M. A. Yusuff Ali
Born: 15 November 1955 (age 70)
Full name: Yusuff Ali Musaliam Veettil Abdul Kader
Place: Nattika, State of Travancore–Cochin (present day Thrissur, Kerala), India
Occupation: Chairman and managing director of Lulu Group International, Y International and
LuLu International Shopping Mall
Office: Y Tower, Abu Dhabi
Website: https://www.yusuffali.com/
M. A. Yusuff Ali — From a Small-Town to a Global Retail Giant
M. A. Yusuff Ali was born in 1955 in Nattika, a coastal village in Kerala’s Thrissur district. He grew up in a modest family, where discipline and hard work were part of daily life. After completing his education, he moved to the Gulf in the early 1970s, like many young Keralites chasing opportunity.
His turning point came in Abu Dhabi, where he joined his uncle’s small trading business. Yusuff Ali didn’t just work, he observed, learned, and understood the pulse of retail in a rapidly growing Middle East. By the 1990s, he transformed the business into what is now Lulu Group International, launching large-format supermarkets and hypermarkets that catered to diverse communities.
Under his leadership, Lulu expanded across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the US, becoming one of the largest retail chains globally. Today, the group operates hundreds of stores and employs tens of thousands of people.
Beyond business, Yusuff Ali is known for his philanthropy and strong connection to Kerala. He has supported numerous charitable initiatives, disaster relief efforts, and educational projects. His journey, from a village in Kerala to a billionaire entrepreneur, is often seen as a defining example of vision, persistence, and sharp business instinct.
