Yusuffali M.A., who was appointed a mediator by Kerala government, resolved the differences — which had been delaying the project for the past six years — through discussions with the Dubai team that included TECOM CEO Abdul Latif Al Mulla, Dubai International Financial Centre Gov. Ahmad Humaid Al Tayer and Dubai financial adviser Dr. Adnan Shilvan.
Currently, more than a dozen Kerala-based organizations in the UAE are planning to honor Yusuffali, managing director of Abu Dhabi headquartered EMKE Group, for his contribution to Dubai Authority and Kerala government.
Yusuffali is the first Gulf-based Indian to get Padma Shri — one of the top awards of India for social work and humanitarian activities. Hailing from a traditional business family in Kerala, he came to UAE in 1973 to join his uncle's small trading business in Abu Dhabi. Hard work coupled with his uncanny knack for finding new businesses, led the young Yusuffali to explore the wholesale foodstuff trading market in and around Abu Dhabi. Slowly he started importing famous brands of frozen food products from Europe and distributing them to retailers and catering companies in UAE. Soon the EMKE stores, as it was known then, became one of the top importers and traders of foodstuff in the UAE and the business now includes food processing and re-exporting to other markets as well.
But the big break came in the early nineties during the first Gulf war, when the group decided to make its maiden foray into the world of retailing with the launch of its first supermarket in Abu Dhabi. Though the scene back then was slightly bleak due to war threat, Yusuffali went ahead with his investment plans thereby imposing full faith in the visionary leaders of this great country. Soon the economic scenario started to change and it was boom time and Yusuffali started spearheading an aggressive growth plan for the retail market. He did not waste any time in tapping potential markets in the UAE and neighboring countries and also opening branches in Oman, Qatar and Kuwait.
Year 2000 was a major milestone for the group, as the first Lulu Hypermarket opened its doors in Dubai, and as they say, rest is history. With very firm footing in almost all major markets in the GCC and Yemen, Lulu is going forward with well-planned expansion program and plans to hit the 100 stores figure by 2013.
