MA Yousafali is the most influential Indian in Middle East: Survey

Lulu Group Chairman and Abu Dhabi Chamber Vice Chairman MA Yousafali topped the list of most influential Indians in the Middle East published by Arabian Business, a leading trade magazine in Dubai.

Choith Ram Group Chairman LT Pagarani is second behind Yousafali. Dubai Islamic Bank Chief Executive Officer Adnan Chilwan is third in the list. Adeeb Ahmed, Managing Director of Lulu Financial Holdings, and Sunil Kaushal, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, made it to the fourth and fifth positions in the list.

Ghazan Abud Group CEO Suresh Vaidyanathan, Burjil Holdings Chairman Dr. Shamseer Vyalil and Emami Group director Prashant Goenka also figure in the top 10 in the rank list.

Yousafali, who has a decisive influence on the commercial and industrial sector in the Gulf, is also working as the Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber. This is the first time a person of Asian origin has been appointed to a top position in a government institution by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

Yousafali has also received the Abu Dhabi Award, the highest civilian honor for his contributions to the commercial and philanthropic sectors of the UAE. He has close ties with the rulers of the Gulf countries, including the UAE.

With 247 hypermarkets in the Gulf countries, Egypt, Indonesia and Malaysia, the Lulu Group employs more than 65,000 people from 43 countries. The group also has logistics centers in 23 countries including USA, Britain, Spain, Italy, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Thailand.