growing up with a glorious nation

Two young men with big dreams

Mr. Abdulla Al Shirawi
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This story dates back to the 1960s, to that moment in time destined to forevermore be marked in the history of the world. Oil had first been discovered in Abu Dhabi in 1964, which left the soon-to-be-founded UAE with vast amounts of wealth at its doorstep. The UAE, which officially came into being in 1971 consequently witnessed a construction boom wherein, being a flat desert, everything had to be built from scratch.

Mr. Abdulla Al Shirawi

Mr. Valrani
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Around the same time, there was another story in the making - the story of two young men with big dreams. Mr. Abdulla Al Shirawi and Mr. Valrani, who had shops across from each other near the Souk in Dubai back in the 1960s, wanted to work, grow, and do business together. They became fast friends, and would engage in many an animated conversation about their dreams for the future over a cup of coffee, or in the desert, or while enjoying kebabs at popular haunts in Sharjah.

Mr. Valrani

It was the year 1971

The founding of the Group coincided with the year of birth of the nation.

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A LEGACY OF HARD
WORK AND INNOVATION

It was in 1971 - the year of the UAE’s inception that they first entered into a partnership, initially starting with a traditional trading business, setting up their first office near the Souk in Bur Dubai. It almost seemed as if it had been prophesied that the business was to forevermore share a growth story that was symbiotic with that of the nation itself.

50+ Years of excellence
11,000+ employees
30+ Companies

A friendship formed by destiny

The foundation stone of the Group was and still remains the firm friendship between its founders.

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COMMITTED TO OUR COMMUNITY

And so the Al Shirawi Group came into being, built on the aspirations of two friends whose paths were meant to cross by destiny’s own design. The foundation stone of the Group was and still remains the firm friendship between its Founders - a friendship that was to transcend time, through many ups and downs.

50+ Years of excellence
11,000+ employees
30+ Companies

Our services

Taking the first steps towards constructing a solid foundation

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This was the year the UAE was founded, claiming an identity for itself, with a major thrust into construction as everything had to be built from the ground up - villas, hotels and buildings as well. The newly-formed Al Shirawi Group made its foray in the world of trading. However, soon, sensing the growing potential of construction, the Founders of the Al Shirawi Group moved the business to trading related to construction, building materials, cement, and steel, to name a few.
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Back in the days, newspapers were always a way of bringing people together over common causes - this need particularly felt in a budding nation. This was the inspiration behind rolling out Emirates Printing Press LLC - a concept that bore fruition back in 1974 only to diversify into other areas of printing and ultimately claim its destiny of becoming one of the largest press facilities in the UAE. <br> Newspapers in a new nation : The ability of newspapers to bring people together over was particularly felt in a budding nation
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Around the mid-70s - 1976 to be precise - oil production sprang up bountifully in the Middle East. With a finger firmly placed on the pulse of the nation, the Group made its foray into the Oil and Gas industry, anticipating the need for the supply of transportation and process equipment. And so was born Al Shirawi Equipment.
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Expansion’ was one of the main keywords in the late 70s in the UAE, both for the Group and the nation in its combined growth story, it stood to reason that a stronghold should be created in the manufacturing industry. And so it was that Aswan International Engineering was formed, serving as a solutions-provider for the repair, remanufacturing and manufacturing of mechanical components for the oil, marine, dredging and heavy industries. <br> ‘Expansion’ in the UAE of the 70s : The group joined the nation in its growth story, stepping bolding into repair, remanufacturing and manufacturing.
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The strength of the Group was by now, firmly identified as its ability to move away from its traditional core, and focus more on value addition. This was reflected yet again in the Group’s decision to set up Al Shirawi Enterprises in the year 1981. What began as an endeavour to support the manufacture of trailers for the transportation of goods, eventually culminated into the company becoming the sole distributor of Scania Trucks and Buses across Dubai and the Northern Emirates. <br> Driving ahead with transportation equipment : Starting by supporting the manufacture of trailers for the transportation of goods, they became the sole distributor of Scania Trucks and Buses across Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
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Like a resplendent sun rising in the desert, shedding light on an oasis of growth and opportunity, Oasis Enterprises was established in collaboration with JVC Agency. This was a historic turning point for the Group as it firmly established the Al Shirawi brand as pioneers in Audiovisual, Lighting, Architainment, CCTV, and ELV integration, in the nation. This was perfectly in keeping with what ‘brand UAE’ represents - a brand that reimagined the future by enabling the latest techniques and technologies. <br> Lighting up a young nation : Al Shirawi brand were pioneers in Audiovisual, Lighting, Architainment, CCTV, and ELV integration, in the nation
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True to its nature, and in yet another bold move, the Al Shirawi Group established Leminar Air Conditioning in 1991, going on to serve as a benchmark brand in the HVAC and plumbing industry. This was reflected in the fact that the company went on to become the largest distributor of the world’s most premium brands in this space, in the UAE. <br> There was change in the air : Leminar Air Conditioning, a benchmark brand in the HVAC and plumbing industry, went on to become the largest distributor of the world’s most premium brands, in the UAE.
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Brought on by the Y2K buzz, this was a time when the UAE threw open its doors to the world, encouraging more foreign investment. Logistics was a hot topic at the time, with great strides being made by the Government to set a solid base for the explosion of trading opportunities that globalisation brought to its shores. Mirroring the nation’s growth trajectory, Global Shipping and Logistics Company, formerly founded as a freight service in 1975 metamorphosed into a formidable force in the Supply Chain world in 2005.
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With a commitment to further solidifying the growth of the oil and gas, power, water, mining and construction industries, Oasis Metal Manufacturing was established, involved in the supply of electro force metal gratings. By this time, the UAE had firmly established itself as a major force in the global business scenario. <br> Metal was the way forward: Oasis Metal Manufacturing was established as a leading player in the production and supply of electro force metal gratings.
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The movement began with glaciers melting, and further expanded into conversations surrounding the near extinction of the Great Barrier Reef, amongst others. With a growing focus globally, on climate change and its devastating effects to the environment and the ecology, the UAE set in place a Green Sustainability Program, to create a safer future for generations to come. Inspired by the efforts of the Government, Al Shirawi Solar Energy was established to harness the power of solar, in order to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels.
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Vision 2021 was launched by the UAE government in 2010, with a dream to make the UAE one among the best countries in the world. Education played a big part in this dream. The Group’s entrepreneurial spirit shone through once again, with a bold move made in the Education sector. Arcadia Education was thus established, revolutionising the learning and teaching experience for students in the UAE, with its uniquely holistic framework of education and technology-driven state-of-the-art facilities.

Towards a future of immense possibilities

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The Al Shirawi story has been woven into the tapestry of time in a truly unique way. Its parallel story with that of the nation itself has served as the Group’s North Star, illuminating its path of growth. In fact, it has both played an important part in the nation’s evolution over the years and has benefited from that very metamorphosis of the UAE to a global hub of economic activity. Through the years, the values of honesty, integrity and trust that is the legacy that has been passed on from one generation to the next, reflected in the Group’s unprecedented heights of success. Welcome to the legend that is the Al Shirawi Group.

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Al Shirawi Company Logo

Al Shirawi Group

Airport Road,
Al Shirawi Building
PO Box 93, Dubai, UAE

T: +971 4 282 1000 E: info@alshirawi.ae