Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor
خلف بن أحمد الحبتور
Born1949 (age 76–77)
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
CitizenshipEmirati
OccupationBusinessman
Years active1970–present
OrganizationAl Habtoor Group
Known forFounding Chairman of Al Habtoor Group
TitleFounding Chairman
Websitekhalafalhabtoor.net

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor (born 1949) is an Emirati businessman and the founder of the Al Habtoor Group, including Al Habtoor Motors.[1] He has also served on the Federal National Council.[2]

Early life and education

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor was born in 1949 in the Al Shindagha district of Dubai. His father was a trader in the pearl and gold industries. Al Habtoor attended the Al Sha’ab School in Deira and entered the workforce at the age of 14. In the late 1960s, he was employed by the firm of Mohammed Saeed Al Mulla in Abu Dhabi.[3]

Al Habtoor Group

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor founded a construction company in 1970, which later expanded into the Al Habtoor Group, a Dubai-based conglomerate.[4] The group’s operations include hospitality, automotive distribution, real estate, and education.[5][6]

Its hospitality arm manages a portfolio of hotels in partnership with international brands, including Hilton and Marriott.[7][8]

In 2008, a joint venture involving the Habtoor Leighton Group was awarded a 2.9 billion dirham (US$790 million) contract to construct the Trump International Hotel and Tower on Palm Jumeirah. The project was eventually cancelled by the developer, Nakheel, following the 2008 global financial crisis.[9]

Al Habtoor has held several public and corporate appointments, including serving as a member of the Federal National Council and as chairman of the Commercial Bank of Dubai.[10] He was the only non-U.S. member of the United Services Organization (USO) World Board of Governors from 1994 to 1997.[11]

In late 2025, Al Habtoor signed a cooperation agreement with the Syrian Investment Authority to launch development projects in Syria. His stated plans include establishing a nationwide bus network of up to 3,000 vehicles and opening car showrooms in Damascus and Latakia to support local employment.[12]

Al Habtoor Motors

Al Habtoor Motors LLC
TypeLimited liability company
IndustryAutomotive retail and distribution
Founded1983
HeadquartersDubai, United Arab Emirates
Area served
United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia
Key peopleAhmed Khalaf Al Habtoor (CEO)
ProductsAutomobiles and automotive services
ParentAl Habtoor Group
Websitehabtoormotors.com

Al Habtoor Motors is an automobile distributor in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and a division of the Al Habtoor Group.[13] Founded in 1983 by Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, the company serves as the exclusive or official distributor of several international automotive brands in the UAE.

  • Mitsubishi Motors: Passenger cars, SUVs, and 4x4s[14]
  • JAC Motors: Passenger vehicles, electric cars, and SUVs[15]
  • FUSO: Commercial trucks and buses[16]
  • Bugatti: Hypercars [17]
  • Pagani: Hypercars [18]
  • Rimac: Electric hypercars [19]
  • Czinger: High-performance hypercars [20]

Al Habtoor Motors was established in 1983, coinciding with its appointment as the exclusive distributor of Mitsubishi Motors in the UAE.[21] The company opened its first flagship Mitsubishi showroom in Deira the following year.

In 2006, Al Habtoor Motors became an official dealer partner for Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. in the UAE.[22] In 2013, the company became the official distributor for JAC Motors in the UAE.[23] That same year, Bugatti designated Al Habtoor Motors as a Service Partner of Excellence.[24] In 2016, Al Habtoor Motors opened a Bentley showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, which was reported at the time to be the largest Bentley showroom in the world.[25] A second Bentley showroom was opened in Abu Dhabi in 2020.[26]. The same year, the company expanded its operations in Saudi Arabia by opening two FUSO sales, service and parts facilities in Riyadh after being appointed the official FUSO dealer in the country.[27]

In 2023, Al Habtoor Motors celebrated a 40-year partnership with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.[28] The company also launched a renovated flagship Mitsubishi showroom in Deira.[29] In 2025, a renovated Mitsubishi showroom was inaugurated in Musaffah, Abu Dhabi.[30]

Philanthropy

In 2013, Al Habtoor established the Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Foundation, a charitable organization funded by a 20% equity stake in the Al Habtoor Group. The foundation's mandate covers humanitarian aid in the UAE and internationally. Notable projects include the funding of the Khalaf Al Habtoor Hospital in Akkar, Lebanon, and a 2024 housing initiative for Emirati youth valued at AED 270 million.[31]

Public commentary

Al Habtoor has occasionally commented on international political issues. During the 2016 United States presidential election, he initially expressed support for Donald Trump but later withdrew his support after Trump proposed a ban on Muslims entering the United States.[9]

In 2026, Al Habtoor criticized U.S. military actions against Iran, stating that such actions could increase security risks for countries in the Gulf region.[32][33]

Personal life

Al Habtoor married his cousin, Hamda Al Suwaidi, in the mid-1960s; the couple has six children. His sons include Rashid, Mohammed, and Ahmad,[34] and his daughters are Noora, Amna, and Meera.[35][36] A long-time tennis player, Al Habtoor founded the Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge in 1998, an annual ITF Women's World Tennis Tour event held in Dubai.[37][38]

Recognition

According to Forbes, Al Habtoor was ranked 335th among the world’s wealthiest individuals, with an estimated net worth of about US$2.3 billion.[39]

In 2021, the Al Habtoor Group was ranked 46th on the “Top 100 Arab Family Businesses” list published by Forbes Middle East.[40]

