National University of Singapore, and an Accredited Tier Specialist certification from the Uptime Institute, USA.
With a legacy of operational excellence and a forward-thinking approach to integrated engineering solutions, Jacob John continues to lead Al Ghurair’s industrial and infrastructure verticals toward innovation, resilience, and sustained success in the region and beyond.
