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Khurshid Sunil A
B
Vakil Vaswani C
D
Co-founder Chairman E
MARINA HOME INTERIORS STALLION GROUP
Retail Industry F
G
WITH A NET WORTH CALCULATED
at $7.48bn in 2017, Jaipur-born H
Vaswani has topped the Arabian I
Business Indian Rich List for three years
running. His company, which was J
founded in 1969, is one of the largest K
conglomerates in sub-Saharan Africa.
Sunny is one of the biggest investors in L
Vaswani, a long-time Dubai resident,
Varkey Africa and is a keen promoter of the M
opportunities for other GCC-based
N
businesses to tap into. His point that
Founder and Chairman there is money to be made in Africa is O
GEMS EDUCATION proven and his African investments P
HAILING FROM THE PICTURESQUE Education have made him the richest Indian in
Kashmir region of India, Vakil the GCC. His power and influence are Q
began his career at a US Fortune set to further grow as GCC countries R
100 company. But the self-described GEMS FOUNDER SUNNY VARKEY look to expand their operations.
perfectionist decided to turn his is a man who needs no introduction S
back on his previous career in 1997, to parents in the UAE. His own T
and instead joined two brothers to parents – both teachers – first came Nilesh
launch Marina Home Interiors the to Dubai in 1959 and, 21 years later, U
same year. Sunny opened his first school in the V
While he admits that giving up a emirate, starting a career that would Ved
high-flying corporate career was a lead him to be a household name W
tough decision, it turned out to be across the UAE. Under his leadership,
a good one. Within a year of Marine GEMS has become one of the world’s Founder and chairman X
Home Interior’s founding, the UAE leading players in private education, APPAREL GROUP Y
experienced a real estate boom, which with 49 schools spread across more Retail
came with thousands of customers in than 10 countries, with new schools Z
need of attractive, inspired furniture frequently being announced as the STARTING WITH JUST ONE BRAND
to adorn their homes. company continues to expand. in 1999, under Ved’s leadership
Taking advantage of the UAE’s GEMS long-standing commitment Apparel Group now has the rights to
transient expat population, Vakil to the field of education has been more than 75 brands – including big
rapidly expanded and opened stores matched by its success as a company. names such as Tommy Hilfiger, Juicy
across the GCC and South Asia. The In December 2017, GEMS Education Couture, Nautica, Aldo, Nine West and
retail magnate’s personal ambition announced that revenues rose 17.3 Aeropostale – which it sells at nearly
has also seen double-digit growth percent year-on-year to $926.2m, 1,800 outlets in four continents, which
year-on-year as he sets up more with enrolments rising 10 percent to collectively employ over 12,000 people.
shops in the GCC and beyond. 114,000 students, and capacity going The group has a presence far from
With a keen eye for detail, Vakil up to 132,000. its base in the UAE, with outlets across
led Marina Home Interiors’ drive to the GCC, India, South Africa, Poland,
become synonymous with quality, Singapore, Jordan, Indonesia, Thailand
creativity and innovation, with each and Malaysia, with plans to expand into
of the store’s signature large-scale 11.3 million other markets across Europe, Asia and
showrooms designed to provide the the MENA region. In August 2017, Ved
customer with an immersive and The projected student population announced that Apparel Group pledged
memorable experience. in the GCC by 2020 to invest over $26m in Saudi Arabia.
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