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Quick Facts About M.A. Yusuff Ali

Category	Details
Full Name	Yusuff Ali Musaliam Veettil Abdul Kader
Known As	M.A. Yusuff Ali
Born	November 15, 1955
Age	70
Birthplace	Nattika, Thrissur, Kerala, India
Nationality	Indian
Residence	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Profession	Businessman, Chairman and Managing Director
Company	LuLu Group International
Retail Business	LuLu Retail
Estimated Net Worth	Approximately $5.8 billion
Marital Status	Married
Children	3
Primary Source of Wealth	Retail and diversified investments

Net worth estimates can change with market conditions, company valuations and ownership stakes. Forbes currently estimates M.A. Yusuff Ali’s real-time fortune at approximately $5.8 billion.

What Is M.A. Yusuff Ali’s Net Worth?

M.A. Yusuff Ali’s net worth is approximately $5.8 billion in 2026, according to Forbes’ current real-time billionaire tracking. His fortune is primarily associated with the LuLu business empire, particularly his interests in retail, along with investments in hospitality, real estate and other assets.

Some websites still report $5 billion because they rely on older estimates. Celebrity Net Worth, for example, has historically listed his fortune at $5 billion. Forbes’ current figure is approximately $5.8 billion, making that the more up-to-date estimate for 2026.

It is also important to distinguish net worth from revenue. LuLu Retail generated approximately $7.9 billion in FY2025 sales, but that revenue belongs to the company and should not be treated as Yusuff Ali’s personal income.

M.A. Yusuff Ali’s Wealth at a Glance

Yusuff Ali built his fortune over several decades by transforming a small Abu Dhabi distribution operation into a major retail and investment group.

His most important wealth-generating asset is the LuLu retail business. LuLu Retail currently operates 267 stores across the six GCC countries, serves more than 680,000 daily shoppers, and reported approximately $7.9 billion in FY2025 sales.

The company’s 2024 public listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange was another major milestone. The IPO ultimately raised approximately $1.7 billion, giving investors a publicly traded window into part of Yusuff Ali’s retail empire.

M.A. Yusuff Ali Net Worth and Main Sources of Income

Yusuff Ali’s wealth does not come from a conventional salary or entertainment career. His fortune has been built through retail, business ownership, investments, property and hospitality.

1. LuLu Retail

Retail is the central source of Yusuff Ali’s wealth.

LuLu Retail describes itself as a pan-GCC retailer operating 267 stores across all six GCC countries. Its business includes hypermarkets, supermarkets and other retail formats, supported by an expanding e-commerce operation.

For FY2025, the company reported:

$7.9 billion in sales
$782 million EBITDA
267 stores
680,000+ daily shoppers
Operations across all six GCC countries
85 sourcing countries
Private-label products representing 29.8% of retail sales

These numbers help explain the scale of the business behind Yusuff Ali’s billionaire fortune.

2. LuLu Group International

Beyond the listed retail business, Yusuff Ali is chairman and managing director of LuLu Group International.

The broader business ecosystem has expanded beyond supermarkets into areas such as food sourcing, manufacturing, shopping malls, hospitality, real estate and other investments.

This diversification has been an important part of his long-term wealth strategy.

3. Hospitality Investments

Yusuff Ali’s business interests also extend into international hospitality.

Among the properties associated with his wider investment portfolio are the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian and the Great Scotland Yard Hotel in London. Forbes identifies both among his notable assets.

These investments demonstrate that his wealth is not dependent entirely on grocery retail.

4. Real Estate and Shopping Malls

The LuLu business has developed major shopping destinations and commercial properties in the Gulf and India.

One of the most significant projects connected with Yusuff Ali is LuLu International Shopping Mall in Kochi, Kerala, reflecting his long-term investment strategy in his home state.

5. Cochin International Airport

Yusuff Ali has also been associated with Cochin International Airport, one of India’s major public-private airport projects.

Forbes reports that he holds a minority stake in the airport and serves on its board.

