The UAE’s largest family businesses play a significant role in shaping economic life in the country and beyond, operating wide-ranging portfolios and high-profile brands that have in large part helped firm up the government’s economic diversification agenda.

The biggest names in the merchant family constellation – the Al-Futtaims, Al-Habtoors and Al-Ghurairs – also figure prominently in US business magazine Forbes’ list of the wealthiest Arabs, a reflection of the sizeable wealth that the most successful firms have accrued over the generations.

These groups – most of them very well-connected to the Abu Dhabi and Dubai political elites – are poised to play prominent roles in driving growth and investment, as well as contributing strongly towards philanthropic endeavours.

Below is a small selection of some of the prominent family-run businesses in the UAE.

Al-Ghurair Group

Founded in 1960 by Dubai-born Saif Ahmed al-Ghurair to pull together the family’s diverse business interests, Al-Ghurair Group now operates across several business lines including retail, manufacturing and real estate.

The key figures in the group are Saif and Abdullah, who created complementary groups that have paved the way for expansion into foreign markets.

Abdul Rahman Saif al-Ghurair took over as chairman of the group in 2010, and it has moved into the manufacturing of packing products, and has led the development of the luxury mall BurJuman.

Industrial interests comprise Al-Ghurair Iron and Steel, the first cold steel rolling and galvanising complex in the country. One of the group’s most significant holdings is in Mashreq bank, the UAE’s largest privately-held lender.

Saif and Abdullah al-Ghurair together control about 70 per cent of the equity in Mashreq bank, and the latter is the CEO of the bank.

Al-Ghurair Group has in recent years focused on overseas expansion, for example investing in a joint venture refinery project in Libya in 2009, and more recently renting grain silos in Egypt in a bid to expand storage capacity, alongside existing Algerian storage silos.

Al-Futtaim family

The Al-Futtaim family has long been a significant player in Dubai and the Middle East’s retail, real estate and automotive sectors, operating centerpiece brands such as Mall of the Emirates. The dominant figures are Abdullah and Majid al-Futtaim, estimated by Forbes to be worth $6.2bn and $3.1bn respectively.

Majid al-Futtaim 

The Majid al-Futtaim (MAF) Group was established in 1992 by the eponymous founder, forging a vision to lead in shopping mall retail and leisure sectors. Its business empire spans 13 markets and comprises 19 shopping malls, 12 hotels and three mixed-use communities.

While retaining its private holding, MAF has emphasised improved transparency and corporate governance, with published financials that set it apart from most family businesses in the Gulf.

The latest reported figures for 2015 show the group increased earnings by 6 per cent to AED3.8bn ($1bn) as it grew investments in Dubai and boosted interests in Oman and Egypt. Although the UAE remains the core focus for the company, it is on track to solidify its presence in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Oman, as well as establish a stronger foothold in Africa and Eurasia through its Carrefour hypermarket business.

Al-Futtaim Group

Owned by Abdullah al-Futtaim and run by his son Omar, Dubai based conglomerate Al-Futtaim Group was founded in 1930. It is an expanding retail-focused player with a growing international footprint. Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Asia figure prominently as new markets for the group, with Iran also now on its agenda.

Al-Futtaim’s franchise holding includes prominent brands such as UK retailer Marks & Spencer and Sweden’s Ikea.

The group now plans to quadruple its stores in Saudi Arabia, with the kingdom taking centre stage in its regional expansion ambitions. The focus of the group is not confined to retail. It has also participated in iconic infrastructure projects such as Dubai’s Al-Maktoum Bridge.

Essa Saleh al-Gurg Group 

Essa Saleh al-Gurg Group (ESAG) is a prominent UAE family diversified conglomerate, established in 1960 by the eponymous Al-Gurg patriarch, who was the UAE ambassador to the UK for two decades from 1991. The group has a preponderance towards retail, building and construction, as well as consumer industrial and joint ventures.

Active in the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, ESAG has broadened its footprint in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, Asia, Africa and America. Key brands in its representation portfolio include Germany’s Siemens, Italy’s Benetton and the US’ 3M. Major joint venture partners include UK/Dutch Unilever and Siemens.

The 85-year old Essa Saleh al-Gurg is a former adviser to the late ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Rashid bin Saeed al-Maktoum, and remains ESAG’s chairman. Abdullah al-Gurg, his grandson, is the group’s current general manager.

Al-Habtoor Group

Perhaps best known for its extensive construction sector interests, Al-Habtoor Group was established in 1970 by its current chairman, Khalaf Ahmed al-Habtoor. Besides construction – with a focus on delivering large megaprojects across the region – the group also operates in the hotel, automotive, real estate, education and publishing sectors.

It partnered with an Australian group to form Habtoor Leighton Group, which is active in Gulf construction markets, although that is an independent entity.

For Al-Habtoor Group, the focus is now on three hotels under the US-based Starwood brand – a W Hotel, a Westin and a St Regis – at the group’s $3bn Al-Habtoor City project, which will overlook Sheikh Zayed Road in Business Bay, Dubai.

In overseas markets, Egypt figures strongly in the group’s growth plans. Al-Habtoor Group plans to build a multi-use development in Cairo, which would comprise hospitality, residential and leisure facilities on one plot.