Lulu Group International’s latest Indian openings show how its expansion is changing. In October 2026, the Abu Dhabi-headquartered business opened stores inside Chennai’s metro network and a hypermarket in Greater Noida. These locations take the company beyond the large shopping malls that many Indian customers associate with its name.
Founded by Kerala-born businessman MA Yusuff Ali, LuLu operates across retail, sourcing and other businesses. Its Indian growth involves both selling to local shoppers and buying products for overseas markets. For readers following new projects, the distinction between an operating store and an announced investment is especially useful.
Key Highlights
- MA Yusuff Ali is LuLu Group’s chairman and managing director.
- Chennai’s two metro-station stores opened on October 12, 2026.
- Greater Noida’s hypermarket opened on October 18.
- Indian sourcing supports the group’s international supply network.
MA Yusuff Ali’s Journey From Kerala To Abu Dhabi
Yusuff Ali grew up in Nattika in Kerala’s Thrissur district. In 1973, he moved to Abu Dhabi to join his uncle’s business. His early work involved imports and wholesale distribution, long before LuLu became familiar through supermarket aisles and shopping malls.
That background helps explain the business he later built. Supplying goods came before selling them through a large store network. During the 1990s, he expanded into supermarkets under the LuLu name, building on the trading operation’s experience.
His official profile identifies him as chairman and managing director of the Abu Dhabi-headquartered group. India subsequently became a major retail destination: Kerala Tourism records that Kochi’s LuLu Mall opened to the public on March 10, 2013.
The Kochi opening brought the Gulf-based retailer’s mall format to Kerala. Today’s smaller neighbourhood and transit-location stores demonstrate how much broader its Indian approach has become.
How Lulu Group International’s Businesses Fit Together
A LuLu shopping mall, a LuLu hypermarket and the listed company LuLu Retail describe different parts of the business. Treating them as interchangeable can produce misleading store counts and revenue comparisons.
The group’s activities include:
Retail: Hypermarkets and smaller stores selling food, household products and other goods.
Mall development: Shopping destinations accommodating multiple retailers.
Sourcing and processing: Buying, preparing and distributing goods for retail markets.
Other investments: Hospitality and real estate within its wider portfolio.
For scale, LuLu Retail Holdings reported 288 stores across the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries at September 30, 2026. Its November 5 earnings release put third-quarter revenue at $1.935 billion, up 2% annually. These figures describe the listed Gulf retailer, rather than the Indian store network.
India also supplies that international business. In January, Yusuff Ali told The Economic Times that LuLu intended to increase India’s share of its imports to 35% within two years. He linked the plan to direct sourcing, contract farming and cold-chain investment. That percentage was a target, not a completed result.
For Indian producers, the commercial opportunity therefore extends beyond obtaining shelf space in a nearby LuLu store. Export sourcing offers another route into the business.
India Expansion: Recent Openings And Projects Ahead
Chennai provides a concrete example of the changing format. Its October 12 launch introduced two different shopping options:
Shenoy Nagar Metro: An approximately one-lakh-square-foot facility combining supermarket, fashion and electronics sections.
Chennai Central Metro: A 35,000-square-foot LuLu Daily focused on groceries and everyday essentials.
The location changes the shopping trip. A commuter can combine buying essentials with an existing journey; a destination mall generally requires a separate visit.
Other recent developments show the range of formats.
| Location | Development | Verified Position |
| Greater Noida | Approximately 100,000-square-foot hypermarket at I-Thums Galleria Mall | Opened October 18, 2026 |
| JP Nagar, Bengaluru | 40,000-square-foot LuLu Daily | Opened October 17, 2026 |
| Tiruppur | Proposed mini mall | Announced at the Chennai launch |
The Greater Noida and Bengaluru openings are confirmed in company announcements. Tiruppur remains a plan, with no opening date established in the cited announcement.
Larger projects remain part of the strategy. LuLu’s Andhra Pradesh plans include a Visakhapatnam mall and food-processing or export facilities in Vijayawada and Rayalaseema. Reported employment estimates relate to proposed developments, so they should not be counted as jobs already created.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lulu Group an Indian or UAE company?
LuLu Group is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE, while founder MA Yusuff Ali comes from Kerala. Its business operations and sourcing relationships extend across several countries.
Does every LuLu store operate inside a LuLu Mall?
No. The Greater Noida hypermarket operates at I-Thums Galleria Mall, while Chennai’s new outlets sit within metro stations. A LuLu store does not require a LuLu-branded mall.
Are LuLu’s chennai stores open?
Both Chennai outlets opened on October 12, 2026. Shenoy Nagar houses the larger hypermarket facility, while Chennai Central has a LuLu Daily store for everyday purchases.
Do LuLu retail’s gulf store figures include India?
The September 2026 figure of 288 stores covers six GCC countries. Indian locations sit outside that geographic count and should be tracked through separate India announcements.
Does LuLu buy products from India for export?
Yes. India forms part of LuLu’s international sourcing network. Its stated expansion priorities include direct procurement, food processing and cold-chain facilities supporting supplies to overseas markets.
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