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) was born on July 1, 1954. He is a very successful businessman and politician from the UAE. He is the chairman of a big bank called Mashreq and also helps lead the Abdullah Al Ghurair Group, which is a large family business. From 2007 to 2011, he was the speaker of the Federal National Council, which is like the parliament of the UAE. In 2022, his wealth was estimated to be around US$2.6 billion.
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Learning and Early Career
Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair studied to become an industrial engineer. This means he learned how to make businesses and factories work more efficiently. He earned his bachelor's degree from California Polytechnic State University in the United States.
After finishing his studies, he joined Mashreq bank in 1977. He worked in different roles there until 1988. During this time, he helped the bank grow by setting up new branches in many countries, including New York, London, Egypt, and India. In 1989, he became an executive director, and just one year later, in 1990, he became the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank.
Leading Businesses and Public Service
Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair is currently the chairman of Mashreq. This bank was started by his uncle, Majed Ahmed Al Ghurair, back in the 1960s when oil business was booming in the Gulf region.
His family's businesses, known as the Abdullah Al Ghurair Group, are involved in many different areas. These include:
- Real estate (building and managing properties)
- Cement production
- Construction projects
- Food products, like one of the largest flour mills in the Middle East and Masafi mineral water.
He also leads the Arab Business Angels Network, which helps new businesses get started.
Role in Government
From 2007 to 2011, Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair served as the speaker of the House of the Federal National Council (FNC) in the UAE. This is an important role in the country's government.
Innovations at Mashreq Bank
Under Al Ghurair's leadership as CEO since 1990, Mashreq bank was a pioneer in the Middle East. It was one of the first banks to introduce many modern banking services, such as:
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) for withdrawing cash
- Debit and credit cards
- Travellers' cheques
- Loans for individuals
- Point of sale (POS) terminals in stores, allowing people to pay with cards.
Other Leadership Roles
Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair is also the chairman of Al Ghurair Investments. This is a large and varied group of companies that focuses on food, raw materials, construction, and properties.
He has also been a part of the boards of many other important organizations, including:
- Emaar (a major real estate company)
- Visa International
- MasterCard
- Dubai International Financial Centre (a financial hub)
Currently, he serves as the Chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, which supports businesses in Dubai.
Giving Back to the Community
Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair is known for his support of many charitable organizations. He has helped groups like UNICEF and UNESCO, which work to improve the lives of children and promote education and culture around the world. He also supports the UAE Disabled Sports Federation.
In 2008, he was part of a special group from the UAE that visited the Vatican and met with Pope Benedict.
In 2015, Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair made a big promise: he pledged one-third of his group's wealth to the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education. This foundation helps young people get a good education, especially in the Arab world.
