DUBAI — Shamsudheen Bin Muhiyudheen’s rise from a modest village in northern Kerala to becoming a trusted confidant of Dubai’s ruler is nothing short of remarkable , reported the Madhyamam.
Born and raised in Kalpakanchery, Malappuram, Shamsudheen moved to Dubai on April 1, 1980, following his family’s footsteps . Starting in humble roles at the ruler’s palace—supported by his brothers Abdu Samad and Abdu Rahman—his integrity, diligence, and humility quickly earned him a position in the personal office of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum .
Over four decades, Shamsudheen accompanied the ruler on official missions and witnessed Dubai’s transformation firsthand. This exposure helped shape his visionary leadership—a quality he later infused into his own business ventures .
In 1994, alongside his brothers (including the late Aslam Bin Muhiyudheen), he co-founded Regency Group. The conglomerate now spans diverse sectors—F&B, real estate, hospitality, healthcare, advertising, steel fabrication, and more—across the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and India . Its flagship, Grand Hypermarket, boasts over 90 outlets, 30+ warehouses, and serves 350,000 customers daily with a workforce exceeding 7,000 .
Regency’s footprint extends into Kerala too, with the Focus Mall in Kozhikode and Grand Hyper outlets in Kochi and Kozhikode. After Aslam’s passing, Shamsudheen assumed the chairmanship, with his nephew Dr. Anwar Ameen Chelat stepping in as managing director .
Beyond business, Shamsudheen is deeply committed to philanthropy. He plays a key role in “Thanal”, a charity launched by Aslam, offering education, housing, healthcare, employment, palliative care, pensions, orphanage services, Ramadan food kits across southern India, and building schools in Bihar—all aimed at upliftment of the underprivileged . He is also actively engaged in cultural initiatives such as the Al Manar Islamic Center, where his wife Shamsunnisa serves as a teacher .
Honoured with UAE honorary citizenship in 2003, Shamsudheen further serves on the board of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace and, since 2021, advises the Police Council for Community Services . In 2009, Kerala recognized him with the Kerala Kalakendra Global Excellence Award .
Shamsudheen attributes his success to the ethos instilled by Sheikh Mohammed: “Grow by dreaming.” To him, vision paired with persistence—and unwavering ethics—is vital. He views work and worship as equally important facets of a balanced life .
His legacy continues through his children—Subhan Bin Shamsudheen and Latheefa Bint Shamsudheen—both alumni of the American University of Sharjah, and through the next generation of the family business.