6. Financial and Other Investments

His investment history has included interests in Indian financial institutions and other businesses.

These investments have provided another layer of diversification beyond his core retail operations.

7. Salary

There is no reliable public figure that should be presented as Yusuff Ali’s current personal annual salary.

For a billionaire entrepreneur such as Yusuff Ali, focusing only on salary would give a misleading picture of his finances. His estimated wealth is more closely connected to business ownership, equity value, dividends, investments and other assets.

8. Acting and Music Income

Acting and music are not meaningful sources of Yusuff Ali’s wealth.

Unlike entertainment celebrities whose fortunes may depend on film salaries, music royalties or television contracts, Yusuff Ali built his fortune primarily through business.

9. Brand Endorsements and Social Media

There is no credible evidence that brand endorsements or social-media income represent a significant part of his billionaire fortune.

His financial success is fundamentally tied to entrepreneurship and business ownership.

Early Life and Education

M.A. Yusuff Ali was born on November 15, 1955, in Nattika, a village in Kerala’s Thrissur district, India. His birth name is Yusuff Ali Musaliam Veettil Abdul Kader.

He completed his early education in Kerala before pursuing business-related studies.

His defining career move came in 1973, when he left Kerala and moved to Abu Dhabi. He joined the small distribution business operated by his paternal uncle, M.K. Abdullah.

Rather than beginning his career with a large corporation, Yusuff Ali worked within the family’s trading operation and gained practical experience in importing, distribution and logistics.

That experience later became the foundation for the LuLu retail empire.

M.A. Yusuff Ali Career Journey

1973: Move to Abu Dhabi

Yusuff Ali moved to Abu Dhabi in 1973 and joined his uncle’s distribution business.

This was the starting point of a career that would eventually turn the family operation into one of the Gulf region’s best-known retail businesses.

1970s–1980s: Building the Trading Business

During his early years in Abu Dhabi, Yusuff Ali became involved in importing and distribution.

The business gradually expanded its product range and geographic reach, giving him valuable experience in supply chains and consumer markets.

1990s: LuLu Retail Expansion

The major turning point came when Yusuff Ali expanded into modern retail.

He opened his first LuLu hypermarket in the 1990s, during a challenging period surrounding the Gulf War. The strategy focused on offering consumers a broad range of products at competitive prices.

The retail concept proved successful and became the foundation of the modern LuLu empire.

2000s: Expansion Beyond Supermarkets

As LuLu grew, Yusuff Ali diversified into shopping malls, hospitality, food-related businesses and other investments.

The strategy transformed LuLu from a regional retailer into a diversified business group.

2006: Major Indian Expansion

Yusuff Ali expanded his business activities in India, particularly in Kerala.

His investments included major retail, hospitality and convention projects, strengthening his commercial presence in his home state.

2013: LuLu International Shopping Mall

The opening of LuLu International Shopping Mall in Kochi became a major milestone in the group’s Indian expansion.

The project helped establish LuLu as a major retail brand outside the Gulf.

2016: Great Scotland Yard Investment

Yusuff Ali’s wider investment portfolio expanded into the United Kingdom, including the acquisition and redevelopment of the historic Great Scotland Yard property in London.

2024: LuLu Retail IPO

The public listing of LuLu Retail was one of the most important recent events in Yusuff Ali’s business career.

The company priced its IPO at AED 2.04 per share and ultimately raised about AED 6.3 billion, or $1.7 billion, before beginning trading on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange in November 2024.

The IPO valued LuLu Retail at approximately AED 21 billion.

2025: LuLu Retail Reaches $7.9 Billion in Sales

LuLu Retail reported approximately $7.9 billion in FY2025 sales, alongside $782 million in EBITDA.

The company also reported 267 stores and more than 680,000 daily shoppers.

2026: Net Worth of Approximately $5.8 Billion

As of September 2026, Forbes estimates M.A. Yusuff Ali’s real-time net worth at approximately $5.8 billion.

