M.A. Yusuff Ali: From Humble Beginnings To Creating A Global Retail Empire, The Humanity Ambassador

Yusuff Ali, now a billionaire, is a humble man with roots from a small village in Kerala. With his sheer determination and farsighted ambition, Yusuff transformed from being ordinary to a business titan in the global retail landscape. 

Equipped with a strong work ethic and a dream to make an impact, Yusuff’s entrepreneurial journey began in the 1970s when he moved to Abu Dhabi. Today he is the Chairman and Managing Director of LuLu Group International, commanding the retail empire. Under his shade, Lulu Group has expanded its pedigrees across Europe, the Middle East, and India. 

A strong business acumen coupled with a passion for quality and customer satisfaction is what propelled Yusuff to take the Lulu Group to unprecedented heights. With his strident farsightedness, Yusuff has established Lulu Group as one of the most recognizable names in retail, with Lulu Hypermarket becoming a staple in households worldwide. Over the last three decades, Yusuff has diversified his authority into sectors like food processing, hospitality, and real estate. 

Beyond business, Yusuff is known for his philanthropic contributions through the Yusuff Ali Foundation. He actively supports social causes in education, disaster relief, and healthcare across the UAE, India, and other parts of the globe. 

In this StartupTalky story, let us unpeel M.A. Yusuff Ali’s life, challenges, achievements, and how he turned Lulu Group into a powerhouse that transformed retail in the Gulf and beyond.

M.A. Yusuff Ali: Biography

M.A. Yusuff Ali - Early Life and Education
M.A. Yusuff Ali - Lulu Group International
M.A. Yusuff Ali - Personal Life
M.A. Yusuff Ali - Philanthropy
M.A. Yusuff Ali - Controversies
M.A. Yusuff Ali - Awards And Recognition

M.A. Yusuff Ali - Early Life and Education

Yusuff was born on November 15, 1955, in a small village named Nattika in the Thrissur district of Kerala, India. Being raised in an ordinary village family, he spent his early years in a rural setting, which imparted him with values of hard work and empathy. From a very young age, Yusuff learned the basics of trade through his father, who ran a small business. 

Yusuff completed his schooling at St. Xaviers High School in Thrissur, Kerala, and holds a diploma degree in Business Management and Administration. To seek business opportunities beyond India, Yusuff moved to Abu Dhabi in 1973 and joined his paternal uncle's small trading business. 

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M.A. Yusuff Ali - Lulu Group International

Yusuff began his career in 1973 when he moved to Abu Dhabi and started working with his paternal uncle in his small trading business. With his newly acquired business knowledge, he started handling import and distribution, majorly focusing on goods for the local market. 

In 1995, Yusuff founded LuLu Group International, initially intending to trade and supply goods across the Gulf region. Under Yusuff’s robust leadership and visionary ideas, the small company expanded to include cold storage and food processing, growing into an international group with operations across three continents.

In the same year, Yusuff expanded into the large-format retail market and opened the first store of ‘Lulu Hypermarket’ in Abu Dhabi. With a supermarket chain, he aimed to offer a wide range of affordable daily-use products catering to the specific needs of Gulf residents. Yusuff’s strategic move ignited a new era in the Middle-Eastern retail sector, positioning ‘Lulu’ as a go-to hypermarket, changing shopping habits in the Gulf.

By 2000, he expanded the ‘Lulu Group’ across the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, opening supermarkets in Dubai, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. In 2006, Yusuff stretched his arms back to India by opening ‘Lulu Convention Centre’ a convention center cum hotel in Kerala’s Thrissur.

By 2013, he opened his first retail venture, ‘Lulu International Shopping Mall’ in Kochi, Kerala, the largest shopping mall in India. In April 2013, ‘Lulu Group’ started its operations in Birmingham by inaugurating its logistics and packaging facility under the name ‘Y International’, catering to chilled and frozen products of British origin for sale in Lulu Hypermarkets. In the same year, Yusuff acquired a 4.99% stake in the Catholic Syrian Bank (CSB) and Dhanlaxmi Bank and increased his stakes to 4.47% in the Aluva-based Federal Bank. In 2014, Yusuff further acquired a 2% stake in the South Indian Bank. In May 2014, Yusuff opened the first ‘Lulu Hypermarket’ in Malaysia. 

In 2016, Yusuff acquired the Great Scotland Yard Hotel in London, laying the groundwork for Lulu’s expansion beyond retail. This diversified Lulu’s portfolio into the hospitality and real estate sectors, showcasing Yusuff’s ambition to make ‘Lulu Group' a globally recognized brand.

From 2019 to 2024, Yusuff fulfilled his Indian expansion vision by opening malls, hotels, and convention centers in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kozhikode, Kottayam, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Prayagraj, Rajasthan, Varanasi, Tirur, Thrissur, and Thiruvananthapuram. As of 2024, there are more than 200 Lulu Hypermarkets in GCC, 7 in India, 4 in Malaysia, and 4 in Indonesia. 

