Have you ever wondered how much wealth one of the richest businessmen in the Middle East, MA Yusuff Ali, has accumulated? How did he build an empire that spans multiple countries and industries? Are you willing to know about the MA Yusuff ali net worth;
MA Yusuff Ali is the chairman and managing director of Lulu Group International, and his name has become synonymous with retail success in the Middle East and beyond. An Indian billionaire businessman from a humble background, his journey from a small village in Kerala to becoming one of the most influential retail magnates in the world is nothing short of inspirational. His company, Lulu Group International, has the largest retail chain in the Gulf and expanded to several countries, thereby transforming the global retailing industry.
Let’s breakdown the MA Yusuff Ali Net worth;
Early Life and Education of MA Yusuff Ali
MA Yusuff Ali was born on November 15, 1955, in Nattika, a coastal village in Kerala, India. Born into a middle-class family, he showed an early interest in business and trade. He pursued his education in Kerala before moving to Abu Dhabi in 1973, where he joined his uncle business, which focused on food trading. This initial exposure to the Gulf’s thriving market laid the foundation for his future endeavors.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | M.A. Yusuff Ali |
| Date of Birth | November 15, 1955 |
| Age | 69 Age – 15 Nov 1955 years (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Nattika, Thrissur, Kerala, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Residence | Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| Occupation | Businessman, Philanthropist |
| Founder & Chairman | Lulu Group International |
| Industry | Retail, Hospitality, Food Processing, Logistics |
| Education | Schooling in Kerala, later moved to UAE |
| Spouse | Shabira Yusuff Ali |
| Children | 3 |
| Companies Owned | Lulu Group, EMKE Group, Lulu Hypermarkets |
| Major Markets | Middle East, India, UK, Indonesia, Malaysia |
| MA Yusuff Ali Net worth | MA Yusuff Ali net worth is $6.4 billion (640 crores USD (2025)) |
The Rise of Lulu Group International
- Setting Up the Retail Empire
M.A. Yusuff Ali recognized a gap in the retail market in the Middle East and started the first Lulu Hypermarket in the early 1990s. With a vision to provide high-quality products at competitive prices, he introduced a hypermarket model that catered to expatriates and locals alike. Today, Lulu Group International operates over 250 hypermarkets and shopping malls across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, making it one of the world’s leading retail chains.
- Expansion Beyond the Gulf
Though Lulu began its operations within the Gulf region, Yusuff Ali expanded the business beyond the Middle East into India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, and even the UK. His large-scale malls and hypermarkets have created jobs and stimulated economic development in these regions.
Diversification and Investments
- Real Estate and Hospitality
Lulu Group International is not just a retail company; under the leadership of Yusuff Ali, the company has also made significant investments in real estate, hospitality, and food processing industries. His foray into luxury hotels and resorts has further cemented his status as a global businessman.
- Investments in India
Deeply rooted in his Indian heritage, Yusuff Ali has invested significantly in Kerala’s infrastructure, hospitality, and retail sectors. His flagship Lulu Mall in Kochi is one of the largest shopping malls in India and has revolutionized the retail landscape in the country.
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Philanthropy and Social Initiatives
- Charity and Disaster Relief Efforts
Giving is one of the aspects for which M.A. Yusuff Ali is popularly known. The man who had given millions of dollars in charity funds to areas like healthcare, education, and disaster relief is also credited with rebuilding Kerala, following the devastating floods that hit the state in 2018.
Expansion and Global Presence
- Domination of the Middle East Market
Lulu Group is currently dominating the Middle East market with hypermarkets and shopping malls that are more than 250 in number across the countries of UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait. Lulu is famous for world-class shopping experiences, loyalty programs for its customers, and diversified product lines.
- Entering the Indian Market
Lulu Group’s foray into India has been a game-changer. It has established flagship hypermarkets in Kochi, Bangalore, Lucknow, and Hyderabad. Besides, the group has food processing and export units in Kerala that support the local farmers and small-scale enterprises.
Entering Europe and the UK
Lulu Group recently ventured into the European retail market, with a hypermarket in the UK, which serves both local customers and Indian and Asian diaspora.
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Diversification: Other than Retail
1. Hospitality Sector
Lulu Group has made heavy investments in the hospitality industry. It has owned and managed luxury hotels, resorts, and convention centers across the Middle East and India. Some of its notable ventures are:
- Grand Hyatt Kochi – One of the largest luxury hotels in India.
- JW Marriott in Dubai – A flagship luxury hotel.
