Juma al Majid (born 1930, Dubai, United Arab Emirates) is an Emirati businessman, political adviser, and philanthropist.[5] He is the founder and chairman of Juma Al Majid Holding Group. In 2016, Al Majid was ranked among the richest Arabs in the world.[6][7][8]
Juma Al Majid | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1930 (age 93–94) |
| Nationality | Emirati |
| Occupation(s) | Founder and owner, Juma Al Majid Group |
| Children | Hana, Khalid Juma Al Majid[1] |
| Website | www |
He is known for his significant contributions to the development of the UAE's economy and society. He founded Juma Al Majid Group, a diversified conglomerate with interests in trading, manufacturing, and real estate. Al Majid is also recognized for his charitable endeavors, particularly in education, healthcare and promoting cultural and social initiatives in the region.[9]
Juma Al Majid held key positions including Chairman for Dubai Economic Council, Vice Chairman for the UAE Central Bank, Vice Chairman for Emirates Bank International Ltd, Director for Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Board Member for AI Nisr Publishing (Gulf News). [10][11]
In 1950, he established the Juma Al Majid Holding Group, which later became one of the most reputed organisations in the Middle East. The group’s verticals include real estate, travel and tourism, hospitality, investments, automobiles, contracting and commercial.[12]
Early life and career
editJuma Majid was born in Al Shandagah, Dubai in 1930. He was a pearl diver's son. When Juma Al Majid turned 15, his uncle, Ahmad Majid Al Ghurair, asked him to assist him at his shop in Deira, and eventually opened a second small shop for him. He opened his business in 1950 and began by selling fabric and switched to air conditioners.[13]
Juma met Mohammad Al Qaz, a trader who imported goods to Dubai from Kuwait and Bahrain, who become his associate and friend. Juma started helping Al Qaz with sales and in 1950, he established Juma Al Majid Holding Group.
In 1956, Al Qaz invited Juma to accompany him on trading trips to Kuwait. They would take tobacco and Omani dry lime to sell in Kuwait and Bahrain and return with fabric and watches from Switzerland and France to sell in Dubai. Soon after, Juma set up a home appliances division, with international brands. By 1958, he added a tire and battery division and signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Yokohama Tires.[14]
In 1962, Juma Al Majid Holding Group entered the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), founding Gulf Trading and Distributing Co. (GULFCO), which became the exclusive UAE distributor for several of SC Johnson’s home and personal care brands. In 1967, the group established General Navigation & Commerce Co., starting the supply of construction materials and equipment.[15]
In the late 1960s, during a visit to a Bahrain showroom, Juma observed General Electric refrigerators, which were not available in Dubai at the time. Pretending to check one of the refrigerators, he picked up the guarantee card with the company’s details. Back in Dubai, he arranged to purchase 200 air conditioners from a GE dealer in Lebanon at a reduced price to resell in Dubai. Juma also become involved in the gold trade between the UK, Switzerland, and India.[16]
By the 1970s, his company had grown to be the second largest distributor of General Electric products, selling up to 700,000 air conditioners per year.[citation needed][17][18][7]
After the UAE Federation was created in 1971, Mohammed Al Gaz and Al Majid opened a Pepsi factory in Dubai.[19] He also expanded his firm into carpentry and interior design.
He quit gold trading and ventures into other businesses confectionery and watches to commercial vehicles, travel and tourism, heavy equipment, sewage treatment, real estate, and food production apart from construction and infrastructure.[20]
Since then, the firm has expanded into automotive, heavy equipment, fast moving consumer goods, office equipment, travel, real estate, and contracting. He also founded Al Majid Investments, an international investment company. [10]
Throughout his career, Al Majid acquired the franchise rights for numerous international brands in engineering, automotive, office furniture, communication, and tyres from businesses such as Samsung, Hyundai, and Hitachi.[11]
Juma is also known for his contribution in the preservation of UAE culture, he established the Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage, with a library, archive, a research and publication center.
Philanthropy
editAt the start of the 1950s, he collaborated with his colleagues Humaid Al Tayer, Abdullah Al Ghurair, and Nasir Rashed Loutah in establishing the first charitable society in Dubai, with the consent of Sheikh Rashed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum. They established Jamal Abdul Nasser Secondary School for boys and Amna Secondary Schools for girls. In 1983, Juma Al Majid founded the National Charity Schools to assist poor expatriate children in gaining a free education.
In 1987, Al Majid founded the Islamic and Arabic Studies College in Dubai which provides free education to all. This college, which accepts students from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, is accredited by Al-Azhar University, Dar Al Uloom College, and the UAE Ministry of Higher Education.