'Lulu Group' has been listed for an IPO on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange as 'Lulu Retail Holdings'. The IPO will be launching over 2.58 billion shares of about $ 1.43 billion, starting at Dh 1.94 to Dh 2.04 per share.

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M.A. Yusuff Ali - Personal Life

Yusuff is married to Shabira Ali and lives in Abu Dhabi. The couple has three daughters; the eldest, Shabeena, is married to billionaire businessman Shamsheer Vayalil. The second daughter  Shafeena is married to Adeeb Ahamed, who also manages Yusuff with Lulu International Exchange and Twenty14 Holdings, the group's hospitality investments division. The youngest daughter, Shifa, is married to Sharoon Shamsudheen, who runs a successful IT business. 

M.A. Yusuff Ali - Philanthropy

Yusuff Ali is widely recognized not only as a successful businessman but also for his substantial contributions to philanthropy. Through the ‘Yusuff Ali Foundation’, he has undertaken multiple initiatives in education, healthcare, disaster relief, and community welfare in the UAE as well as India.

1. Community Welfare

As a part of Lulu’s Global CSR policy, the company has joined hands with Dubai Cares and adopted multiple schools in Gaza and Nepal. Yusuff is actively involved in ensuring the economic, religious, and social welfare of Indians in the Persian Gulf region and has played a major role in finding land for the Christian Community to build churches and secure cremation grounds. Yusuff has also contributed to opening a multi-faith funeral center of 8.3 acres in Sharjah for the Indian community.

2. Disaster Relief Efforts

Yusuff has donated a substantial amount to the Gujarat Earthquake, Tsunami Relief Fund in Asia, and Typhoon Flood Relief across the globe. In the devastating 2019 Kerala floods, Yusuff donated INR 50 million towards relief efforts for emergency supplies and financial aid for rebuilding homes. In 2021, Yusuff Ali donated INR 9 million to build houses for flood-affected families in Kerala, giving many families a stable place to live. Through his foundation, he has helped rehabilitate people who lost their livelihood in the Kozhokode market fire in India.

3. Educational Support and Scholarships

Yusuff has contributed to building schools and educational institutions in rural areas to ensure access to quality education for underprivileged children. His support extends to providing scholarships for higher education and sponsoring students for professional courses. To promote the importance of skill-building, he has funded various training programs for young people, helping them develop technical and vocational skills to enhance their employment prospects.

4. Healthcare Initiatives

Yusuff has funded numerous healthcare projects that include the construction of hospitals and health clinics in underserved areas. Under his foundation, Yusuff has organized multiple medical camps, free health screenings, and critical treatments for underprivileged patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Yusuff donated substantial funds for healthcare infrastructure in India and the UAE to support frontline workers with PPE kits, ventilators, and oxygen tanks. 

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M.A. Yusuff Ali - Controversies

Yusuff Ali, the Chairman and MD of LuLu Group International has largely maintained a reputation for integrity and community service. However, a few instances have attracted media attention, though none have escalated into major controversies.

• LIFE Mission Case where ED accused Yusuff of bribery.
• The Kerala CPM Feud.

M.A. Yusuff Ali - Awards And Recognition

• St. Ephraim Medal and title of “Commander" by the Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, 2004. 
• Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, 2005.
• Padma Shri from the Government of India, 2008. 
• Business Man of the Year 2009-10 award by the Kerala State Forum of Bankers' Clubs, 2010. 
• Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Indian CEO Awards, 2012.
• Swiss Ambassador's Award 2012 for outstanding efforts in promoting Swiss-UAE relations. 
• Most Influential Asian Business Leader in the MENA region award by Forbes Middle East, 2012. 
• Arab Business Leader of the Year 2012 by the third edition of the Global Arab Business Meeting held in Ras Al Khaimah. 
• Honorary D.Litt. by Aligarh Muslim University, 2014. 
• Honoured with the Archbishop Mar Gregorios Award by the alumni association of Mar Ivanios College, Amicos, for his contribution to the industrial sector in 2016. 
• Honorary doctorate from Middlesex University, 2018. 
• Honorary doctorate from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, 2018.
• Honoured with Abu Dhabi's highest civilian award, the Abu Dhabi Award 2021 by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
• Was granted a long-term residential visa by Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousaf, Oman's Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion (MOCIIP) in 2021.
• In 2022, Yusuff became the first Bahrain golden residency visa recipient. 

FAQ

Who is the real owner of LuLu Mall?

Yusuff Ali is the Chairman and Managing Director of LuLu Group International, which owns the LuLu Hypermarkets and Supermarkets retail chain.

Who is the richest businessman in Kerala?

Kerala’s wealthiest businessman is M.A. Yusuff Ali, chairman of Lulu Group, with an estimated wealth of ₹55,000 crore.

Which is the largest Lulu Mall in the world?

The largest Lulu Mall in the world is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, covering 2.5 million square feet.