Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair
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| President of the Federal National Council | |
| In office 12 February 2007 – 15 November 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Saeed Mohammad Al Gandi |
| Succeeded by | Mohammad Al-Murr |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 July 1954 |
| Nationality | Emirati |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent | Abdulla Al Ghurair |
| Education | California Polytechnic State University (BS) |
| Occupation | Chairman of Al Ghurair |
Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair (Arabic: عبد العزيز الغرير; born July 1, 1954) is a billionaire businessman and politician from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He is the chairman of Mashreq, a major bank in the UAE. He is also a director of the Abdullah Al Ghurair Group, a large family company.
From 2007 to 2011, Al Ghurair served as the speaker of the Federal National Council. This council is an important part of the UAE's government. In 2022, Forbes magazine estimated that he was worth about $2.6 billion.
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Early Life and Education
Al Ghurair went to college in the United States. He earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from California Polytechnic State University. An industrial engineer learns how to make processes and systems more efficient.
He started working at Mashreq bank in 1977. He held many different jobs there and learned a lot about banking. In 1988, he became responsible for the bank's branches in other countries. He helped open new branches in places like New York, London, Egypt, and India. He became the bank's CEO in 1990.
A Career in Business and Politics
Al Ghurair has had a very successful career in both business and government. He has led his family's companies and served his country.
Leading in Business
Al Ghurair is the chairman of Mashreq bank. The bank was started by his uncle during the 1960s. He is also the chairman of Al Ghurair Investments. This is a large group of companies involved in many areas, including food, construction, and real estate.
The food part of the business includes the second-largest flour mill in the Middle East and the popular Masafi mineral water.
As CEO of Mashreq, Al Ghurair helped bring new technology to banking in the Middle East. Mashreq was the first bank in the region to introduce:
- Automated teller machines (ATMs)
- Debit and credit cards
- Travellers' cheques (a special kind of check for people traveling)
- Consumer loans (money borrowed for personal use)
- Point of sale (POS) terminals, which are the machines used for card payments in stores
He has also been a board member for major companies like Emaar, Visa International, and MasterCard.
Serving the UAE Government
From 2007 to 2011, Al Ghurair was the speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC). The FNC is a government body in the UAE that discusses laws and advises the country's rulers. Being the speaker is a very important leadership role.
Giving Back to the Community
Al Ghurair is known for his philanthropy, which means using his wealth to help others. He supports many charities, including UNICEF and UNESCO. He also helps the UAE Disabled Sports Federation.
In 2008, he was part of an official group from the UAE that visited the Vatican City and met with Pope Benedict XVI.
In 2015, Al Ghurair made a very large donation. He promised to give one-third of his company's assets to the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education. This foundation helps young people in the Arab world get a good education.