In 1989, he established a cultural organisation known as the Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage, which holds a collection of Arab and Islamic manuscripts.[21]
The Juma Al Majid Culture and Heritage Centre is considered one of the world’s most popular scientific and cultural heritage centres. He has made significant contributions as a member of the advisory committee for the Centre for The Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University.[21]
Al Majid founded the Beit Al Khair Society in 1990 and is currently its chairman.[22] He established a public library in 1991, which later evolved into a cultural organisation known as the Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage, which holds a collection of Arab and Islamic manuscripts.[7][23]
Recognition and awards
edit- 1992: Sultan Al Owais Award for Cultural Personality of the Year.[24]
- 1995: Education Award, Ministry of Education, UAE[25]
- 1998: Appreciation award from Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Wife of the late President Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and Chairwoman of the General Women's Union.[26]
- 1999: Honoured by the Scientific Council of St Petersburg University for preserving Islamic heritage.[27]
- 2001: Honoured by the Arabic Culture Society for his role in preserving Islamic and Arabic heritage, Beirut.[8]
- 2003: Voluntary Work Award from His Highness Dr. Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.[28]
- 2007: Sultan Al Owais Award for Scientific and Cultural Achievement.[29]
- 2010: Honorary PhD degree from the Institute of Oriental Studies (The Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow).[30]
- 2022: Honorary doctorate from the University of Sharjah.[31]
References
edit- ^ Shahbandari, Shafaat. "Juma Al Majid — A philanthropist, a restorer of heritage". Gulf News.
- ^ "Juma al Majid — A philanthropist, a restorer of heritage". Gulf News. 8 May 2019.
- ^ "Who is Juma al Majid? From humble beginnings as the son of a pearl diver, to leading Dubai business magnate, philanthropist". Gulf News. 8 May 2019.
- ^ "Knowledge should not be for sale: Juma al Majid". Gulf News. 28 September 2017.
- ^ Davidson, Christopher M. (2009). Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success. Columbia University Press. p. 156. ISBN 978-0-231-70035-1.
- ^ "The World's Richest Arabs". Forbes Middle East. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
- ^ a b c "Who is Juma Al Majid? From humble beginnings as the son of a pearl diver, to leading Dubai business magnate, philanthropist". Gulf News. 8 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Juma Al Majid: A life in service". Gulf News. 24 November 2010.
- ^ Gronlund, Melissa. "Juma Al Majid's quest for universal knowledge brings the world's treasures online". The National.
- ^ a b "Dubai Chamber Of Commerce And Industry Restructured As Three Separate Entities To Support The City's Ambitions As A Global Business Hub". Entrepreneur. 30 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Knowledge should not be for sale: Juma Al Majid". Gulf News. 28 September 2017.
- ^ "Why Taj handed back the Dubai palace hotel to Juma Al Majid Group". The Economic Times.
- ^ "Who is Juma Al Majid? From humble beginnings as the son of a pearl diver, to leading Dubai business magnate, philanthropist". Gulf News. May 8, 2019.
- ^ "Look: Dubai Ruler visits prominent Emirati businessman, humanitarian in hospital". Khaleej Times.
- ^ "Juma Al-Majid marks 37% growth across Hyundai, Genesis in UAE". Arab News. July 31, 2023.
- ^ "وكالة أنباء الإمارات". wam.ae.
- ^ "JUMA AL MAJID – مؤسسة سلطان بن علي العويس الثقافية". alowais.com.
- ^ "Juma Al Majid | JUMA AL MAJID CENTER". almajidcenter.org.
- ^ "A Life in Service". Gulf News. 24 November 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- ^ Mughal, Waqar. "Juma Al Majid Holding Group - The Top 100 Arab Family Businesses". Forbes Middle East.
- ^ a b "Sultan Bin Ahmed honours Sheikha Jamila, Juma Al Majid". gulftoday.ae. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
- ^ "Beit Al Khair launches its Ramadan campaign". gulftoday.ae. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
- ^ "Juma Al Majid: A life in service". Gulf News. 24 November 2010. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
- ^ "Sultan Bin Ahmed honours Sheikha Jamila, Juma Al Majid". gulftoday.ae.
- ^ "Juma Al Majid". Gulf Business. April 13, 2022.
- ^ "Philanthropy is not just about money, says Juma Al Majid". Gulf News. November 24, 2010.
- ^ "Juma Al Majid — A philanthropist, a restorer of heritage". Gulf News. May 8, 2019.
- ^ "Juma Al Majid - a man of over thousand initiatives". Khaleej Times.
- ^ "Juma Al Majid is Islamic Personality of the Year". Khaleej Times.
- ^ "Juma Al Majid: A life in service". Gulf News. November 24, 2010.
- ^ "وكالة أنباء الإمارات". wam.ae.