Major Achievements

M.A. Yusuff Ali’s career includes several major achievements:

Building LuLu into a major GCC retail business.
Expanding from a small Abu Dhabi distribution company into a diversified international group.
Developing major retail projects in India and the Gulf.
Expanding into international hospitality.
Taking LuLu Retail public on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.
Building a diversified portfolio spanning retail, hospitality, real estate and other investments.
Receiving the Padma Shri from the Government of India.
Receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award.
Receiving the Abu Dhabi Award.

His achievements have made him one of the most prominent Indian-origin business figures in the Gulf.

M.A. Yusuff Ali’s Assets and Lifestyle

Yusuff Ali’s wealth is better understood through his business holdings and investments than through a list of personal luxury purchases.

His publicly reported business interests include:

LuLu Retail
LuLu Group International
Retail stores and hypermarkets
Shopping malls
Hospitality properties
Great Scotland Yard Hotel
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian
A minority interest in Cochin International Airport
Other investments and business assets

His portfolio reflects a classic diversification strategy: use a successful core business to expand into complementary industries and geographic markets.

M.A. Yusuff Ali’s Personal Life

M.A. Yusuff Ali is married and has three children. He lives in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, while maintaining strong business and personal connections with India.

His family also includes prominent business figures.

His son-in-law, Shamsheer Vayalil, operates a separate healthcare business and is a billionaire entrepreneur in his own right. Forbes specifically notes that Vayalil runs his own healthcare business.

It is important not to combine the financial assets of Yusuff Ali and his relatives when calculating his personal net worth

Philanthropy and Social Contributions

Yusuff Ali has also built a significant philanthropic profile.

Forbes reports that he donated approximately $6.8 million toward efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and built and donated a treatment center with approximately 1,400 beds in Kerala.

His philanthropic activities add another dimension to his public profile beyond his business achievements.

M.A. Yusuff Ali Net Worth Growth Timeline

Year	Reported/Estimated Net Worth	Major Development
2013	About $1.5 billion	LuLu’s rapid expansion established Yusuff Ali as a billionaire
2016	About $4 billion	Continued retail, mall and hospitality expansion
2023	About $6.9 billion	LuLu’s international retail expansion continued
2024	About $7.4 billion	LuLu Retail IPO and major business valuation milestone
2025	About $5.8 billion*	Wealth estimate adjusted with market and valuation changes
2026	About $5.8 billion	Current Forbes real-time estimate

Historical billionaire estimates are not directly comparable because methodologies, private-company valuations and market conditions can change.

For perspective, Forbes estimated Yusuff Ali’s wealth at approximately $1.5 billion in 2013, when LuLu had around 104 stores and generated approximately $4.25 billion in sales.

By 2026, Forbes estimates his fortune at approximately $5.8 billion, while LuLu Retail alone reports $7.9 billion in annual sales and operates 267 stores.

The comparison demonstrates how dramatically the business expanded over the past decade.

Why Is M.A. Yusuff Ali So Rich?

The answer comes down to scale, timing, retail expertise and diversification.

Yusuff Ali entered the Gulf market at a time when the region’s population and consumer economy were expanding rapidly. Instead of remaining a small distributor, he moved into large-format retail.

LuLu’s model combined:

High-volume retail
Competitive pricing
Large-format stores
International sourcing
Private-label products
Shopping malls
E-commerce
Geographic expansion

That model created a large and diversified consumer business.

Today, LuLu Retail reports more than 680,000 daily shoppers, 267 stores and $7.9 billion in FY2025 sales.

The 2024 IPO further increased financial transparency around the retail business and established a public-market valuation for LuLu Retail.

M.A. Yusuff Ali vs. LuLu Retail: What’s the Difference?

This distinction is essential when discussing his wealth.

M.A. Yusuff Ali’s net worth: approximately $5.8 billion according to Forbes.

LuLu Retail’s revenue: approximately $7.9 billion for FY2025.

These are completely different measurements.

Revenue represents the money a company generates from selling products and services. Net worth represents the estimated value of a person’s assets and ownership interests after accounting for relevant liabilities.

