Al Ghurair

Al Ghurair is a privately held, family-owned business group headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Established in 1960, it developed within the commercial and industrial environment of the Gulf and became one of the region’s diversified family enterprises. The group is organized around several broad business units rather than a single consumer-facing product category. Its activities include food manufacturing and ingredients, agricultural commodities and biofuel inputs, construction materials and contracting-related operations, real estate, mobility, retail, printing and publishing, and education. Food is one of the group’s most developed areas. Al Ghurair Foods traces its origins to National Flour Mills, established in 1976, and has built a portfolio spanning flour, pasta, edible oils, animal nutrition, livestock feed, premixes, and related products. Jenan is identified as the principal food brand. In 2011, the food business was reported to have a presence in 20 countries across four continents, indicating that the group’s food operations extended beyond the United Arab Emirates. A factory proposal announced in 2010 for Jebel Ali was intended to support additional production and export opportunities, particularly toward Indonesia and Japan. Al Ghurair Resources International supplies agricultural raw materials to manufacturers and traders in the food and biofuel sectors. Its product scope includes grains such as wheat, maize, rice, pulses, and barley; protein materials including soybean meal, canola meal, and soybean hulls; crude and refined vegetable oils; bulk and packaged pulses; and fiber products such as bran, oaten hay, and alfalfa. This business gives the group a role in commodity sourcing and industrial supply in addition to downstream food processing. The construction business, described as having roots in the 1960s, focuses on aluminium, foundations, masonry, and ready-mix operations. Projects associated with Al Ghurair Construction include major buildings and infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, including Burj Khalifa, Emirates Towers, BurJuman, Dubai Metro, Etisalat facilities, Fairmont and Kempinski hotels, and projects connected with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority. The properties division develops and manages mixed-use, commercial, hospitality, and residential assets. Al Ghurair Centre, a Dubai development combining shopping, residential, and commercial uses, is among the group’s best-known property-associated assets. Mobility activities include Cars Taxi, described as Dubai’s largest taxi fleet provider in the cited reference, and automotive operations conducted through AG Auto and Al Ghurair Auto. Cars Taxi became the first taxi company in the United Arab Emirates to introduce hybrid taxis into its fleet. AG Auto operates through offices in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, while Al Ghurair Auto is identified as the exclusive United Arab Emirates distributor for EXEED automobiles. The group also has retail and venture activities. Al Ghurair Retail operates stores in three countries for Springfield and THEFACESHOP and maintains a Dubai-based distribution and warehousing facility. Al Ghurair Printing & Publishing, established in 1978, provides design, prepress, production, binding, finishing, quality control, and logistics services. Education-related institutions include Dar Al Marefa, a bilingual school in Dubai, and Al Ghurair University, a private higher-education institution that closed in 2022. Overall, Al Ghurair’s positioning is that of a diversified Emirati family enterprise combining industrial production, regional infrastructure, property development, consumer distribution, and selected service ventures. Detailed consolidated financial information, ownership percentages, and a complete chronology of leadership changes are not established by the cited public reference.

