Education for Elevated Livelihoods
"Seeking an education is not only about personal achievement but also our civic and religious responsibility as Arabs and Muslims. I hope this foundation will help deserving young Arabs fulfil their education quest, and that they in turn will help others."
Abdulla Al Ghurair, Our Founder
ABDULLA AL GHURAIR FOUNDATION
ABOUT
The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation (AGF) aims to empower Emirati and Arab youth to thrive and contribute to the sustainable development of the region through innovative education solutions and authentic partnerships. As one of the largest privately funded philanthropic foundations in the Arab region, AGF supports the provision of high-quality technology-based education opportunities and the development of relevant skills for a successful transition into higher education and the labor market.
Founded in 2015, AGF is dedicated to realizing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4, 5, 8, and 17, which call for inclusive and equitable quality education that leads to improved standards of living for all and the strengthening of global partnerships. To make higher education in the Arab region more inclusive, relevant, and solution based, AGF creates strategic partnerships with international organizations, governments, NGOs, and universities to empower youth and create a lasting impact in the region.
AGF delivers high-quality upskilling and reskilling programs focused on future-facing skills. The Foundation incorporates the opinions of youth into the planning, development, and implementation of its programs, leading to a positive impact and long-term success. To date, AGF has reached over 239,400 youth; around 20% above it’s original target of 200,000 learner by 2025.
Based in the United Arab Emirates, AGF has a strong and impactful presence in several Arab countries and around the world. The board of trustees is chaired by H.E. Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, son of respected business leader Abdulla Ahmad Al Ghurair, the founder of the Foundation.
ABDULLA AL GHURAIR
OUR FOUNDER
Mr. Abdulla Ahmad Al Ghurair is a leading Emirati businessman and philanthropist. As a commitment to his faith, he was one of the first supporters of the development of the educational sector in the UAE.
Beginning in the early sixties, he built several schools, including the first school in the remote area of Masafi, to provide students with access to quality education.
Mr. Al Ghurair also built a model school in Dubai, which today is one of the leading public schools in the UAE.
He announced the establishment of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation (AGF) in 2015 as a non-profit, philanthropic organization.
The Foundation is the Al Ghurair family’s legacy of service, and it is committed to providing thousands of educational opportunities to students across the Arab region in its first ten years.
Through a pledge of one-third of his personal wealth, AED 4.2 billion, the AGF seeks to support
generations of Emirati and Arab youth by providing them the skills they need to become the future leaders of the region, contributing to growth and development in their communities. His contribution to philanthropy in the Arab region was recognized in 2016 when he was appointed the first Goodwill Ambassador for education in the Arab world by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Science Organization (ALECSO).
A NOTE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN
In 2015, my father founded the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation to ensure that Emirati and Arab youth have access to the support they need to thrive. He understood that prosperity and progress depend on access to inclusive, high-quality education and career development opportunities that lead to improved standards of living for all.
As Chairman of the Foundation, it is my personal mission to build upon the work of my father. Together with our partners, we are ensuring my family’s legacy is one of service. We are supporting relevant, high-impact solutions to the challenges of today, preparing our youth for the opportunities of tomorrow.
We are empowering leaders, upskilling careers, and elevating livelihoods through education. To achieve this, we prioritize transparency, accountability, and measurable impacts in all our work. We practice collaborative strategic philanthropy that is beholden to those we serve; providing services that are first and foremost responsive to our beneficiaries needs.
The best investment in the future of the Arab region is undoubtedly in supporting the education of the next generation. They are future leaders of innovation and are contributing to the sustainable development of the region, uplifting themselves and their communities.
We are honoured to be recognized as a key contributor to progress in the Arab region and hope that you will join us in building momentum for preparing Arab youth to fulfil their potential. Furthermore, we hope our efforts inspire others, raise the bar of success, and set a precedent for what can be accomplished through good governance, cross-sector partnerships, strategic thinking, and informed practices.
H.E. Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation
OUR BOARD MEMBERS
H.E. Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair
H.E. Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair is an Emirati businessman and Director of the Abdullah Al Ghurair Group of Companies, one of the largest business groups in the Middle East
Badr Al Ghurair
Badr Al Ghurair is the Chief Executive Officer of Al Ghurair CarsTaxi, one of the largest taxi fleets in the UAE. Through his visionary leadership, Badr is responsible for driving the strategic transformation of the business in line with evolving market trends and consumer demand.
Sultan Abdulla Al Ghurair
Mr. Sultan, Chief Executive Officer, Al Ghurair Properties & Al Ghurair Energy, joined the family business in 2004 and actively leads a number of business units. He holds a finance degree from Suffolk University, US.
Ali Rashid Lootah
Mr. Ali Rashid is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mashreq Bank, Board member of Dubai World and was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nakheel PJSC. He holds a civil engineering degree from Clarkson University, US.
Rashid Saif Al Jarwan
Mr. Rashed is Chairman of Mashreq Bank’s Board Audit Committee, Vice Chairman of Dana Gas PJSC, Board Member at Emarat, DIFCA and Al Ghurair Holding Ltd. He holds a petroleum and natural gas engineering degree from Pennsylvania State University.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
