Dr. P. Mohamed Ali is a respected businessman based in Oman who has made significant contributions to infrastructure development in Oman and India. He founded Galfar Engineering, the largest private sector employer in Oman, and his business interests have expanded across the Gulf region and into India. Dr. Ali has also made important contributions to education through several schools and colleges serving over 10,000 students total. He has received many awards and honors for his work in business, development, education, and social services.

1. Bio-Profile of Dr. P. Mohamed Ali
An accomplished and highly respected businessman based in Oman, Dr. P. Mohamed Ali is a
multifaceted personality known for his strong commitment in education and philanthropy. He has
made significant contributions to the infrastructure development in Oman and India and is regarded as
a caring patron of the large Indian expatriate community in the gulf region.
Dr. Mohamed Ali, a civil engineer, came to Oman in 1972 where he laid the foundation of the
flagship company Galfar Engineering, the largest private sector employer in the country. Since then,
Mohamed Ali’s business interests and operations have outreached to Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Kuwait &
India and the group directly employs over 65000 persons of many nationalities. The group’s
engagements cover the domains of civil & industrial construction; oil & gas; roads & bridges;
manufacturing; heavy equipment; electrical & instrumentation; water & waste water management;
education AND hospitality.
Mohamed Ali’s initiatives in the Oman’s education sector are legendary. These include the an Indian
School, where over 3500 Indian students are studying; the Caledonian College of Engineering, the
Oman Medical College, training medical doctors and pharmacists,; and the two operator’s institutes
giving on-job training to Omani nationals. The combined student population of institutions promoted
by Mohamed Ali is over 10000.
Dr. Ali’s business ventures in India are fast becoming top enterprises in the infrastructure
development and hospitality sectors. These include Mfar Constructions based in Bangalore and
Mfar Hotels at Cochin, maintaining Hotels Le Meridian and the International Convention Centre,
Cochi, Westin Hotel, Chennai & Azaiba Hotels LLC, Oman. Dr. Mohamed Ali is the founder-
Director of the Cochin International airport limited (CIAL), and the Infrastructure Kerala Limited
(INKEL), both companies promoted by the Government of Kerala.
The uplift of his native village community was always close to Mohamed Ali’s heart. In 2005,
Mohamed Ali founded the Talikulam Vikas Trust, to help his fellow villagers through a dream
project envisaging ‘Education, Employment, House and Health for All’. This objective was achieved
in 2010. The P.M. Foundation promotes education among backward communities and the CSM
Central School teaches CBSE curriculum. Dr. Ali is also the Chairman of Social Advancement
Foundation of India (SAFI), an institution conceived to render educational help to socially and
economically disadvantaged sections of the society. This institutional complex was formally
dedicated to the Nation by His Excellency Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India in November 2011.
Dr. Mohamed Ali is a member of the Governing Body of the Council for Promotion of Overseas
Employment, established by the Government of India. In Oman, Dr. Mohamed Ali has been the
founder Chairman of the Oman Society of Contractors (OSC); the Oman Petroleum Alliance
(OPAL); and Vice Chairman of the Omanization Joint Committee, all high level bodies constituted
by the Government of Oman.
Mohamed Ali’s contributions to development, education, and social services have brought him global
recognition and several accolades. These include: the Oman Civil Order award in 2002; the Pravasi
Bharatiya Samman award in January 2004; the honorary degree of Doctor of Science conferred by
the Glasgow Caledonian University, UK; the ‘Business Man Award’ 1998 instituted by The Business
Deepika,; the V. Gangadharan Memorial Kerala Pravasi award; and the IOD Distinguished
Fellowship Award 2007; The Life Time Achievement Award from the Times Group in 2010 and the
PV Sami Memorial Industrial & Socio-Cultural Award in 2011.