Mohammad Al Gaz

Mohammad bin Abdallah bin Mohammad Al Gaz^[1] (Arabic: محمد القاز بن عبدالله بن محمد بن عبدالله بن سعيد بن مانع الفلاسي‎), was a significant figure in Dubai politics and business during the thirty year period after the 1950s.

Born in what is now Dubai, U.A.E., circa 1930, Al Gaz was from the Al Bu Falasah family, a sub-sect of the larger Bani Yas tribe, which has ruled Dubai for almost two hundred years.

Often pictured in photographs with the late ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Al Gaz's role in politics was primarily as a friend and aide to the late ruler, and later as the first Chairman of the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates.

As the first major businessman from the ruling tribe of Dubai, Al Gaz was part of a small group of highly ambitious businessmen in the 1960s who pursued the goal of modernizing the city, notables of them include Al Gaz's longtime business partner Jumaa Al Majid, Majed Al Futtaim and his cousin Abdullah Al Futtaim, Abdullah and Saif Ahmad Al Ghurair, and Obeid Al Mulla. In his early efforts after the federation of the country to bring in foreign companies, Al Gaz's holding company, United Arab Agencies, acquired a large number franchises, including Pepsi Co., Nissan Motors, Royal Philips Electronics, Opel Cars (owned by General Motors), etc. By the 1980s, Al Gaz was also a major property owner with approximately 40 high-story buildings developed and owned by his private company. In addition to his business interests, Al Gaz was a devoted philanthropist and is credited with the development of the first private charitable society in Dubai's history.

Al Gaz dropped out of the public eye in the 1980s, during which he retired from public service and divested from his former interests in retail franchises, although he maintained a real estate holding firm. He is often recognized on Dubai roads by his unique license plate - Dubai code A no. 2. In his old age, Al Gaz continues to host guests in his "mejlis," where it is said the current ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as well as his children sometime visit to pay their respects.

Succeeded by eight sons, Mohammad Al Gaz relinquished the control and management of his holding firm to his eldest son, Abdallah Al Gaz, during his lifetime.^[2]

Trivia

Al Gaz was one of the passengers on the doomed BI Dara voyage, which was bombed in 1961 in Dubai waters.^[3]

References

External links

• http://wikimapia.org/217982/Al-Gaz-building
• http://www.zawya.com/cm/profile.cfm/cid730440//United%20Arab%20Agencies
• http://www.dsmgdubai.com/dir1.htm