SRG HoldingMohamed AlRafi
Chairman
Son of the founder, Abdulsalam AlRafi, who prepared his sons to lead the group.
Our story
A Dubai family business since 1958.
From tea, sugar and rice in the AlRas Deira souq to landmark towers on Sheikh Zayed Road, SRG Holding is still family owned and family led.
Dubai Creek, where the family’s trading story began.
The timeline
Nearly a century of keeping our word.
- 1927
The founder’s father, Mohammed Rafi Mohammed Saeed AlRafi, starts his own foodstuff trading business at the height of the Gulf’s pearl diving era.
- 1942
Abdulsalam AlRafi is born.
- 1953 to 1957
He studies at Al Ahmadiya School, the first formal school established in Dubai.
- 1958
He founds the business, trading tea, sugar and rice in the AlRas Deira souq, then grows into foodstuff imports and manufacturing.
- 1970
The company moves into real estate, with supply and demand as its guide.
- 2002
SRG funds the establishment of the Al Salam Diabetes Centre at Al Baraha Hospital.
- 2012
SRG announces it will fully fund the Rashid Hospital outpatient clinic building, with the Dubai Health Authority.
- 2014
The founder passes away, and his sons Mohamed and Fahad lead the group.
- 2019
SRG Holding and IHG announce a partnership for two Staybridge Suites hotels.
- 2021
Both Staybridge Suites open: Dubai Internet City in August and Dubai Financial Centre in September.
The founder
Abdulsalam AlRafi, 1942 to 2014
Abdulsalam AlRafi was the son of Mohammed Rafi Mohammed Saeed AlRafi, a successful foodstuff merchant who began his own trading business in 1927, at the height of the Gulf’s pearl diving era. From his father he learned the value of honour, keeping one’s word and pursuing long term growth one step at a time.
From 1953 to 1957 he attended the historic Al Ahmadiya School, the first formal school established in Dubai. He worked with his father importing foodstuffs, then struck out on his own, expanded into foodstuff manufacturing and, in 1970, into real estate, where he read supply and demand as his guide.
He travelled widely in Asia and Europe, read the Quran every day at dawn, enjoyed the local majlis and was always deeply involved in philanthropy. He passed away in 2014, having prepared his sons Mohamed and Fahad to take over.
“Hard work and perseverance, and to abide by the teachings of Islam: honesty, truth and respect of others.”On what he learned from his father
“The turning point” in his life, “as it combined trade, industry and craftsmanship in a smart and ambitious way.”On moving into manufacturing
“Success builds upon prior successes.”Abdulsalam AlRafi
“The school of life provides the best education.”Abdulsalam AlRafi
“Youth have much to benefit from the experience and knowledge of their elders.”Abdulsalam AlRafi
Leadership
Led today by the second generation of the AlRafi family.
Fahad AlRafi
Chief Executive Officer
On the IHG partnership: “Our guests will be part of our extended family.”
Family owned and family managed, registered in the DIFC.
Our values
Three words we still work by.
Honesty
From his father, the founder learned honesty, truth and respect of others, and passed them on to his sons.
Integrity
Honour and keeping one’s word: the lessons of a merchant family that has traded in Dubai since 1927.
Long term partnership
Growth pursued one step at a time, with tenants, guests and partners. “Success builds upon prior successes.”
At a glance
SRG Holding at a glance
The key facts about the group in one place.
- Founded
- 1958, in the AlRas Deira souq, Dubai
- Founder
- Abdulsalam AlRafi (1942 to 2014)
- Leadership
- Mohamed AlRafi, Chairman, and Fahad AlRafi, CEO: the second generation of the AlRafi family
- Ownership
- Family owned, registered in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
- Businesses
- SRG Properties, SRG Development, SRG Leasing, SRG Facility Management, SRG Hospitality, SRG Investments and the Abdulsalam AlRafi Group
- Buildings
- Burj Al Salam and the Sheraton Grand Hotel Dubai, Staybridge Suites Dubai Financial Centre, AlSalam Tower and Staybridge Suites Dubai Internet City, Marina Heights Tower, Palacio Tower, Al Razi Building and Marquise Square Tower, with SRG Tower in the pipeline
- Hotel partners
- Marriott (Sheraton Hotels & Resorts) and IHG (Staybridge Suites)
- Community
- The Rashid Hospital outpatient clinic building (announced 2012) and the Al Salam Diabetes Centre at Al Baraha Hospital (funded 2002)
- Address
- 30th Floor, Burj Al Salam Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road, PO Box 11189, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Phone
- +971 4 350 6666
- inquiry@srg.ae
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM, Dubai time. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
SRG Holding, since 1958