AW Rostamani Group

{{Short description|Privately held company}}

{{Promotional|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox company

| name = AW Rostamani Group

| logo = Image:Awr.jpg|

| logo_caption =

| image =

| image_caption =

| trading_name =

| type = Privately held company (PJSC)

| traded_as =

| industry =

| predecessor =

| foundation = 1954

| founder = Late Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani

| location_city = Dubai

| location_country = United Arab Emirates

| area_served =

|key_people = Late Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani (Chairman)
Michel Ayat (CEO AAC)
Dr. Amina Al Rostamani (AWR Board Member)
Huda Al Rostamani (AWR Board Member)
Khalid Al Rostamani (Chairman)

{{cite web| url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=49337106&privcapId=46013208&previousCapId=49162440&previousTitle=A%20W%20Rostamani%20Holdings%20Co.%20(LLC)| title=Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani| website=Bloomberg News}}

| services = automobiles sales and service, real estate, logistics, lighting and travel, trading, luxury and retail

| revenue =

| owner =

| num_employees = 3,800

| parent =

| divisions =

| subsid = Arabian Automobiles, Prime Honda, Autotrust, AWR Certified Pre-Owned, AWR Strategic Ventures, AW Rostamani Trading, Shift Car Rental, AWR Properties, AW Rostamani Lumina, AW Rostamani Lifestyle, BCD Travel, AW Rostamani Logistics, Kar Freight Forwarding & Transport{{cite web | url=https://www.awrostamani.com/Companies/ | title=Group Companies }}

| homepage ={{URL|http://www.awrostamani.com}}

}}

AW Rostamani Group, also known as “AWR”, is a privately held company established in 1954 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates,{{cite web| url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profiles/companies/8238695Z:UH-aw-rostamani-holdings-co| title=Aw Rostamani Holdings Co| website=Bloomberg News}} by Al Rostamani brothers, Abdullah and Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani. The company is headquartered in Dubai and employs over 3,800 workers. The Group operates in seven diverse sectors: automotive, real estate, logistics, retail, lighting, travel and agritech.{{cite web| url=http://www.awrostamani.com/html/groupcompanies.html| title=Aw Rostamani group Companies| access-date=2015-03-24| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315090726/http://www.awrostamani.com/html/groupcompanies.html| archive-date=2015-03-15| url-status=dead}}

History

File:Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani.jpg

AW Rostamani began in 1951 when Abdul Wahid and his brother Abdullah Hassan Al Rostamani, two sons of a local pearl trader, took the decision to set up a family business on the shore of the Dubai Creek. Inspired by their passion for reading, the Al Rostamani brothers opened Dubai's first bookshop, Al Ahliya Library, in 1954, importing much-sought-after books from Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon by Gulf Air through Bahrain. {{cite web| url = https://www.awrostamani.com//templateOurStory/Default.aspx?cat=OUR%20STORY&cId=91&catId=3499| title = Reference at www.awrostamani.com}}

