Juma al Majid

Juma al Majid (born in Dubai, United Arab Emirates around 1930) is an Emirati businessman, political adviser, and philanthropist.[4] In 2016, Al Majid was ranked among the richest Arabs in the world.[5][6][7][8][9]

Juma Al Majid
Born1930 (age 91–92)
NationalityEmirati
OccupationFounder and owner, Juma Al Majid Group
Websitewww.al-majid.com[1][2][3]

Early life & career

Juma Majid was born in Al Shandagah, Dubai in 1930. He was a pearl diver's son. When Juma Al Majid turned 15, his uncle, Ahmad Majid Al Ghurair, asked him to assist him at his shop in Deira, and eventually opened a second small shop for him. He began by selling fabric and switched to air conditioners. By the 1970s, his company had grown to be the second largest distributor of General Electric products, selling up to 700,000 air conditioners per year.[10][11][6]

Al Majid met Mohammad Al Gaz in 1952.[12] After the UAE Federation was created in 1971, Al Gaz and Al Majid opened a Pepsi factory in Dubai. He also expanded his firm into carpentry and interior design. Since then, the firm has expanded into transportation and logistics, building, food, and advertising. He also founded Al Majid Investing, an international investment company.[9]

Al Majid later acquired franchise rights for additional international brands in engineering, autos, office furniture, communication, and tyres from businesses such as Samsung, Hyundai, and Hitachi. Khalid Juma Al Majid is his heir.[8]

Philanthropy

At the start of the 1950s, he collaborated with his colleagues Humaid Al Tayer, Abdullah Al Ghurair, and Nasir Rashed Loutah in establishing the first charitable society in Dubai, with the consent of Sheikh Rashed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum. They established Jamal Abdul Nasser Secondary School for boys and Amna Secondary Schools for girls. In 1983, Juma Al Majid founded the National Charity Schools to assist poor expatriate children in gaining a free education.

In 1987, Al Majid founded the Islamic and Arabic Studies College in Dubai. This college, which accepts students from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, is accredited by Al-Azhar University, Dar Al Uloom College, and the UAE Ministry of Higher Education.

Al Majid founded the Beit Al Khair Society in 1990.[13] He established a public library in 1991, which later evolved into a cultural organisation known as the Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage, which holds a collection of Arab and Islamic manuscripts.[6][14]

References
  1. https://gulfnews.com/uae/juma-al-majid--a-philanthropist-a-restorer-of-heritage-1.63821143
  2. https://gulfnews.com/uae/who-is-juma-al-majid-from-humble-beginnings-as-the-son-of-a-pearl-diver-to-leading-dubai-business-magnate-philanthropist-1.1557308020028
  3. https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/arts-culture/knowledge-should-not-be-for-sale-juma-al-majid-1.2097395
  4. Davidson, Christopher M. (2009). Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success. Columbia University Press. p. 156. ISBN 978-0-231-70035-1.
  5. "The World's Richest Arabs". Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  6. "Who is Juma Al Majid? From humble beginnings as the son of a pearl diver, to leading Dubai business magnate, philanthropist". gulfnews.com.
  7. "Juma Al Majid: A life in service". gulfnews.com.
  8. Staff, Entrepreneur Middle East. "Dubai Chamber Of Commerce And Industry Restructured As Three Separate Entities To Support The City's Ambitions As A Global Business Hub". Entrepreneur.
  9. "Knowledge should not be for sale: Juma Al Majid". gulfnews.com.
  10. "JUMA AL MAJID – مؤسسة سلطان بن علي العويس الثقافية".
  11. "Juma Al Majid | JUMA AL MAJID CENTER". www.almajidcenter.org.
  12. "A Life in Service". Gulf News. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  13. "Beit Al Khair launches its Ramadan campaign". www.gulftoday.ae. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  14. "Juma Al Majid: A life in service". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
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