Shaikh Mohammed Saeed Group of Companies

About the Founder

Shaikh Mohammed Saeed was born on February 5, 1942, in Delhi, British India. Shaikh, his parents’ third child, spent his early youth under British colonial rule, before India gained its independence in 1947.^[3] Following the partition, his family relocated to Karachi in the newly formed country of Pakistan, joining many other Muslims from Delhi.^[4] In 1954, when Shaikh was 12 years old, his family moved again, becoming one of the earliest Pakistani families to settle in Dubai.^[5]

The family initially faced hardships in their new home, with limited access to food, water, and electricity.^[6] Shaikh’s father, who was nicknamed “Dhamma” (a sobriquet adopted by later generations as the family name), built strong relationships in the community of Dubai. At the time, the city was seen as a land of opportunity, attracting an increasing number of immigrants. In 1954, Dhamma set up a small perfume shop under the name of Al Hunaidi in Deira old Souk across the street from the family’s home. It is believed to be the oldest perfume retail shop in Dubai still in operation.^[7]

Founding Story

Shaikh had a persistent dream of following in his father’s footsteps and building a global perfume empire.^[8] Embarking on his first entrepreneurial journey at the age of 21 with minimal funds, Shaikh headed to Mumbai to acquire raw materials for perfumes and manufacture them himself.^[9] In 1963, he returned to the Gulf region and established Dhamma Trading Company LLC with his father.^[10] The shop was rebranded as Dhammasons and began the distribution of French fragrances.^[11]

Growth Phase

The stores grew in popularity and attracted prominent customers—most importantly, Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s ruler, who became close friends with Shaikh Mohammed Saeed and would regularly purchase from the family business.^[12] Following the unification of the United Arab Emirates in 1971 and the subsequent flourishing of Dubai’s economy, the family business experienced rapid growth. In the early 1970s, its stores were at last supplied with water and electricity lines, after operating without basic amenities such as water and electricity for years.^[13]

During the course of the decade, Shaikh Mohammed Saeed Group became a pioneer importer of Japanese perfumes to the UAE, pricing the small bottles at a dollar each. Shaikh established a distribution network spanning Europe and Africa, and in 1976, Dhammasons opened its own fully equipped factory with a laboratory.^[14]

On December 13, 1982, Shaikh’s son Muhammed Ali was born.^[15] He grew up in the UAE and graduated with a bachelor’s in business administration from the American University in Dubai in 2004, and later an MBA from SP Jain School of Global Management, after which he became involved in the family business.^[16] In 2009, Shaikh Mohammed Saeed passed away; Muhammed Ali took the reins of the family business as CEO of what became known as the Shaikh Mohammed Saeed Group of Companies.^[17]

Today

Today, the Shaikh Mohammed Saeed Group of Companies maintains its headquarters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.^[18] The original Al Hunaidi branch, which opened in 1954, is still in operation, and its site has been classified as a heritage building by the UAE government.^[19]

The family business is currently managed by Muhammed Ali, who plans to involve his own children when they come of age. The group encompasses the original Al Hunaidi and Dhammasons, along with several other subsidiaries established over the years, such as Giovanni Bacci, Bernard-Dimitri, and Paris Delice.^[20]

Boasting 11 stores under the Shaikh Saeed, Dhammasons, and Al Hunaidi brand names, the group has a significant presence across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain. Operating three factories within the UAE, the group produces approximately 100,000 perfume bottles per day and distributes its products to more than 40 countries. ^[21]