In 2022, Al Habtoor was included in Forbes Middle East’s “Top 50 Travel and Tourism Leaders” list.[41]

References

  1. ↑ Buller, Alicia (6 April 2013). "Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor – The Autobiography". gulfbusiness.com. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  2. ↑ Writer, Staff (2012-11-04). "Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor autobiography". Arabian Business. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  3. ↑ Banu, Mariyam (2025-11-25). "Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor: 7 Powerful Lessons from His Rise". Modern Construction 360 Middle East. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  4. ↑ Andrews, Joanna. "Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor's Life Journey". Al Shindagah Magazine. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  5. ↑ Scheffer, Joakim (2024-11-04). "Dubai Billionaire Khalaf Al Habtoor Praises Hungary, Hints at Potential Investments". Hungarian Conservative. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  6. ↑ Shaikh, Shehzin (2026-03-25). "Emirati billionaire Khalaf Al Habtoor backs real estate as a tangible investment - Construction Week Online". Construction Week Online. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  7. ↑ Anderson, Robert (31 July 2018). "Hilton to take over management of Dubai Habtoor City hotels from Marriott". Gulf Business. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  8. ↑ "Al-Habtoor Group, Hilton unveil new partnership". Arab News. 2018-07-31. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  9. 1 2 Dutton, Jack (March 5, 2026). "UAE billionaire Habtoor openly lambasts Trump over Iran war - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent since 2012". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  10. ↑ Verma, Shivam (2026-03-06). "Who is Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor? Dubai billionaire slams Donald Trump over US-Israel vs Iran war, he is chairman of…, his net worth is…". News24. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  11. ↑ Jain, Sanya (2026-01-27). "Dubai billionaire announces ₹12 lakh 'marriage grant' for employees". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  12. ↑ Albam, Omar (2025-09-09). "Emirati magnate Khalaf al-Habtoor says he plans to invest in war-torn Syria". AP News. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  13. ↑ "Al Habtoor Group – Family Business Histories". Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  14. ↑ "Al Habtoor Motors redefines the UAE's mid-size SUV with the all-new Mitsubishi Destinator". Gulf News. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
  15. ↑ "Al Habtoor Motors win Best Global Distributor Award for JAC Motors for the second consecutive year". JAC UAE. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
  16. ↑ "Al Habtoor Motors takes a ride into Saudi Arabia". Gulf News. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
  17. ↑ "United Arab Emirates". Bugatti. Bugatti Rimac d.o.o. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Pagani Automobili appoints Al Habtoor Motors as its exclusive UAE distributor". Pagani. Pagani Automobili S.p.A. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "Rimac Appoints Al Habtoor Motors as UAE Dealer Partner". Rimac Newsroom. Rimac Automobili. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  20. ↑ Davide Sher (22 February 2024). "Al Habtoor Motors to distribute Czinger Vehicles' 21C in the Middle East". VoxelMatters. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "Mitsubishi – Al Habtoor Motors". Shopping Informer. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  22. ↑ "Bugatti Automobiles introduces the Bugatti Tourbillon to the UAE". Zawya. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  23. ↑ "Al Habtoor Motors – Company Overview". LeadIQ. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  24. ↑ "Bugatti Awards Its Dubai Dealership the Title 'Service Partner of Excellence'". Bugatti Newsroom. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  25. ↑ "Bentley's largest showroom in the world opens in Dubai". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  26. ↑ "Bentley Emirates opens new showroom in Abu Dhabi". YallaMotor. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  27. ↑ Bagchi, Anirban (28 July 2016). "Al Habtoor Motors expands Fuso truck facilities in Riyadh". Truck & Fleet Middle East. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  28. ↑ "Al Habtoor Motors Celebrates 40 Years of Partnership with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation". Tires & Parts. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  29. ↑ "Al Habtoor Motors Unveils Brand New Flagship Mitsubishi Showroom in Deira". YallaMotor. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  30. ↑ "Al Habtoor Motors Inaugurates the Newly Renovated Mitsubishi Showroom in Abu Dhabi". MENAFN. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  31. ↑ M. Al Serkal, Mariam (2018-09-16). "Al Habtoor foundation outlines mission for UAE". Gulf News. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  32. ↑ "This Emirati billionaire put a voice to Gulf anger over Trump's war in Iran". The Washington Post. 2026-03-18. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  33. ↑ Blair, Alex (March 21, 2026). "Dubai billionaire's scathing open letter to Donald Trump disappears after businessman asks about Israeli influence, impact on Middle East". News.com.au.
  34. ↑ Bitar, Zaher (2018-09-15). "From construction to hotels and motoring". Gulf News. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  35. ↑ Lotani, Archita (2025-07-17). "Khalaf Al Habtoor: Dubai's Self-Made Business Tycoon". Business Outreach. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  36. ↑ Writer, Staff (2016-02-19). "Al Habtoor names luxury residential towers after daughters". Arabian Business. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  37. ↑ "Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge will continue to produce top players, says official". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  38. ↑ Gomes, Alaric (2018-09-16). "Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge gets under way". Gulf News. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  39. ↑ "Khalaf Al Habtoor, The World's Richest People - Forbes.com". images.forbes.com. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  40. ↑ Mughal, Waqar (May 9, 2021). "Top 100 Arab Family Businesses in the Middle East". Forbes Middle East. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  41. ↑ Mughal, Waqar. "Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor". Forbes Lists. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
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