File:Bookstore.PNG

Milestones

{{More citations needed|date=July 2022}}

  • 1954 Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani and his brother Abdullah opened Al-Ahliya Library, Dubai's first bookstore.{{cite web| url=https://www.awrostamani.com//templateOurStory/Default.aspx?cat=OUR%20STORY&cId=91&catId=3499| title=AW Rostamani Group History}}
  • 1957 General Trading company is established.https://www.arabianbusiness.com/powerlists/dubai-100-2024
  • 1968 Arabian Automobiles is established, an automotive and car dealership company.
  • 1979 AW Rostamani Building Industries, a provider of services for the architectural and interior fit-out markets, is launched.
  • 1981 Al Rostamani Real Estate is established to offer property development, leasing and asset management.
  • 1982 Arabian Automobiles enters into partnership with INFINITI, Real Estate is established to offer property development, leasing and asset management services{{cite web| url=https://www.albawaba.com/business/pr/arabian-automobiles-nissan-outperforms-market-2017-achieving-13-percent-market-share-111| title=Arabian Automobile Company}}
  • 1996 Sponsored the first Dubai Shopping Festival and its entertainment -Aqua Fantasia, a water themed fireworks show.
  • 1998 AW Rostamani Logistics, a global logistics service provider, is established. AW Rostamani Lumina, manufacturer of luminaires and lighting control equipment, is launched Certified Quality Cars is established, subsequently renamed as Certified Pre Owned.
  • 1999 AW Rostamani Lumina forms partnership with Spanish lighting brand, Frater.
  • 2004 Start of partnership with Oracle.
  • 2005 Arabian Automobiles enters a partnership with Renault.
  • 2006 AW Rostamani Shift Technologies, an IT and business consulting firm, is established.
  • 2007 AW Rostamani Group brand is established.
  • 2008 AW Rostamani Shift Car Rental is established. AW Rostamani Excellencors, a consulting and training firm, is established.
  • 2009 AW Rostamani Trading, distributor of various allied automotive products and services, is established.
  • 2010 AW Rostamani Group enters the Indian market as Prime Honda AW Rostamani Trading enters Saudi Arabia as the distributor of ZNA cars and genuine ZNA parts.
  • 2011 AW Rostamani Arabian Automobiles is the first automotive company in the region to implement a Customer Loyalty Program (Nissan Road Miles). AW Rostamani Trading appointed as the sole distributor of ZNA cars and genuine ZNA parts in Oman. AW Rostamani enters a partnership with KAR Freight & Forwarding to provide logistics services.{{cite web| url=https://www.awrostamani.com/Companies/| title=AWR Group}}{{cite web| url = https://www.albawaba.com/business/pr/arabian-automobiles-nissan-outperforms-market-2017-achieving-13-percent-market-share-111| title = Arabian Automobiles Nissan Outperforms the Market in 2017, Achieving 13 Percent Market Share {{!}} Al Bawaba}}
  • 2015 GE Lighting signs a partnership agreement with AW Rostamani Lumina.{{cite web| url = https://gulfnews.com/business/energy/ge-lighting-signs-deal-with-aw-rostamani-lumina-1.1622300| title = GE Lighting signs deal with AW Rostamani Lumina {{!}} Energy – Gulf News}}
  • 2016 AW Rostamani Lifestyle expands retail stores with the launch of Georg Jensen, Graffiti Fashion Zone and Apartment 51.{{cite web| url = https://www.khaleejtimes.com/editorials-columns/aw-rostamani-lifestyle-expands-retail-offerings| title = AW Rostamani Lifestyle expands retail offerings - News {{!}} Khaleej Times}}
  • 2017 AW Rostamani sets up shop for multi brand secondhand cars.{{cite web| url = https://gulfnews.com/business/aw-rostamani-sets-up-shop-for-all-brand-secondhand-cars-1.2111134| title = AW Rostamani sets up shop for all-brand secondhand cars {{!}} Business – Gulf News}}
  • 2019 Hilton signs an agreement with AW Rostamani Group to develop a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Bur Dubai.{{cite web| url = https://gulfnews.com/business/tourism/hilton-and-aw-rostamani-group-to-develop-458-room-hotel-in-bur-dubai-1.61315389| title = Hilton and AW Rostamani Group to develop 458-room hotel in Bur Dubai {{!}} Tourism – Gulf News}}

Key People

Khalid Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani is the Chairman of AW Rostamani.

Amina Al Rostamani is the Director and Board Member of AW Rostamani Group, and the Chief Executive Officer of AWR Properties. Previously group CEO of TECOM group, she is also currently a Board Member of Dubai Healthcare City Authority and Noor Bank.{{cite web |title=Dr Amina Al Rostamani |url=https://gulfbusiness.com/lists/top-100-powerful-arabs-2019/dr-amina-al-rostamani/ |website=Gulf Business |accessdate=8 April 2019}}

Since 1990 Michel Ayat heads the Automotive division of AW Rostamani that consists of Arabian Automobiles, AW Rostamani Trading, Certified Pre-owned and Shift Car Rental.{{cite web|title=AWR Management|url=https://www.awrostamani.com/Management/Default.aspx?cat=CORPORATE%20EXECUTIVES&cId=91&catId=3498}}

Group Companies

=AWR Properties=

File:AWR-Real-Estate.jpg

AWR Properties has developed a portfolio of property since 1982. The Real Estate arm of the Group is split into Property Development, Leasing and Facilities Management of both commercial and residential units alongside retail. The real estate branch of the company handles over 2.5 Million sq. ft. of residential and commercial space in the UAE. It is responsible for the development of the 21st Century Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road and the AW Rostamani head office building in Deira.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

