Mohamed Ali

Company: Galfar Engineering
Position: Vice-chairman and managing director

Biography: Mohamed Ali is vice-chairman and managing director of Galfar Engineering & Contracting, one of the largest contractors in Oman.

Ali graduated in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Kerala, India. He began his career as a civil engineer for the Border Road Organisation of India, where he worked for three years.

In 1972, Ali was invited by Galfar founding chairman Sheikh Salim al-Fannah al-Araimi to help set up a construction firm in Oman. Initially, Galfar employed just five people, and the first project the firm undertook was the house of the governor of Sur, a deal worth OR13,000 ($33,000). Galfar now employs 27,000 staff and turnover is expected to hit $1bn this year.

Ali has played a major role in developing Galfar’s credentials as a respected oil and gas contractor, he is the founding chairman of the Oman Petroleum Alliance.

Contact: (+968) 2452 5000
Company website: www.galfar.com/