LuLu opened its first supermarket in Abu Dhabi, UAE in 1995. The company pioneered the chain convenience store concept in the region, quickly opening more outlets across the emirate and neighbouring Dubai.
In 2000, Dubai would also be the location of the first LuLu Hypermarket, which would spearhead the company’s rapid expansion strategy that continues to this day. Before long, the LuLu brand was international, with stores opening across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Qatar.
Soon this network would extend beyond the Middle East with the opening of LuLu’s first hypermarket in India. This location would be joined by further international expansion, with others following in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Before long, the company gained a global reputation for high-end stores, exceptional products and dedicated customer service. Awards and recognition soon followed, further putting LuLu on the world map.
LuLu’s stores are known for their extensive ranges covering everything from groceries and household items to clothing and electronics. As well as shops and malls, the LuLu group owns many prestigious hotels in the region, including the Grand Hyatt in Kochi, India, and the Ritz Carlton in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Still headquartered in Abu Dhabi, under the stewardship of founder and renowned UAE-based entrepreneur M. A. Yusuff Ali, LuLu now boasts a business portfolio ranging from hypermarket operations and shopping mall development to manufacturing, hospitality and real estate.
From its humble convenience store beginnings, LuLu has grown into a multi-national conglomerate with strategic locations across 23 countries throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the USA.
This incredible expansion has made the LuLu Group a key contributor to the Gulf region’s economic standing, delivering annual turnovers in the region of USD 8bn. On top of these impressive revenues, LuLu is well-regarded for its contribution to charitable, social and environmental causes in the Middle East and beyond.
