Indian Entrepreneurs Success Stories In Dubai You Should Know
November 24, 2025
November 24, 2025
Topic Summary
Topic Summary
1. Micky Jagtiani - Founder of Landmark Group
Starting with a small family-owned business in the 1970s, Micky Jagtiani has grown Landmark Group into one of the Middle East's largest retail conglomerates. His empire includes over 2,300 outlets across Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, with brands such as Lifestyle, Home Centre, and Max.
2. Sunny Varkey - Founder of GEMS Education
Sunny Varkey transformed a single school in Dubai into the world's largest operator of private schools. GEMS Education now manages over 60 schools worldwide, ensuring high-quality education while becoming a key player in the region’s education sector.
3. B. R. Shetty - Founder of NMC Health
B. R. Shetty's journey from a humble pharmacist to the founder of NMC Health, a leading private healthcare company in the UAE, highlights his visionary leadership. NMC Health became one of the largest healthcare providers in the Middle East before its public listing.
4. Rajesh Agrawal - Dubai’s Deputy Chief of Staff & Entrepreneur
Rajesh Agrawal, who arrived in Dubai as a young professional, has become a prominent figure in the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. As Deputy Chief of Staff of Dubai, he actively supports startups and innovation while co-founding several successful tech ventures.
5. Kishore Biyani - Expansion of Future Group in Dubai
Although primarily based in India, Kishore Biyani successfully leveraged Dubai as a strategic hub to expand Future Group’s retail and fashion footprint internationally. His ability to blend Indian retail insights with Dubai’s market dynamics has been instrumental in reaching global audiences.
For decades, Dubai has been a magnet for Indian entrepreneurs - not just for its tax advantages or lifestyle quality, but because the city rewards ambition in a way few markets do. Its business infrastructure, global connectivity and cultural familiarity allow Indians to grow from small traders into multinational leaders.
Some of the Middle East’s most iconic brands today were built by Indians who began with almost nothing - a single shop, a tiny warehouse, a borrowed loan, or simply a willingness to take a risk in a new country. Their stories continue to inspire a new generation of founders setting up companies through Dubai free zones such as Meydan Free Zone, attracted by the UAE’s transparent systems and global market access.
Here are the Indian entrepreneurs in Dubai whose journeys truly define what is possible.
Indian Entrepreneurs Success Stories In Dubai
1. Yusuff Ali M.A. - The Force Behind Lulu Group International
Few Indian success stories in the Gulf are as transformational as Yusuff Ali’s. Born in Kerala, he moved to Abu Dhabi in the 1970s and gradually built what would become the UAE’s most dominant retail empire: Lulu Group International.
Today, Lulu operates 250+ hypermarkets across the GCC, Asia and beyond - with millions of weekly shoppers. The brand became synonymous with reliability, affordability and Indian diaspora comfort.
Yusuff Ali’s influence extends far beyond retail; he is a board member of multiple government and business councils, a leading investor in hospitality and logistics, and regularly features on Forbes’ list of richest Indians abroad. His rise is a testament to how the UAE rewards long-term commitment and operational excellence.
2. Micky Jagtiani - Founder of Landmark Group
Micky Jagtiani, of Indian origin, started modestly - a small baby products store in Bahrain in the 1970s. He relocated the business to Dubai, and from those beginnings grew Landmark Group, one of the Middle East’s largest retail conglomerates.
Landmark Group owns household names including:
- Centrepoint
- Max Fashion
- Home Centre
- Lifestyle
- Babyshop
- Splash
Today the group has 2,300+ stores across 22 countries.
Jagtiani’s legacy lives on through a multi-billion-dollar business that shaped Dubai’s retail sector - and through a philanthropic foundation dedicated to education and healthcare.
3. Rizwan Sajan - The Vision Behind Danube Group
Rizwan Sajan’s story has become one of the most quoted examples of grit in the Gulf. Born in Mumbai, he lost his father early and took up small jobs to support his family. He later moved to Kuwait as a hardware store salesman, but the Gulf War forced him back to India.
Starting again, he shifted to Dubai, and built Danube Group from scratch. Today the group is known for:
- Danube Building Materials (one of the region’s largest suppliers)
- Danube Home (a leading retail brand)
- Danube Properties (one of Dubai’s fastest-growing real estate developers)
Danube’s projects regularly sell out within hours, and Sajan is now recognised as one of the UAE’s most influential Indian businessmen.
4. Sunny Varkey - Founder of GEMS Education
Sunny Varkey, born to Indian teachers who started a small school in Dubai, transformed their modest initiative into GEMS Education, the world’s largest private K–12 education network.
