M.A. Yusuff Ali Biography: Height, Parents, Age, Wife, Children, Net Worth, Siblings, Awards

Yusuff Ali Musaliam Veettil Abdul Kader, also known as M.A. Yusuff Ali, a visionary businessman and philanthropist, is an Indian billionaire renowned for founding and leading LuLu Group International, a global retail conglomerate that operates the LuLu Hypermarket chain and the LuLu International Shopping Mall.

His journey from humble beginnings in Kerala to becoming a retail magnate in the Middle East has made him a prominent figure, recognized for his business acumen and extensive charitable contributions.

Profile

• Full Name: Yusuff Ali Musaliam Veettil Abdul Kader
• Stage Name: M.A. Yusuff Ali
• Born: November 15, 1955
• Age: 70 years old
• Birthplace: Nattika, Thrissur, Kerala, India
• Nationality: Indian
• Occupation: Businessman, Philanthropist
• Height: 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m)
• Religion: Islam
• Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Musaliam Veettil
• Siblings: Not publicly disclosed
• Spouse: Shabira Yusuff Ali
• Children: Sabeena Veettil, Shafeena Veettil, Shifa Veettil
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $6.9 billion to 7.4 billion USD

Early Life

M.A. Yusuff Ali was born on November 15, 1955, in Nattika, a coastal village in Thrissur district, Kerala, India, into a middle-class Muslim family. Details about his parents and siblings are not publicly available, reflecting his preference for privacy in family matters. His childhood in Kerala instilled a strong work ethic and ambition, driving him to pursue opportunities beyond his hometown.

Education

M.A. Yusuff Ali completed his early schooling at St. Xavier’s High School in Karanchira, Thrissur, Kerala. He later earned a diploma in Business Management and Administration, which provided a solid foundation in business principles.

Career

M.A. Yusuff Ali began his career in 1973, moving to Abu Dhabi to join his paternal uncle, M.K. Abdullah, in a small trading business focused on food distribution. Recognizing opportunities in the evolving retail sector, he spearheaded the launch of the first LuLu Hypermarket in the 1990s, capitalizing on the UAE’s shift toward large-scale retail.

Under his leadership, LuLu Group International expanded into a global conglomerate with over 250 hypermarkets and malls across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe, achieving an annual turnover of $8.4 billion. The group employs over 65,000 people, including more than 30,000 Indians, making it one of the largest employers of the Indian diaspora.

In India, Yusuff Ali started ventures in 2006 with the LuLu Convention Centre in Thrissur and opened the first LuLu Mall in Kochi in 2013, followed by malls in Bengaluru, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Coimbatore, and Hyderabad.

His investments also include the Waldorf Astoria in Scotland and the Great Scotland Yard Hotel in the UK. Yusuff Ali’s strategic vision and adaptability have positioned LuLu Group as one of the world’s fastest-growing retailers, as recognized by Deloitte.

Awards & Nominations

• 2004: “Commander” title and St. Ephraim Medal, Universal Syriac Orthodox Church
• 2005: Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest Indian government award for non-resident Indians
• 2008: Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor
• 2010: Business Man of the Year 2009–10, Kerala State Forum of Bankers’ Clubs
• 2012: Lifetime Achievement Award, Indian CEO Awards
• 2012: Swiss Ambassador’s Award for promoting Swiss-UAE relations
• 2012: Most Influential Asian Business Leader in the MENA Region, Forbes Middle East
• 2012: Arab Business Leader of the Year, Global Arab Business Meeting
• 2014: Honorary D.Litt., Aligarh Muslim University
• 2016: Archbishop Mar Gregorios Award, Amicos, for industrial contributions
• 2021: Abu Dhabi Award, Abu Dhabi’s highest civilian honor
• Honorary Doctorate, Middlesex University

Honorary Doctorate, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @yusuffali.ma

Personal Life

M.A. Yusuff Ali is married to Shabira Yusuff Ali, and they have three daughters: Sabeena, Shafeena, and Shifa. Sabeena is married to billionaire radiologist Shamsheer Vayalil; Shafeena to Adeeb Ahamed (LuLu International Exchange and Twenty14 Holdings); and Shifa to Sharoon Shamsudheen (an IT entrepreneur).

His philanthropy includes significant contributions to healthcare, education, and disaster relief, including ₹9.5 crores for the 2018 Kerala flood victims, ₹5 crores for the 2019 Kerala flood victims, and $6.8 million for COVID-19 relief. He has supported expatriate Indians by securing land for churches and cremation grounds in the Gulf, and by funding a multi-faith funeral center in Sharjah.

In 2021, he paid ₹ one crore as blood money to secure the release of an Indian sentenced to death in Abu Dhabi and settled a ₹4 lakh debt for another Indian in Ras Al Khaimah. Yusuff Ali is deeply committed to social causes, including donations to Gandhibhavan International Trust and to initiatives for the special-needs community in the UAE.

Net Worth

M.A. Yusuff Ali, a visionary businessman and philanthropist, has an estimated net worth of $6.9-7.4 billion USD, ranking him among the top 40 richest Indians per Forbes. His wealth primarily stems from LuLu Group International’s $8.4 billion in annual turnover and its over 250 hypermarkets and malls. Additional assets include stakes in Cochin International Airport, CSB Bank, Dhanlaxmi Bank, South Indian Bank, the Waldorf Astoria in Scotland, and the Great Scotland Yard Hotel in the UK.