Al Ghurair was established in 1960 and grew as a family-owned enterprise in Dubai during the United Arab Emirates’ transition into a major regional commercial and infrastructure center. The group’s public profile is best understood through its business units, which cover both industrial activities and consumer-facing services. The available reference identifies six principal areas—Foods, Resources, Properties, Construction, Mobility, and Ventures—with additional activities in retail, automotive distribution, and education. The food business became a significant part of the group’s industrial base. Al Ghurair Foods was established in 1976 through the creation of National Flour Mills. It subsequently developed a diversified portfolio including flour, pasta, edible oils, animal nutrition, livestock feeds, and premixes. Jenan became the principal brand associated with these offerings. By 2011, Al Ghurair Foods was reported to have market coverage in 20 countries across four continents. In 2010, the business announced plans for a new Jebel Ali factory, linking capacity expansion with potential exports to Indonesia and Japan. Alongside food processing, Al Ghurair developed a resources business serving manufacturers and commodity traders. Al Ghurair Resources International supplies agricultural inputs used in food and biofuel production. Its categories include grains, oilseed proteins, crude and refined oils, pulses, and fibers. This activity connects the group to upstream sourcing and international agricultural trade, complementing its downstream food manufacturing operations. Construction is another long-standing business area, with roots described as extending to the 1960s. Al Ghurair Construction has focused on aluminium, foundations, masonry, and ready-mix operations. Its work has been associated with prominent buildings and infrastructure projects in the United Arab Emirates, including Burj Khalifa, Emirates Towers, BurJuman, Dubai Metro, Etisalat facilities, Fairmont and Kempinski hotels, and Dubai Roads and Transport Authority projects. These associations place the construction business within the development of Dubai’s modern built environment, although the cited material does not specify the precise contractual role in every project. The properties business expanded the group’s presence into mixed-use, commercial, hospitality, and residential real estate. Al Ghurair Centre is a notable development associated with the group and combines retail, residential, and commercial uses. The property platform also includes offices, warehouses, factories, retail assets, hotels, and serviced or apartment-style hospitality properties. This diversified property model complements the group’s industrial operations and reflects the importance of real estate to large Gulf family businesses. Mobility activities include Cars Taxi, described in the reference as Dubai’s largest taxi fleet provider. Cars Taxi introduced hybrid taxis and was identified as the first taxi company in the United Arab Emirates to do so. Automotive operations also include AG Auto, which operates through offices in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, and Al Ghurair Auto, identified as the exclusive distributor of EXEED automobiles in the United Arab Emirates. The reference names Badr Al Ghurair as chief executive officer of Cars Taxi and states that he oversees the ongoing operations of its divisions. The group’s venture and service portfolio includes Al Ghurair Printing & Publishing, established in 1978. Its services cover design, prepress, production, binding and finishing, quality control, and logistics. Al Ghurair Retail operates stores in three countries for Springfield and THEFACESHOP, supported by a Dubai retail distribution and warehousing facility. Education-related activities include Dar Al Marefa, a bilingual Dubai school, and Al Ghurair University, a private institution offering accredited bachelor’s programs. The university closed in 2022. Al Ghurair therefore represents a broad family-business platform rather than a narrowly defined product brand. Its historical development combines domestic industrialization, participation in Dubai construction and property development, regional food and commodity operations, and selective expansion into mobility, retail, printing, and education. Publicly available material does not establish a complete list of subsidiaries, detailed ownership arrangements, consolidated financial results, or a full succession and executive history; those areas remain outside this dossier unless supported by further authoritative sources.

1. 2022Al Ghurair University closed

   The group-associated private university in Dubai ceased operations.

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2. 2011Food business reached 20-country presence

   Al Ghurair Foods was reported to have a market presence in 20 countries across four continents.

   Source
3. 2010Jebel Ali food factory plans announced

   Al Ghurair Foods announced plans for a new Jebel Ali factory to investigate additional export opportunities, particularly in Indonesia and Japan.

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4. 1978Printing and publishing business established

   Al Ghurair Printing & Publishing was established and developed services across design, prepress, production, finishing, quality control, and logistics.

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5. 1976National Flour Mills created

   Al Ghurair Foods began through the creation of National Flour Mills, establishing a foundation for the group’s food manufacturing activities.

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6. 1960Establishment of Al Ghurair

   Al Ghurair was established as a family-owned business group in the United Arab Emirates.

   Source

A diversified Emirati family business group combining food manufacturing, agricultural-resource trading, construction, property development, mobility, retail, printing, and education.

• JenanFood and agricultural nutrition

  Jenan is identified as Al Ghurair Foods’ principal brand. Its portfolio includes flour, pasta, edible oils, animal nutrition, fibers and livestock feeds, mono-gastric feeds, and premixes. The brand represents the group’s downstream food-processing and nutrition activities, serving both consumer and agricultural or industrial markets.

• Al Ghurair FoodsFood manufacturing1976

  Al Ghurair Foods is the group’s food-processing business, originating with National Flour Mills in 1976. It produces and markets a broad range of staple foods, edible oils, and animal nutrition products. The business has also been associated with international market expansion and proposed production capacity at Jebel Ali.