The new addition, Mankhool AWR Properties, comprises 327 hotel rooms, ten floors of commercial offices and 182 units of residential rooms. Established properties in the commercial division include vehicle sales showrooms for Nissan, INFINITI and Renault.{{cite web|title=Top 50 Influential Arab Property Companies|url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/top-50-influential-arab-property-companies-190261.html}}

=Arabian Automobiles=

Established in 1968, they are the exclusive distributors of Nissan,{{cite web |title=Nissan UAE |url=http://www.nissan-dubai.com/en/web/homepage/index.htm}} INFINITI,{{cite web |title=INFINITI Dubai |url=http://www.infiniti-dubai.com/en/homepage.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402152245/http://www.infiniti-dubai.com/en/homepage.html |archive-date=2015-04-02 |access-date=2015-03-24}} and Renault,{{cite web |title=Renault UAE |url=http://www.renault-me.com/index.html}} in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The company operates a large network of showrooms, service centers, spare parts outlets, and a "certified pre-owned division" across Dubai. The network includes 9 Nissan showrooms, 6 INFINITI centers, 4 Renault showrooms, 6 used car facilities, 14 service centers, a body shop in Aweer, and 14 spare parts outlets.

=Prime Honda=

A wholly owned subsidiary of the AW Rostamani Group, Prime Honda is the authorised Honda dealer in India. Recognition received include Gold in the World Skill Contest, the All India Technician Contest (DT & BT category), Prime Honda Capital Cars Pvt. Ltd. Parts Excellence Award and in 2016, the Best Inventory Management (Parts) and Winner of all India highest Certification (Auto Terrace).{{cite web| url=http://www.primehonda.com/about-us.html| title=Prime Honda}}

=AW Rostamani Trading=

AW Rostamani Trading, an ISO 9001:2008 certified company, with brands such as TOTAL lubricants, Ceat Tyres, Sava Tyres, Amaron batteries, Fortron Automotive Treatments and XCool heat control films in the UAE. One of the strategic units within the Group, AW Rostamani Trading diversifies its automotive services by offering allied products and services.{{cite web| url=https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/en/aw-rostamani-acquires-stake-in-uk-car-retailer/| title=AW Rostamani Trading}}

=Shift Car Rental=

The fleet currently stands at 8,000 vehicles, supplies Nissan, INFINITI and Renault models on short and long-term lease.{{cite web|title=Shift Car Rental|url=https://www.shiftcarrental.com/about/|website=arabianbusiness.com}}

=AUTOTRUST=

AUTOTRUST is a multi-brand car service company in the UAE that provides repair, service, and sales of certified pre-owned cars. The company operates three workshops, located in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. AUTOTRUST offers integrated multi-brand vehicle care, protection and sales options.{{cite web|title=Auto Trust|url=https://www.autotrustuae.com}}

=AW Rostamani Lifestyle=

File:American Rag Cie Store.jpg

AW Rostamani Lifestyle, started in the year 2012. AW Rostamani Lifestyle are into fashion, jewelry and homeware sectors regionally, with a portfolio that includes international and regional brands such as Georg Jensen, Graffiti, Vhernier, Angels, Apartment 51 and American Rag.{{cite web| url = https://www.khaleejtimes.com/editorials-columns/aw-rostamani-lifestyle-expands-retail-offerings| title = AW Rostamani Lifestyle expands retail offerings - News {{!}} Khaleej Times}}

AW Rostamani Lifestyle is the Vhernier brand agent in the UAE. Established in 1984, Vhernier is an Italian jewellery store. It is a high-end Italian brand, renowned for its contemporary and unconventional jewellery.{{cite web|title=Vhernier|url=https://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/italian-jewellery-store-vhernier-opens-in-dubai-2012-07-30-1.469406 }}

Launched in Dubai Mall in 2015, Graffiti is a kid's fashion store.{{cite web|title=Graffiti store|url=https://www.dubaishoppingguide.com/item/graffiti/}}

Angels is a designer children's-wear chain with 4 stores in Dubai. They are a multi-brand kids wear concept specializing in luxury garments and accessories for boys and girls. The portfolio consists of brands from French and Italian design houses such as Burberry, Kenzo, Fendi and others.{{cite web|title=Angels Store|url=https://angelskids.ae/pages/contact }}

