The Inspiring Journey of AW Rostamani Group

AW Rostamani Group, or AWR, was founded in 1954 by brothers Abdul Wahid and Abdullah Hassan Al Rostamani. The brothers started as a small family business along the shores of Dubai Creek but developed into the two enthusiastic readers who led them to open Al Ahliya Library–Dubai’s first bookshop. They imported books from Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon-needed for people in Dubai, making a vital cultural input to the people of Dubai. This small effort has led to the rise of a diversified and powerful business empire.

The AW Rostamani Group is operating 12 companies operating within seven diversified sectors-that include automotive, real estate, retail, lighting, travel, and logistics. Today, the group employs over 3,800 people and is always looking for new horizons to develop in the UAE. One of the earliest ventures developed by the group was Arabian Automobiles, which was established back in 1968. Today, it is the only distributor of Nissan, INFINITI, and Renault vehicles in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Through constant expansion of its network of showrooms, service centres, and spare parts outlets, the company has helped AWR consolidate its reputation in the automotive sector.

In 1981, AW Rostamani forayed into the real estate business through AW Rostamani Real Estate. The real estate business has played a prime role in developing and managing properties be it commercial or residential across the UAE, and its iconic structures include the 21st Century Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road. The core offerings of AWR Properties continue to be property development, leasing, and facilities management for a panoply of assets including residential, retail, and commercial spaces.

In 1998, the group launched AW Rostamani Logistics, offering international logistics services to meet growing demand in the region for supply chain solutions. This also marked the beginning of diversifying the portfolio and becoming a one-stop shop for most businesses. The group also entered technology by setting up AW Rostamani Shift Technologies back in 2006. Shift Technologies concentrates on IT and business consultancy services, which aid other businesses to cope with this fast-changing digital world. One of the most important accomplishments in the AWR’s history took place in 2004-the company’s cooperation with Oracle-a step that very much changed the technological power of the company, powerfulizing internal capabilities and opening up service delivery channels in the UAE and beyond.

AW Rostamani Lifestyle, formed in 2012, entered the group into the fashion, jewellery, and home ware sectors, bringing into the UAE international brands, including Georg Jensen, Graffiti, Vhernier, and American Rag. This strategic play expands the group’s portfolio into retail business that caters directly to consumers. The group believes that the Vhernier brand, famous for high-end Italian jewellery, and American Rag Cie, an American multi-brand retail store, offer unique and prestigious brands to discerning customers in the UAE. Its existence in malls such as Dubai Mall has allowed AWR to find its niche in the high-end retail industry.

A leadership team with a visionary at its core, AW Rostamani has remained loyal to the founding vision of the original founders. Khalid Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani is the chairman of AW Rostamani and oversees all diverse companies in the group, emphasizing sustainability of growth and innovation. The Managing Director Huda Al Rostamani manages the lifestyle division of the group. Amina Al Rostamani heads the real estate arm as the Chief Executive Officer of AWR Properties. These have continuously diversified and expanded under their able guidance, adapting to the challenges and opportunities facing the market while retaining the fundamental goals of the founders in terms of quality, customer satisfaction, and community involvement.

Other corporate social responsibility initiatives are also undertaken by the AW Rostamani Group, contributing to the community. In 2018, the group launched the “Enriching Communities” platform in a mission to support a broad spectrum of causes and initiatives in the UAE. From visits to the Dubai Autism Centre to collaborations with Zayed University to assist the students of determination, CSR efforts by AW Rostamani showcase its allegiance to societal well-being.

From a small bookshop on Dubai Creek to an influential business group engaged in all segments, AW Rostamani Group has etched an impressive history of growth, resilience, and innovation. It does business in most sectors, ranging from automotive to real estate and from technology to lifestyle, while being dedicated to enriching the community.

The focus of AW Rostamani Group will continue to be driven by a desire to extend its influence, innovate, and add value to customers and other stakeholders alike. Strategically positioned through partner-driven forward-looking leadership and adherence to quality and service, AW Rostamani continues to be an indispensable contributor to the prosperous economy of the UAE while keeping alive and building upon what the founders established.