SURENDER KANDHARI

Al Dobowi Group

Hailing from the third generation of a family business, Kandhari arrived in Dubai in 1975 with plans to make his own fortune. He admitted in a 2016 interview with Emirates 24/7 that he only chose the Al Dobowi name (meaning ‘the man from Dubai' in Arabic) by chance after a suggestion from a municipality official. The business, setup in 1976 to address a growing market for tyre management and servicing, has since expanded into a conglomerate with operations across the Middle East, Africa and Europe, distribution partnerships with Pirelli and Bergougnan and expansion into batteries, lubricants and other areas.