• Al Ghurair Resources InternationalAgricultural commodities and industrial inputs

  Al Ghurair Resources International supplies food and biofuel manufacturers and traders with agricultural raw materials. Its portfolio includes wheat, maize, rice, pulses, barley, soybean and canola meals, soybean hulls, vegetable oils, bulk and packaged pulses, bran, oaten hay, and alfalfa. The business operates as an upstream and intermediary supply platform.

• Al Ghurair ConstructionConstruction materials and services1960

  Al Ghurair Construction has roots in the 1960s and focuses on aluminium, foundations, masonry, and ready-mix operations. The business has been associated with major UAE buildings and infrastructure projects, including Burj Khalifa, Emirates Towers, BurJuman, Dubai Metro, Etisalat facilities, hotels, and Dubai Roads and Transport Authority projects.

• Al Ghurair PropertiesReal estate

  Al Ghurair Properties focuses on mixed-use, commercial, hospitality, and residential real estate. Its activities include offices, warehouses, factories, retail properties, hotels, and apartment or serviced-hospitality assets. Al Ghurair Centre is a prominent development associated with this part of the group.

• Cars TaxiMobility and taxi services

  Cars Taxi is part of Al Ghurair’s mobility activities and is described in the reference as Dubai’s largest taxi fleet provider. It was the first taxi company in the United Arab Emirates to incorporate hybrid taxis into its fleet. Its operations are overseen by a chief executive identified in the cited reference as Badr Al Ghurair.

• Al Ghurair AutoAutomotive distribution

  Al Ghurair Auto is an automotive distribution business associated with the group. It is identified as the exclusive distributor of EXEED Automobile Company vehicles in the United Arab Emirates. Related AG Auto operations maintain offices in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

• Al Ghurair RetailRetail

  Al Ghurair Retail operates stores in three countries for the Springfield apparel brand and THEFACESHOP beauty brand. Its retail-distribution and warehousing facility is located in Dubai, supporting the group’s branded retail activities across its operating markets.

• Al Ghurair Printing & PublishingPrinting and publishing1978

  Established in 1978, Al Ghurair Printing & Publishing provides an integrated set of print-production services. These include creative design, prepress, production, binding and finishing, quality control, and logistics. It forms part of the group’s ventures and business-services portfolio.

• Dar Al MarefaEducation

  Dar Al Marefa is a school based in Dubai and associated with Al Ghurair’s education activities. It provides a bilingual curriculum covering social, physical, and academic development.

• Al Ghurair UniversityHigher education

  Al Ghurair University was a private higher-education institution in Dubai associated with the group. It focused on accredited bachelor’s degree programs and closed its doors in 2022.

• 2022Closure of Al Ghurair UniversityOther

  Al Ghurair University operated as a private higher-education institution associated with the group.

  What changed. The university closed its doors.

  Aftermath. The available source does not explain the reason for closure or describe the disposition of its programs and students.

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• 2010Planned expansion of Jebel Ali food-production capacityStrategy

  Al Ghurair Foods sought to explore further export opportunities, with Indonesia and Japan specifically identified in the cited material.

  What changed. The business announced plans for a new factory in Jebel Ali, Dubai.

  Aftermath. The available reference does not document the final construction outcome, production volumes, or subsequent financial effect of the proposal.

  Source
• Introduction of hybrid taxis by Cars TaxiProduct launch

  Cars Taxi pursued fleet modernization within Al Ghurair’s mobility activities.

  What changed. Cars Taxi incorporated hybrid taxis into its fleet and was described as the first taxi company in the United Arab Emirates to do so.

  Aftermath. The reference identifies the fleet change but does not provide a dated rollout, vehicle count, or measured environmental impact.

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• 2022Al Ghurair University closed

  Al Ghurair University, a private higher-education institution associated with the group, closed its doors.

  Other
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• 2011Al Ghurair Foods reported presence across 20 countries

  The food business was described as having a market presence in 20 countries across four continents.

  Other
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• 2010Al Ghurair Foods planned a Jebel Ali factory to support export growth

  Plans were announced for a new factory in Jebel Ali, Dubai, intended to explore additional export opportunities, especially in Indonesia and Japan.

  Other
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1. Al Ghurair