Ghassan Aboud

Muhammed Ghassan Aboud
Muhammed Ghassan Aboud
Born	August 4, 1967 (age 59); Idlib, Syria
Occupation	Businessman
Known for	Founder of Ghassan Aboud Group

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Ghassan Aboud, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 2025

Muhammed Ghassan Aboud (; born 1967) is a Syrian businessman and the founder of the Ghassan Aboud Group. As a founding participant of the Syrian Business Council, he operates primarily from the United Arab Emirates. In 2018, Forbes Middle East included him among the Top 50 Most Influential Expats in the UAE. His net worth was valued at $1.75 billion by Forbes in 2019.

Personal life

Aboud was born on August 4, 1967, in Idlib, Syria. He is married to Nahed Nebhan and they have five children together.

Career

After moving to the UAE in October 1992, Aboud initially worked in public relations before launching the Ghassan Aboud Group in 1994. Starting as a modest trader in new cars and spare parts, his enterprise has grown into a diversified conglomerate covering several sectors.

In 2018, Forbes Middle East named him among the Top 50 Most Influential Expats residing in the UAE.

Timeline

1994 : Established Ghassan Aboud Cars & Spare Parts as his inaugural business.
2008 : Created Live Point Art Production focusing on art and television production.
2008 : Founded Orient News aimed at Syrians living abroad in the Arab region.
2016 : Launched GA Group Australia to manage hospitality investments; introduced Crystalbrook Collection hospitality brand.
2017 : Opened Grandiose Supermarket & Catering services.
2017 : Set up Gallega Global Logistics.
2019 : Purchased Byron Resort from Gerry Harvey for nearly $42 million AUD.

Ghassan Aboud Group

The Ghassan Aboud Group (GAG) is an international conglomerate operating across automotive, logistics, media, hospitality, real estate, retail, and custom catering sectors. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in the UAE for over a quarter-century, GAG has established offices in Australia, Belgium, China, Jordan, and Turkey.

In October 2018, GAG was designated as an export market distributor by HPCL Middle East FZCO—a subsidiary of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)—handling products such as automotive and industrial lubricants, asphalt, and solvents throughout the Middle East region.

By December 2018, GAG ranked 27th on Forbes Middle East's list of UAE's Top 50 Private Companies. The group enhanced its digital presence in August 2021 with the launch of BuyParts24, the largest online marketplace for auto parts in the region. This platform formed alliances with leading industry entities including Al Habtoor Motors, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, Nasser Bin Abdullatif Alserkal, Bin Hamoodah Auto, and AWR Rostamani.

Ghassan Aboud Cars & Spare Parts

Established in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates in 1994, Ghassan Aboud Cars & Spare Parts began as a trading company dealing in vehicles and spare components. It now covers passenger cars, commercial vehicles, heavy trucks, machinery, spare parts, lubricants, and accessories. The firm facilitates trade across multiple countries with services including inbound and outbound logistics, warehousing, value-added processing, transportation, and documentation.

With over two and a half decades of experience, it has become a leader in both regional and global automotive supply chain management serving more than 100 countries. Its operational centers are located within Khalifa Industrial Zone (KIZAD), Abu Dhabi and Dubai along with additional hubs in Belgium and Jordan. The company employs around 350 personnel.

Crystalbrook Collection

Founded in 2016 by Ghassan Aboud as an internal hospitality management entity, Crystalbrook Collection specializes in acquiring and developing hotel properties within Australia. Based in Dubai, the company has invested close to $600 million so far. Its holdings include three luxury five-star hotels—Riley Resort, Bailey Hotel, Flynn Hotel—alongside Crystalbrook Lodge, the Little Albion guesthouse located in Sydney, Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, and the 90-foot MV Bahama yacht docked at Port Douglas, Queensland.

In 2018, Aboud earned the distinction of Leading International Hospitality Investor for his role in advancing the Crystalbrook Collection. The company further expanded its portfolio in September 2022 by purchasing the Rydges Sydney Harbour hotel for around $100 million.

Live Point Art Production

Established in 2008 with headquarters in Dubai and branches in Jordan and Istanbul, Live Point Art creates news and socio-political content centered on the Arab world. It delivers a range of programming including news bulletins, studio shows, live window services, dramas, films, television series, dubbing, subtitling, and content distribution to both Arabic and global broadcasters.

Orient Media

In 2008, Ghassan Aboud launched Orient News, a UAE-based satellite channel that broadcasts news, current affairs, and entertainment to audiences across the GCC, Levant region, and parts of North Africa. Renowned for impartial reporting, Orient TV features programming focused on news, cultural topics, and entertainment.

Orient Radio offers a broad spectrum of Arabic-language content such as news updates, economic reports, sports coverage, social programs, and music.

Initiated in 2018, the Orient Training Center operates from Dubai, Istanbul, and Amman. It provides short-term courses in media and production disciplines including TV presenting, radio anchoring, journalism, and directing within fully equipped professional television and production studios.

Grandiose Supermarkets & Catering

Launched in 2017, Grandiose is a retail brand with nearly 50 specialty supermarkets and catering outlets spread throughout Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah as of 2025. Its catering division caters to retail consumers as well as corporate and outdoor event clients.

In December 2018, Grandiose Catering was honored with the "Catering Company of the Year" award at Dubai’s Leaders in F & B Awards. Later in 2024, Grandiose Supermarket received the Consumer Retailer of the Year accolade at the Gulf Business Awards.

Gallega Global Logistics

Founded in 2017, Gallega Global Logistics provides comprehensive logistics solutions to third-party logistics (3PL) customers across the UAE and neighboring regions. In May 2018, it inaugurated a 275,000 square meter automotive logistics facility within Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), equipped with vehicle storage areas, warehouses, workshops, office spaces, a body repair shop, and pre-delivery inspection (PDI) services.

Pastoral Business

The Ghassan Aboud Group owns 35,000 hectares of pastoral land in Australia capable of supporting 2,500 breeding livestock. The dairy and meat products generated supply both external clients and GAG’s own hospitality operations.

Awards and honors

Year	Award	Awarding Organization
2019	Placed #41 among Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 Business Tycoons	Forbes Middle East
2019	Ranked #27 on Forbes Middle East Billionaires List	Forbes Middle East
2018	Listed among Top 50 Most Influential Expats in UAE	Forbes Middle East
2018	Recognized as one of Top 50 companies in UAE	Forbes Middle East
2018	Awarded Leading Hospitality Investor title	BNC Publishing
2018	"Catering Company of the Year" awarded to Grandiose Catering	F & B Awards
2018	Honored for Excellence in International Business	Entrepreneur - Enterprise Agility Awards
2018	Ranked No. 1 on Power 50 List of Most Influential People in TNQ (Queensland)	Cairns Post
2017	Topped Tropic Now’s Power 50 list	Tropic Now
2017	GA Group’s Cairns CBD projects commended by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull	Tropic Now
2015	Received Global Gift Philanthropreneur Award	Global Gift Foundation

Philanthropy

In 2012, Ghassan Aboud established Orient for Human Relief with the mission to provide medical aid, educational support, and social services to Syrians impacted by the ongoing conflict. This initiative partners with global organizations such as the Syrian American Medical Society, USAID, and Hand in Hand International (UK) to enhance its outreach and effectiveness.

Aboud received recognition in 2015 through the Global Gift Foundation’s Philanthropreneur Award, acknowledging his significant humanitarian efforts.

External links