Professional Role and Leadership
Mahmoud Nafousi serves as the Group CEO of AW Rostamani Group, a prominent UAE-based family-owned conglomerate established in the early 1950s. As Group CEO, Nafousi is the key executive responsible for overseeing the diversified operations of AW Rostamani, which spans seven distinct sectors: automotive, real estate, logistics, retail, lighting, travel, and agritech. This role places him at the strategic helm of one of the Middle East’s largest privately-owned business groups.
Company Profile and Strategic Focus
Under Mahmoud Nafousi’s leadership, AW Rostamani Group maintains annual revenues exceeding $2 billion, reflecting substantial market influence in the region. The Group has a long-standing history of growth and diversification, which is actively pursued as part of its corporate strategy.
A notable strategic initiative led by Nafousi includes the Group’s expansion into international markets, exemplified by the recent move into the UK motor retail sector. This indicates a proactive approach to globalization, aligning with the company’s broad business diversification mandate.
Recent Initiatives and Partnerships
Mahmoud Nafousi has publicly communicated the Group’s interest in expanding investments into India, positioning the country as a priority market within its diversification framework. This expanding geographic footprint supports the Group’s objective to tap into emerging growth markets beyond the GCC region.
Under his leadership, AW Rostamani has also engaged in significant partnerships to advance mobility solutions in the UAE. For instance, in September 2025, AW Rostamani signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Emirates Petroleum Company (Emarat) to collaborate on mobility initiatives, demonstrating a commitment to innovation within the automotive and logistics sectors.
Another key partnership includes a 2023 MoU with smart (automotive brand), underscoring the Group’s focus on expanding its automotive portfolio and leveraging brand collaborations to enhance market reach in the UAE.
Corporate Responsibility and Workforce Development
Mahmoud Nafousi’s tenure is marked by the Group’s strong commitment to Emiratization, achieving a 15% Emirati representation rate in its skilled workforce as of September 2024. This initiative aligns AW Rostamani with the UAE government’s national agenda of empowering Emirati talent within private sector companies, reflecting strategic and socially responsible human capital management.
Professional Background
Mahmoud Nafousi brings to AW Rostamani a diverse professional background, including prior experience at hartwell Plc, which contributes to his broad executive competencies in corporate leadership and operational management. His profile emphasizes strategic growth, cross-sector expertise, and the ability to guide large family-owned conglomerates through evolving business landscapes.
Digital and Public Presence
Mahmoud Nafousi maintains an active professional profile on LinkedIn ([linkedin.com/in/mahmoud-nafousi-9a7a28b](http://www.linkedin.com/in/mahmoud-nafousi-9a7a28b)), where he is identified explicitly as Group CEO at AW Rostamani. Public statements and interviews attributed to him focus on the Group’s international investment strategies and commitment to sustainable growth.
In summary, Mahmoud Nafousi's leadership at AW Rostamani Group is characterized by strategic diversification into new sectors and geographies, a strong emphasis on Emirati workforce development, and forging key industry partnerships that enhance the Group’s position in mobility and automotive markets regionally.
