Ravi Pillai

B. Ravi Pillai, born in Kollam in Kerala, established the construction firm Nasser S. Al Hajri Corporation in Saudi Arabia in 1978 and built it into the cornerstone of the RP Group, a multinational conglomerate now headquartered in Dubai. The group spans industrial construction, engineering, hospitality, steel, cement and healthcare, and has at times employed one of the largest workforces in the Gulf.

Pillai received India’s Padma Shri in 2010 and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in 2008 in recognition of his contribution to industry and the overseas-Indian community. He established the Upasana Hospital and Research Centre in Kollam, and his philanthropy has included substantial relief funding for Kerala, among other causes.

A long-time Gulf resident based in Dubai, Pillai remains founder and chairman of the RP Group and is a frequent presence on the region’s rich and power lists for Indian business leaders.

This profile is an independent editorial compilation drawn from the public record — official company and government sources, national honours, and established news coverage. Inclusion is an editorial selection by this journal; it is not an official state honour and is not a comment on anyone’s private affairs or tax matters. Corrections: admin@federaltaxauthority.org.

Part of Recognized contributors to the UAE — this journal’s directory of Emiratis and long-serving expatriates who helped shape the country.