LuLu Group

To say that LuLu has changed the face of retailing and positively influenced the lives of millions of people would be an understatement. From humble beginnings in Abu Dhabi in 1966, LuLu has become a colossus with 155 stores and 23 shopping malls in 21 countries, covering 2.1 million sq m of retail space. It is now one of the largest retail chains in Asia, the biggest in the Middle East, with a presence across the GCC, Egypt, India and the UK, with Malaysia recently joining its ranks.

The group has also made its mark on the corporate front by leading the way in innovation, particularly with regards to its supply chain, logistics and distribution. It also holds interests in imports and exports, trading, shipping, IT, and travel, as well as tourism and education. However, LuLu remains best known for its high-quality, affordable food, which is the first choice for millions of people across the globe.

LuLu has long been admired for its strong Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) ethic. Every Ramadan, in partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Foundation, it distributes charity cards to enable deserving families in the UAE to procure food and basic necessities.

In 2017, the group announced an annual donation of AED1 million ($272,000) for the next 10 years to support Emirates Red Crescent, and donated AED360,000 ($97,992) for flood relief in Sri Lanka. LuLu strongly believes in playing its role in environmental protection and has launched a RRR (Refuse, Reuse, Reduce) campaign that aims to reduce the use of both plastic bags and oxo-biodegradable bags across its stores.

While LuLu may be best known for its massive profit index, it is now becoming equally well known for giving back to the very people who made it a success.