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LuLu Group International Chairman and Managing Director Yusuff Ali MA has outlined an ambitious twin-track expansion strategy , scaling up in both India and Saudi Arabia , as part of his group’s global growth plans underpinned by Vision 2030 and India’s domestic consumption boom. Speaking exclusively to Times Network on the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative (FII9) in Riyadh, Yusuff Ali revealed plans to invest Rs 10,000–15,000 crore in India over the next five years, focusing on food processing, retail infrastructure, and logistics integration. “For India, in five years we’ve marked about Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 crore in different places,” he told Times Netwoek. “We are concentrating also in food processing , we need products from India for our retail outlets and hypermarkets in the Gulf.” The billionaire entrepreneur, who started with a small grocery store in Abu Dhabi and now runs a group employing over 75,000 people with $8 billion (Rs 66,000 crore) in turnover, said the Middle East’s liberalised investment landscape continues to attract global capital. “GCC countries have visionary leaders liberalising rules and regulations, changing laws according to the environment of the world market,” Yusuff Ali said. “Now we have about 380 hypermarkets and shopping malls across the GCC.” Expansion Aligned with Vision 2030 On the Kingdom’s transformation goals, Yusuff Ali reiterated LuLu Group’s alignment with Saudi Vision 2030, confirming that the company is close to completing its targeted retail footprint. “When His Royal Highness decreed Vision 2030, we also declared that we will reach 100 shops. Now we have 71 projects , that means about 70% reached. By 2030, we will reach 100 hypermarkets.” Yusuff Ali noted that Saudi Arabia’s “developed infrastructure and government incentives” make it a pivotal logistics and retail hub for the next decade. India’s Growing Global Clout Turning to India’s role in the global economy, the LuLu chief underscored confidence in the country’s fundamentals, calling it an “unignorable” investment destination despite geopolitical uncertainty. “No country in the world can ignore India,” he said firmly. “India is a great country , we have our own natural resources, strong people, and an educated, talented young population.” Watch Here: Yusuff Ali MA Chairman & Managing Director Of LuLu Group At FII9 Riyadh | Watch Now | Business News He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, crediting policy reforms and a focus on ease of doing business for improving the investment climate: “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, we are going fast in the economy. Everybody has confidence that we will reach.” Empowerment Through Employment For Yusuff Ali, economic development is synonymous with job creation and social impact. He emphasised that India’s “young, intellectual generation” is central to the country’s growth narrative. “Development means giving employment to the young generation. We have got educated, intellectual, young people , boys and girls , in all states,” he said. “We believe in our people, and this will happen.” A Businessman With a Human Touch Asked about a viral video showing him carrying the coffin of an employee, Yusuff Ali responded with characteristic humility: “All my employees are my family members,” he said. “It is my duty and responsibility… This is from the heart.” He also offered advice for India’s next generation of entrepreneurs: “Be punctual. Take care of your employees , then they will take care of you and your business. Pay on time and don’t spend more than what you earn.” LuLu Group’s dual push , toward deepening its India sourcing and retail infrastructure while expanding its GCC footprint , positions the company at the heart of two of the world’s fastest-growing consumer economies. With Rs 15,000 crore earmarked for Indian investments and a clear roadmap toward 100 stores in Saudi Arabia by 2030, the Kerala-born entrepreneur’s journey from a small grocery in Abu Dhabi to a global retail empire mirrors the growth aspirations of both nations. About FII Institute The FII Institute is a global nonprofit foundation with an investment arm and one agenda: Impact on Humanity. Through its THINK, XCHANGE, and ACT pillars, the Institute fosters great ideas, empowers innovators, and invests in scalable solutions across critical sectors including AI and robotics, sustainability, healthcare, and education. For more information, please visit: https://fii-institute.org