Therefore, saying that Yusuff Ali personally “makes $7.9 billion a year” would be incorrect.

Interesting Facts About M.A. Yusuff Ali

Yusuff Ali was born in Nattika, Kerala, in 1955.
He moved to Abu Dhabi in 1973.
He started his career in his uncle’s distribution business.
His first LuLu hypermarket opened in the 1990s.
LuLu Retail now operates across all six GCC countries.
LuLu Retail reported $7.9 billion in FY2025 sales.
LuLu Retail had 267 stores as reported for FY2025.
The company went public on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange in 2024.
The IPO raised approximately $1.7 billion.
Yusuff Ali has a minority stake in Cochin International Airport.
His wider portfolio includes major hospitality properties in the UK.
Forbes currently estimates his fortune at approximately $5.8 billion.
He is an Indian citizen and resides in Abu Dhabi.
He has three children.
His son-in-law Shamsheer Vayalil operates a separate healthcare business.

Frequently Asked Questions About M.A. Yusuff Ali

What is M.A. Yusuff Ali’s net worth in 2026?

M.A. Yusuff Ali’s net worth is approximately $5.8 billion in 2026, according to Forbes’ current real-time billionaire estimate.

Is M.A. Yusuff Ali a billionaire?

Yes. M.A. Yusuff Ali is an Indian billionaire whose primary source of wealth is retail, particularly his interests connected to the LuLu business empire.

How did M.A. Yusuff Ali make his money?

He built his fortune by expanding a small Abu Dhabi distribution business into the LuLu retail empire. He later diversified into shopping malls, hospitality, real estate and other investments.

Who owns LuLu Retail?

LuLu Retail is a publicly listed company on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. Yusuff Ali remains its chairman and a major shareholder. The company began trading publicly in November 2024.

How much revenue does LuLu Retail generate?

LuLu Retail reported approximately $7.9 billion in FY2025 sales, with $782 million in EBITDA.

Is Yusuff Ali’s net worth $5 billion or $5.8 billion?

Both figures have appeared in published profiles. The $5 billion figure is an older estimate, while Forbes’ current 2026 real-time estimate is approximately $5.8 billion.

How old is M.A. Yusuff Ali?

M.A. Yusuff Ali was born on November 15, 1955, making him 70 years old in 2026.

Where is M.A. Yusuff Ali from?

He was born in Nattika, in Kerala’s Thrissur district, India. He later moved to Abu Dhabi in 1973 to join his uncle’s distribution business.

Does Yusuff Ali own hotels?

His wider investment portfolio includes major hospitality assets, including the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian and Great Scotland Yard Hotel.

Does Yusuff Ali own Cochin International Airport?

He does not own the airport outright. Forbes reports that he holds a minority stake in Cochin International Airport and serves on its board.

What is Yusuff Ali’s main source of wealth?

Retail is his principal source of wealth. His fortune is primarily connected to LuLu Group and LuLu Retail, supplemented by hospitality, real estate and other investments.

Is Yusuff Ali richer because of LuLu Retail’s $7.9 billion revenue?

Not directly. The $7.9 billion figure represents LuLu Retail’s company sales, not Yusuff Ali’s personal income. His net worth reflects the estimated value of his assets and business interests.

Final Takeaway

M.A. Yusuff Ali’s story is one of the most notable examples of Gulf-based Indian entrepreneurship.

He left Kerala for Abu Dhabi in 1973 and began working in his family’s small distribution business. Over the following decades, he transformed that operation into the LuLu business empire, expanded into modern retail, developed major properties and diversified into hospitality and other investments.

Today, Forbes estimates M.A. Yusuff Ali’s net worth at approximately $5.8 billion, while LuLu Retail generates around $7.9 billion in annual sales and operates 267 stores across the GCC.

The most important point is that his fortune was not created by a single payday. It was built through decades of retail expansion, business ownership, diversification and long-term investment.

M.A. Yusuff Ali Net Worth: Powerful Rise to $5.8 Billion