Dubai - Irfan Siddique M, chairman and CEO of Taj Al Mulook General Trading LLC, was recently awarded with a 10-year UAE Golden visa.
"This country has been very kind to me and given me everything. I love the UAE because it has given me loads of success, recognition, respect and happiness. I aim to live in Dubai till the last day of my life," he said.
Irfan, who hails from India, had first set foot in the UAE in 1988 with a mere Rs200 in his pocket and a chemical engineering degree as his tool of trade. He had struck lady luck when he managed to secure a job on the same day as he was scheduled to depart for India. Since then, Irfan had marched forward. In 1989, he established Taj Al Mulook, which currently stands tall as a renowned UAE-based company for chemical distribution and manufacturing.
Looking back, the chairman described to Khaleej Times of how it all began and the motivation that fuelled his achievements to date. A coffee date with his fiancée in the late 80s proved to be enlightening.
"When we got the bill, it made me realise that if I had stayed where I was, I would be nowhere financially stable in five years' time. And so, I decided I had to do something and go abroad," he said.
With the assistance of a university friend, Irfan made his way to the UAE shores on a 14-day transit visa. After acquiring a job at a chemical distribution company, he strove ahead to open his own company, Taj Al Mulook in 1989, which specialises in supplying raw materials to the region’s various industries such as polyurethane (foam), lubricants, paints, inks and coatings, oil and gas, plastics, food and feed, besides other chemical sectors.
Armed with pure grit and determination, Irfan led the company to its current standing. The company now boasts of significant presence in the Middle East and Africa region, notably in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. "We currently have over 20 chemical engineers and a total staff of 65 people. We also represent big multinational companies such as Dow and Momentive for some of their speciality products," he added.
Taj Al Mulook is an ISO: 9001 certified company with a ‘3A’ rating from Dun and Bradstreet as well as high ratings from Coface and Euler Hermes, which are international rating agencies for the global chemical industry. It also takes extra precautions to continuously improve its safety standards, complete with regular drills across its seven warehouses and rewarding staff for their adherence to regulations and ability to respond efficiently.
In the last several years, the company has also been focused on developing green technology and integrating environment-friendly approaches as part of its CSR initiative. To date, Taj Al Mulook has identified products that could substantially reduce the carbon footprint, and is looking forward to developing these in the near future.
Expressing his appreciation for the UAE and its secure environment, Irfan commented: "In 1988, my elder brother had told me: 'You can live like a king if you abide by the law of the land. However, if you break the law, nobody can save you'. And so, from day one, I have respected the UAE law, therefore I have been very happy. Any law-abiding citizen can live happily in the UAE. Its safety and security are incredible, infrastructure is top-class and among the best in the world. The government also cares for the well-being of all residents and visitors."