GEMS operates 250+ schools across the UAE, UK, US, Asia and Africa. In Dubai alone, it dominates the private school sector, offering British, Indian, IB and American curricula.
Varkey is also the founder of the Varkey Foundation and the creator of the Global Teacher Prize, a $1 million award that celebrates outstanding teachers worldwide.
His vision reshaped Dubai’s education ecosystem and influenced global education policy.
5. P.N.C. Menon - The Craftsman Who Built Sobha Realty
P.N.C. Menon’s journey began as an interior designer in Kerala, where his craftsmanship caught the attention of Gulf clientele. He moved to Oman, built a successful interiors company, and later expanded into Dubai real estate under Sobha Realty.
Today, Sobha is known for some of Dubai’s most premium master communities and waterfront projects, all designed with Menon’s “backwards integration” philosophy — controlling everything from raw material to delivery.
The brand’s reputation for meticulous quality has positioned it among Dubai’s most trusted luxury developers.
6. Joy Alukkas - The Man Behind Joyalukkas Jewellery
Jewellery retail in the Gulf has long been dominated by Indian families, and none more prominently than Joy Alukkas.
From its Kerala origins, Joyalukkas expanded into Dubai in the late 1980s. The brand is now one of the world’s largest jewellery retail chains, with hundreds of stores across the GCC, India, UK and US.
Joyalukkas is known for:
- 22K and 24K jewellery
- bridal gold collections
- modern diamond ranges
- Dubai Duty Free partnerships
Joy Alukkas himself has been repeatedly recognised by Forbes for his impact on global jewellery retail.
7. Shamlal Ahamed - Driving Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ Global Expansion
Another Kerala-origin success story, Malabar Gold & Diamonds has become one of the strongest Indian jewellery brands in the UAE. Under the leadership of Shamlal Ahamed, the group expanded aggressively across the GCC, with flagship stores in Dubai’s major malls and high-street retail hubs.
Malabar’s vertically integrated model - from sourcing to manufacturing to retail - has allowed it to scale globally while keeping competitive pricing. The brand is a favourite among Indian and Middle Eastern customers alike.
8. Ravi Pillai - Founder of RP Group
Dr. Ravi Pillai, originally from Kerala, built the RP Group into one of the Gulf’s largest construction and industrial services conglomerates.
His group employs tens of thousands of workers across construction, oil & gas, engineering, education and healthcare. Pillai’s story resonates deeply with Indian entrepreneurs who identify with steady, disciplined growth rather than flashy expansion.
His ranking among the wealthiest Indians in the Gulf illustrates how the UAE rewards long-term industrial investment.
9. Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil - Founder of VPS Healthcare
A radiologist by training, Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil founded VPS Healthcare, which now operates hospitals, clinics and medical centres across the UAE, Oman and India.
He continued scaling through partnerships, acquisitions and expansion into diagnostics and medical education. Dr. Vayalil is also known for his philanthropy and his investments in healthcare innovation.
Why Indian Entrepreneurs Thrive in Dubai
Across these stories, a pattern emerges:
- Dubai rewards efficiency, reliability and long-term thinking - qualities deeply rooted in Indian business culture.
- Regulations are transparent and predictable, allowing entrepreneurs to scale fast without layers of bureaucracy.
- The Indian community forms a vast economic backbone in the UAE, providing talent, trust networks and market familiarity.
- Dubai offers a neutral global platform: founders can build businesses for the world, not just the UAE.
That’s why many Indian entrepreneurs - early-stage and established - choose Dubai free zones to formalise operations. A free zone such as Meydan Free Zone, with its 24/7 digital licensing system, MoFA-accredited business licences and strong access to international banking partners, provides Indian founders with a clean and modern foundation for global growth.
If you're exploring your own setup journey, start with the Meydan Free Zone Business setup in Dubai page or speak directly with their team through the consultation page.
FAQs
Why are there so many successful Indian entrepreneurs in Dubai?
Shared cultural proximity, business-friendly regulations, predictable taxation and global connectivity make the UAE one of the easiest places for Indians to build large-scale businesses.
Which Indian companies are most successful in Dubai today?
Lulu Group, Landmark Group, Danube, GEMS Education, Sobha Realty, Joyalukkas, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, VPS Healthcare and RP Group are among the most influential Indian-led enterprises.
Do Indian entrepreneurs need a local partner in Dubai?
No. Free zones offer 100% ownership. Mainland also allows 100% ownership for many activities.
Is Dubai good for Indian startups, not just large conglomerates?
Yes. India’s new-age founders increasingly choose Dubai for global expansion because setup is digital, regulations are stable and markets are international.
