Dr Ali Asgar Fakhruddin

As chairman of the Sterling Group and a key figure behind Fakhruddin Holdings, Dr Fakhruddin has carried forward a generational legacy and expanded it into a globally recognised conglomerate that fuses tradition with innovation.

Starting in the family business at 17, he is behind the success of subsidiaries such as Sterling Perfumes, Premier Cosmetics, and Premier Plastics, serving consumers across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Under his leadership, Sterling has evolved from a regional enterprise into a global contender, with advanced R&D laboratories, automated production facilities, and certifications including GMP, ISO, Halal, and FDA. Dr Fakhruddin led the Group’s digital transformation, scaling production from 250 pieces a day to hundreds of millions annually, exporting to more than 130 countries.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he swiftly pivoted Sterling’s resources toward sanitiser manufacturing, ensuring affordable, safe products when they were needed most.

His achievements have earned him multiple honors, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at Beautyworld Middle East 2023, the Divya Chakra Award from the Consulate General of India in the UAE, Global Indian of the Year 2023–24, and the FTI EA International Excellence & Global Leadership Award 2024. He also holds a professional doctorate in international business from the European International University – Paris.

What defines Dr Fakhruddin’s vision is his drive to make “Made in UAE” a mark of pride worldwide. With Sterling’s products reaching more than 130 countries and serving more than a billion customers, his goal remains clear: to make quality, innovation, and excellence accessible from Dubai to the world.