Abdulla Al Ghurair
Abdulla bin Ahmad Al Ghurair | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age United Arab Emirates |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founder and chairman of Mashreqbank; founder of Oman Insurance (Sukoon); founder of Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation |
| Notable work | Establishment of Mashreqbank; major infrastructure projects including Dubai Metro and Burj Khalifa cladding; philanthropic work in education through AGF |
Abdulla bin Ahmad Al Ghurair (; born ) is a billionaire entrepreneur from the United Arab Emirates, recognized as the founder and chairman of Mashreq, one of the foremost banks in the UAE. Forbes estimated his fortune at $4.8 billion in 2025.
Early life and career
Originating from a distinguished Emirati business lineage, Al Ghurair's family has played a significant role in the region's commercial landscape. His brother, Saif Ahmad Al Ghurair (1924–2019), was also a billionaire and led the Al Ghurair Group.
In 1967, he established Mashreqbank. He relinquished his position as Chairman in October 2019 but continued to serve on the board of directors. His enterprise, Al Ghurair Food, produces pasta under the brand name Jenan.
His construction company has been involved in major infrastructure developments, including work on the Dubai Metro and the external cladding of the Burj Khalifa, which holds the title of the tallest building globally.
By February 2021, Al Ghurair was recognized as the wealthiest person in the United Arab Emirates and ranked 809th worldwide. In January 2022, Forbes assessed his net worth at $3.1 billion.
He founded Oman Insurance in 1975, which underwent rebranding to become Sukoon in October 2022.
Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation
Prior to launching his foundation in 2015, Al Ghurair supported education in the UAE by constructing several schools during the 1960s. The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation (AGF) operates as a non-profit organization dedicated to broadening educational access for students throughout the Arab world.
In collaboration with the American University of Beirut (AUB), AGF inaugurated the Abdulla Al Ghurair Hub for Digital Teaching and Learning in June 2021. Situated within AUB's Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, this hub is designed to improve online learning opportunities for thousands of students across Arab nations.
Personal life
Al Ghurair resides in Dubai with his family; he is married and has four children. His son, Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, holds leadership roles as CEO of Mashreqbank and chairman of Al Ghurair Investment.
Awards
In 2016, he was honored as the inaugural Goodwill Ambassador for education in the Arab region by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO).