Growing with Dubai by leaps and bounds

DUBAI — His dynamic approach to business has helped it grow by leaps and bounds over the years, and it is the same approach towards life that makes him stand apart from others as a person.

Asma Ali Zain

Published: Sat 30 Jul 2005, 10:17 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 3:45 PM

Haji Muhammad Rafiq, Chairman Giga Group of Companies, is a respected businessman in Pakistan, the Middle East and Africa.

“My minor contribution to Dubai and the heaps I got in return is what kept me going,” said Haji Rafiq, who today owns ‘Giga’ (Group) which stems from the Greek word for giant.

Stepping into his father’s shoes in the late 1980s, Haji Muhammad Rafiq took over the textile business set up by his father, Haji Abdul Rahim Giga in Dubai, in 1956. Later, Haji Rafiq managed to expand the business to Pakistan, the Middle East and Africa. At present, his enterprise in Pakistan has been winning the award of largest exporter to non-quota countries for the last 16 years.

His strong belief in growing his business in untapped and challenging markets, made him decide to set up business in Dubai as well Africa.

“I, along with my other family members, worked day and night and developed a name in business, and this is what helped us set up a state-of-the-art textile unit in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania,” he told Khaleej Times.

Dubai offered several opportunities in the coming years, hence in 1994, Haji Rafiq diversified his business and entered into the volatile world of bullion and started a new venture named ‘Mazyood Jewellery’ which is now among the leading traders of bullion to the subcontinent. He is also the vice-chairman of Al Ghurair Giga Gold Refinery which is a Dh50 million project within Dubai Metals and Commodities Centre (DMCC), and is also the managing director of Al Ghurair Giga Pakistan (Pvt) Limited.

Ever looking ahead for challenges, Haji Muhammad Rafiq did not restrict himself to bullion trading but moved a step forward by setting up a unique prestigious gold refinery in Dubai in April 2004. The Al Ghurair Giga Gold Refinery is a joint venture between the leading business house of the Emirates, Al Ghurair Group and the Giga family.

Recently, the Giga group’s newly established entity, Mazyood Giga International FZE, launched the Goldcrest Views which — the lakeside apartment residences in Jumeirah Lake Towers.

After proving its mettle in the property sector in the UAE and with its predominant strength and alliances in the international construction arena, the Star Giga group — a UAE-based community development company internationally developing freehold properties in Dubai headed by Chairman, Haji Muhammad Rafiq — plans to introduce massive real estate projects in Pakistan.

Despite having received several awards for outstanding performances in business, Haji Rafiq believes in keeping a low profile. In recognition of the company’s excellent working relationship with UBS Warburg, Haji Muhammad Rafiq has received the UBS Warburg Gold Medal Award. He is also an active member of the Swiss Council in Dubai as well as member of the advisory board of Sir Syed University, Pakistan.

Haji Rafiq takes great pride in the contribution which he and his family have made in a humble way in the economic development of Pakistan and the UAE, but not forgetting his roots and believing in spreading education, Haji Rafiq has taken it as a challenge to sponsor scores of young boys and girls for higher education and also devotes a significant part of his precious time in directly monitoring the student’s education in Pakistan.