| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Abdulla Hamad Al Futtaim |
| Profession(s) | Businessman, Investor, Philanthropist |
| Famous For | Being the founder of the Al-Futtaim Group |
| Physical Stats | |
| Height (approx.) | 5' 9" (175 cm) |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | Year, 1940 |
| Age (as of 2025) | 85 Years |
| Birthplace | Dubai |
| Nationality | Emirati |
| Hometown | Dubai |
| Religion | Islam |
| Social Media | • Instagram • YouTube |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Widower |
| Family | |
| Wife/Spouse | Shaikha Mohammed Al Futtaim (passed away in March 2023) |
| Children | Son(s)- 5 • Omar Abdulla Al Futtaim (CEO and Vice Chairman of the Al-Futtaim Group)  • Abubakr Abdulla Al Futtaim  • Ali Abdulla Al Futtaim • Khaled Abdulla Al Futtaim • Mohammed Abdulla Al Futtaim |
| Parents | Father- Hamad Al Futtaim (businessman) |
| Other Relatives | Paternal Cousin- Majid Al Futtaim (1934 - 17 December 2021) (businessman, founder of the Majid Al Futtaim Group) |
| Style Quotient | |
| Yacht Collection | Radiant (built in 2009 and purchased for EUR 240 million) |
| Money Factor | |
| Net Worth (approx.) | $4.7 billion (as of 1 May 2025) |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Abdulla Al Futtaim
- Abdulla Al Futtaim was born into a religious Muslim family in Dubai.
- At the young age of 20, Abdulla played a vital role in securing a contract with Japan-based Toyota Motor Corporation for his company, Al-Futtaim Group, to sell cars in the UAE.
- In 1971, the company signed a deal with Honda in Japan to sell their products in the UAE.
- His business, over time, has acquired deals with international brands such as Hertz, Ikea, Toys “R” Us, and Marks and Spencer to manufacture and distribute their products in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- In 1975, he played an important role in signing a deal with Volvo to manufacture its trucks and buses. Thereafter, he laid the foundation of Al-Futtaim Auto and Machinery Company (FAMCO); a part of its shares was later given to Volvo to further the partnership.
- Abdulla Al Futtaim played a vital role in brokering a deal between Toyota and Egypt to assist Toyota in establishing a market base in the country in 1979.
- His company has also established numerous shopping malls at Dubai Festival City, Dubai Festival Plaza, Doha Festival City, and Cairo Festival City.
- In 2000, the company was split into two between Abdulla and his cousin, Majid Al Futtaim, following which Abdulla took over the automotive and retail business of the parent company, while Majid retained the property development business.
- It is claimed that the head of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, played a vital role in finalising the contract between Abdulla and Majid.
Abdulla Al Futtaim (seated to the right) with the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
- In 2008, Al-Futtaim Group purchased 88 per cent of the stake at Robinsons & Co. Pte Ltd (now known as Robinsons Department Stores Online Pte Ltd) for S$7.20/ stake.
- To make his company more “customer-friendly,” Abdulla Al Futtaim instructed the establishment of a 24x7x365 customer help desk in 2010. He also launched numerous forward-thinking employee and customer engagement programmes to enhance interoperability.
- Another milestone which the company achieved was the 100 per cent acquisition for $86 million of CMC Holdings, a car retailer company in Nairobi, in 2013.
- In the same year, he assisted Al Futtaim Group in signing a deal with an Italian multinational transport vehicle manufacturing company called IVECO (Industrial Vehicles Corporation) and established Al-Futtaim Leasing to sell vehicles for IVECO.
- In 2018, the group secured a major international market base by establishing several Marks and Spencer outlets in Hong Kong, China, and Macau after purchasing the rights.
- He has established the Al-Futtaim Automotive Academy.
- Abdulla Al Futtaim has also served as the chairman of the Orient Insurance Company in the UAE.
- Other than business, Abdulla has invested in various schemes in the UAE aimed at uplifting the poor and the needy.
- As of 2025, his company operated in more than 35 countries across the Middle East and Africa.
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