Revealed: Indian leaders in the GCC
The businessmen and visionaries who have made a mark in this region
27 August, 2020
TT
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Millions of Indians call one of the six Gulf countries home. Some have established prominent global conglomerates in the region, while others have migrated here to lead international companies. The GCC has also attracted Indians who are keen to tap into its booming startup ecosystem, while second-generation business leaders have now established strong roots in the region. Lauding the achievements of this diverse diaspora, we reveal the influential business tycoons, executives and entrepreneurs who have helped shape the GCC’s economic landscape.
Rich List
Wealth isn’t everything, but it’s hard to ignore the financial clout of these business figures. Along with being the wealthiest Indians in the Gulf, these individuals are also among the most philanthropic*.
Legends
The company founders and veteran business leaders who have had an unquestionable impact on the Gulf’s economic and social landscape in recent decades
Dr. Zulekha Daud
Zulekha Healthcare Group
Yogesh Mehta
Petrochem Middle East
Firoz Merchant
Pure Gold Jewellers
Dhananjay Datar
Chairman and managing director Al Adil Trading
Rizwan Sajan
Danube Group
PNC Menon
Sobha Group
Sohan Roy
CEO and founder Aries Group
Shyam Bhatia
Alam Steel Group
Vasu Shroff
Regal Group of Companies
Executives
Indians who have made their mark in the GCC by rising up the corporate ladder and company owners who hold top leadership positions
K. Rajaram
CEO, Al Nabooda Automobiles
Dr. Adnan Chilwan
Group CEO, Dubai Islamic Bank
Sanjiv Kakkar
Executive VP, MENAT, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, Unilever
Ram Kumar Thota
Founder, CEO and managing director, SRR Building Materials
Raghu Malhotra
President, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard
Sunil Kaushal
Regional CEO, MEA, Standard Chartered
Atif Rahman
Director and partner, Danube Properties
Amit Jain
Emaar Properties
Rishi Kapoor
Co-CEO, Investcorp
Sunil John
President, Middle East, BCW
Anil Pillai
Chairman, Airolink group
Bal Krishen
Chairman, Century Financial
Rohit and Sharad Bachani
Co-founders, Merlin Digital
Raju Ramesh and Sunil Paul
Co-founders, Finesse
Ones to watch
The young Indians expanding their influence in the Gulf, either as entrepreneurs or as heirs to family businesses
Ayesha Depala
Founder, Ayesha Depala fashion brand
John Paul Joy Alukkas
Executive director, Joyalukkas Group
Geet Bhalla, Digvijay Pratap
Founders, HolidayMe
Snehal and Sunita Hadani
Founders, Hadani Group
Kunal Kapoor
Founder, The Luxury Closet
Nisha Jagtiani
Group director, Landmark Group
*SOURCE: Rich list figures taken from Forbes Billionaires list mid-July






























