2. Food Processing & Agriculture
Yusuff Ali has established state-of-the-art food processing and export centers, which guarantee that Lulu hypermarkets will have the finest fresh produce, dairy products, and meat coming directly from the farms.
3. Logistics & E-Commerce
With digital shopping on the rise, Lulu Group has built a strong logistics network for its online grocery delivery services.
Philanthropy and Social Contributions
Yusuff Ali is deeply involved in charity and community welfare. His philanthropic efforts include:
✔ COVID-19 Relief Efforts – Contributed millions to India and the UAE for medical supplies and healthcare.
✔ Disaster Relief – Contributed to Kerala flood relief and UAE humanitarian projects.
✔ Education & Healthcare – Built schools, hospitals, and offered scholarships to poor students.
Challenges and Overcoming Adversity
1. Market Competition
The company had to do something different to compete with global giants like Carrefour and Walmart. Lulu Group was able to stay ahead by focusing on customer satisfaction and a wide variety of products.
2. Economic Crises & COVID-19
Lulu Group quickly adapted to the pandemic by investing in e-commerce platforms, contactless payments, and efficient supply chains, which continued to drive business growth.
Support to Indian Expats
Being an expatriate himself, Yusuff Ali has consistently worked towards the welfare of Indian workers in the Gulf. He has provided financial assistance to thousands of struggling workers, funded repatriation flights, and even secured the release of Indians imprisoned abroad due to financial difficulties.
Awards and Recognition of M.A. Yusuff Alis
M.A. Yusuff Ali contributions to business and society have been widely recognized. Some of the prestigious awards he has received include:
- Padma Shri Award (2008) – One of India’s highest civilian honors for his contributions to trade and industry.
- Forbes Billionaires List – Regularly featured as one of the richest businessmen from India.
- Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award – Recognizing his contributions to the Indian diaspora.
- Queen’s Medal from the UK – For his investments and contributions to the British economy.
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Challenges and Achievements
- Overcoming Business Challenges
Like any other successful entrepreneur, Yusuff Ali has had his share of adversities. Right from the Gulf War in the 1990s to the economic downturn of the 2000s, the ability of Yusuff Ali to adapt and innovate has made sure that the growth of Lulu Group International is sustained.
- Adapting to E-commerce and Digital Retail
With the increase in online shopping, Lulu Group has also entered into e-commerce and digital retail, thereby staying ahead in the modern retail world. His adaptability towards technological advancements has placed Lulu at the top of the global retail sector.
Ma Yusuff Ali Net worth
As of 2024, MA Yusuff Ali net worth is estimated to be $6.4 billion, (According to Forbes) making him one of the wealthiest Indian businessmen in the world. MA Yusuff Ali net worth wealth comes from Lulu Group International’s extensive retail empire, real estate investments, and hospitality ventures.
Conclusion
MA Yusuff Ali is the journey of a small-town boy from Kerala to a global retail mogul through hard work, vision, and perseverance. MA Yusuff has made an immense contribution to retail, philanthropy, and economic development that has touched millions of lives. MA Yusuff legacy as one of the greatest entrepreneurs of the modern era is firmly established with Lulu Group International.
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FAQ’s – MA Yusuff Ali Net worth
MA Yusuff Ali is an Indian billionaire businessman as well as a chairman of one of the large retail chains named Lulu Group International in the Middle East.
A multinational retail chain company, including supermarkets and malls, situated across the territories of the Middle East, Asia, and European nations.
MA Yusuff shifted to Abu Dhabi in the year 1973 and, joined his uncle’s trading concern, then initiated the first ever Lulu Hypermarket that was later transformed to a multinational giant retail corporation.
MA Yusuff Ali had invested substantially across India and was majorly part of the business in the retails as well as infra sectors of Kerala State. He further contributed significantly for social as well as charity motives.
Lulu Group International operates over 250 hypermarkets in multiple countries, including the UAE, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the UK.
As of 2024, MA Yusuff ali estimated net worth is $6.4 billion, making him one of the richest Indian businessmen in the world.
Yes, he was recognized with the Padma Shri, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, and the Queen Medal from the UK among many more accolades he has received.
MA Yusuff ali has contributed millions to healthcare, education, disaster relief, and welfare of Indian expatriates in the Gulf.
The largest Lulu Mall is the one located in Kochi, Kerala which is one of the biggest shopping malls in India.
Lulu Group International will expand its hypermarkets in Europe, India, and the Gulf region, as well as in digital retailing.