Georg Jensen A/S (originally Georg Jensens Sølvsmedie A/S) is a Danish designer company with focus on silverware. It was founded by famed silversmith Georg Jensen in 1904. Georg Jensen first store in the UAE was opened in April 2016 at City Walk, Dubai.{{cite web|title=Georg Jensen |url=https://gulfnews.com/business/retail/uae-luxury-retailers-want-digital-connect-with-chinese-shoppers-1.2175841 }}

American lifestyle multi-brand retail American Rag Cie opened in Dubai Mall in September 2018. The brand's Dubai venture is in partnership with AW Rostamani Lifestyle, exclusive licensee for the MENA region. The store was established in 1984 in LA Brea, Los Angeles. Brands available includes Carven, Stine Goya, Paige, Levi's and Puma for women, and Barena Milano, Editions Mr, Kappa, Needles and BALR for men.{{cite web|title=American Rag |url=https://thefashionwithstyle.com/fashion/american-rag-cie-debuts-flagship-store-in-the-dubai-mall/ }}

The Apartment 51 brand is a concept store in Dubai. The available 36 brands at Apartment51 online store are mainly European brands such as Baci, Historia and Riviere.{{cite web|title=Apartment51 store | date=27 December 2017| url=http://design-middleeast.com/apartment-51-launches-its-first-store-in-dubai-mall/}}

=KAR Freight, Forwarding & Transport=

Formed in 2012, KAR Transport is a land transportation service provider based in Dubai that manages the national and regional supply chain operations for Arabian Automobiles and AW Rostamani Trading. Operating principally in the UAE and the GCC, KAR Transport maintains a network of international partners across the Middle Eastern countries. Currently operate a modern fleet of over one hundred trucks and purpose-built trailers.{{cite web| url = http://www.karfreight.com/| title = Reference at www.karfreight.com}}

=AWR Lumina=

Incorporated in 1999, AWR Lumina is a provider of lighting products in UAE. AW Rostamani Lumina delivers lighting products to largescale hospitality, retail and commercial developments with presence in 22 countries across Africa, Middle East, and Asia. Brand partners include GE Lighting, Philips, Koledo, Dyna Light, Britop, Tridonic, Floss, Tryka, Leviton, Opple and Eaton Cooper.{{cite web| url = http://www.awrostamanilumina.com/| title = Lumina {{!}} Lumina}}

=CSR=

AW Rostamani officially launched its corporate social responsibility platform in 2018, Enriching Communities, with the aim to give back. Employees have volunteered to a range of causes, including a visit to Dubai Autism Center and collaborating with Zayed University to support students of determination.

{{cite web| url = https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/companies/story/AW_Rostamani_Group_signs_MoU_with_Zayed_University_to_support_students_of_determination-ZAWYA20181023095203/| title = Reference at www.zawya.com}}{{cite web| url = http://al-press.com/index.php/en/business/29-corporate/12453-aw-rostamani-raises-awareness-for-national-autism-awareness-month-with-book-drive-at-dubai-autism-center| title = AW Rostamani raises awareness for National Autism Awareness Month with book drive at Dubai Autism Center}}

Awards and honors

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;"
Year of Award or HonorName of Award or HonorAwarding Organization
2015

|AW Rostamani awarded ‘Editor Choice of the Year'{{cite web|title=Top 50 Most Influential Expats in the UAE|date=17 October 2016|url=https://www.tahawultech.com/cnme/news/cnme-hosts-seventh-annual-ict-achievement-awards/}}

| ICT Achievement Awards

2016

| Part's excellence & best inventory management{{cite web|title= Part's excellence & best inventory management |url=http://www.primehonda.com/awards.html |publisher=}}

| Prime Honda

2018

| Dubai Quality Gold Award {{cite web|url=https://gulfnews.com/business/shaikh-maktoum-honours-business-excellence-award-winners-1.2021407|title=AWR wins Dubai Gold Award|date=|publisher=Gulf News|accessdate=}}

| Dubai's Department of Economic Development's (DED) Business Excellence Awards

2018

| World After Sales Progress Club Award{{cite web|title=World After Sales Progress Club Award |url=https://tiresandparts.net/news/automotive/arabian-automobiles-receives-global-award-ninth-consecutive-year/ |publisher=Nippon}}

| Nissan Motor Company

2018

| Dubai Human Development Award{{cite web|title=Dubai Human Development Award|url=https://gulfnews.com/business/ded-honours-firms-for-business-excellence-1.2210962 |publisher=Gulfnews}}

| The Department of Economic Development (DED)

References