MP Ahammed : From a Small Kerala Town to the Helm of a Global Jewelry Empire

[Fatima]

The journey of MP Ahammed, the founder and chairman of Malabar Gold & Diamonds, is a remarkable story of perseverance, vision, and bold entrepreneurship. Coming from the humble town of Malappuram in Kerala, Ahammed began his business life not in the jewelry industry, but as a teenager trading agricultural commodities at the age of 17.

Without a formal college degree or family inheritance to rely on, he stepped into the world of business with minimal resources but strong determination. His early ventures in spice trading and construction taught him valuable lessons about markets, people, and managing risk—skills that would later prove crucial.

In 1993, identifying a major gap in the jewelry market for transparent, customer-centric practices, MP Ahammed established the first Malabar Gold & Diamonds showroom in Kozhikode, Kerala. Unlike traditional jewelry businesses of the time, he introduced professional management, standardized pricing, and a clear commitment to quality and ethical sourcing.

What began as a single outlet grew steadily through the late 1990s and early 2000s, with the brand earning trust not just in Kerala, but across South India. Recognizing the potential of the Gulf region, Ahammed strategically expanded into the Middle East, where a large population of Indian expatriates helped Malabar flourish. This global outlook led to the group’s expansion across India, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Malaysia, Singapore, the USA, and beyond.

Today, Malabar Gold & Diamonds operates over 340 showrooms in 11+ countries, making it one of the largest jewelry retailers in the world. The group employs more than 20,000 people from diverse nationalities and continues to grow rapidly.

Despite the global scale, Ahammed has never lost sight of community responsibility. A portion of the group’s profits are reinvested into social welfare projects, including housing, education, health care, and women’s empowerment under its CSR initiative.

MP Ahammed’s story is a true example of how humble beginnings, combined with clarity of purpose and ethical business values, can build a global legacy. From a teenage trader in Kerala to a global business icon, his journey is a powerful source of inspiration for a new generation of entrepreneurs.