Mumbai-born Dr JR Gangaramani moved to the UAE in 1974 to work as a construction manager on what was then the GCC’s tallest building, Dubai’s World Trade Centre. Six years later he established his own contracting company, which eventually led to the creation of the conglomerate, Al Fara’a Construction & Industrial Group. The firm is renowned for its vast range of services, comprising construction, ready mix, electro mechanical services and interiors. Its project portfolio has come to include hospitals, bridges, towers, malls and villas, and has 18,000 employees in the UAE and India.