Forbes list of top Indian business leaders in UAE out

Forbes Middle East has come out with its first ever list of top 100 Indian business leaders in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Yusuffali M.A, head of the Abu Dhabi-headquartered Emke Group that owns the Lulu retail conglomerate, tops the list.

He is followed Micky Jagtiani of the Landmark retail group and B.R. Shetty of the UAE Exchange and NMC Healthcare, local media reported Thursday.

According to a press statement, these rankings are based on the information collated on some of the most influential Indian business leaders residing or operating in the UAE.

"The role of Indian entrepreneurs and workers played a huge role in shaping modern UAE and has been appreciated by the locals and leaders of the country," The National quoted Yusuffali as saying at the award ceremony held in Dubai Tuesday.

"And the Indian business community has not stuck to one or two industries but we see their contribution in all segments such as retail, hotels, hospitals and service industries among others."

Yusuffali has also been featured on Forbes's latest list of billionaires with a net worth of $1.5 billion.

About 28 percent of those honoured were from the retail sector, 19 percent from industry and nine percent from the property sector.

There are around 1.7 million expatriate Indians in the UAE.