Mohamed Yehia Zakaria
Encyclopedia
Mohamed Yehia Zakaria is an Emirati businessman of Egyptian origin. He is the longest-serving chief executive of the beverage industry in the Middle East
. He is the co-founder and was chief executive of Dubai Refreshments (Pepsi
), in Dubai
, and institutionalized the soft drink industry in the Middle East
.
with a Bachelor's degree in Commerce
, Mohamed Zakaria arrived in Dubai
in 1960 to gain work experience and then afterward, attend Michigan State University
where he had been accepted for a MBA. His previous work in Egypt
at the Government Accountancy Department, promoted him to explore the an offer he had gotten by the late Sultan bin Ali Al Owais, a philanthropist
, poet
, business man and former Minster
of the UAE. In early 1962 he was appointed the head accountant
for the Al Owais family business
. Along with Shaikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum
the Al Owais, Al Mulla family and Qais Bin Abdul Munaim Al Zawawi
, he negotiated the deal to make Dubai the first place in the Middle East to bottle, distribute and market the Pepsi
brand.
In 1974, along with the late Qais Bin Abdul Munaim Al Zawawi
the Deputy Prime Minister
for Economic and Financial Affairs of Oman
, the first soft drink and beverage manufacturer was brought to the Sultanate. He is its founder
, and until 2006, the Managing Director.
He is also a founding member of the National Bank of Dubai
in 1962, which later merged in 2009 to form Emirates NBD.
In 1980, along with Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum
and Sultan Al Owais he founded, Jeema Mineral Water Company. In 1999 he introduced private labeling to the region.
In 2000, under his leadership, Pepsi in Dubai captured 70% of the UAE market share and had its highest ever net profit of 17 AED
million.
In 2002, Zakaria retired from active duty , although he still retains a significant share in the businessess he founded in both Dubai
and Oman
. Today he runs a real estate portfolio in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and has stakes in active UAE and Omani based industries.
and Abu Dhabi
Government
run companies, and they also operate the day to day activities of the family business.
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. He is the co-founder and was chief executive of Dubai Refreshments (Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
), in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, and institutionalized the soft drink industry in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Education and career
A graduate of Cairo UniversityCairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
with a Bachelor's degree in Commerce
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
, Mohamed Zakaria arrived in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
in 1960 to gain work experience and then afterward, attend Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
where he had been accepted for a MBA. His previous work in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
at the Government Accountancy Department, promoted him to explore the an offer he had gotten by the late Sultan bin Ali Al Owais, a philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, business man and former Minster
Minster
Minster could mean:*Minster *Minster Machine CompanyMinster could also refer to:*Minster, part of Forrabury and Minster*Minster, Ohio*Minster, Swale*Minster-in-Thanet...
of the UAE. In early 1962 he was appointed the head accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
for the Al Owais family business
Family business
A family business is a business in which one or more members of one or more families have a significant ownership interest and significant commitments toward the business’ overall well-being....
. Along with Shaikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum
Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum
HH The Emir Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum was the Vice-President and Prime Minister of United Arab Emirates and Emir of Dubai...
the Al Owais, Al Mulla family and Qais Bin Abdul Munaim Al Zawawi
Qais Bin Abdul Munaim Al Zawawi
Qais bin Abdul Munim Al Zawawi , was the second foreign minister for the Sultanate of Oman, and later from 1982 served as Deputy Prime Minister for Economic and Financial affairs until his death on September 11, 1995 in a Salalah accident, whilst in the car with His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said,...
, he negotiated the deal to make Dubai the first place in the Middle East to bottle, distribute and market the Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
brand.
In 1974, along with the late Qais Bin Abdul Munaim Al Zawawi
Qais Bin Abdul Munaim Al Zawawi
Qais bin Abdul Munim Al Zawawi , was the second foreign minister for the Sultanate of Oman, and later from 1982 served as Deputy Prime Minister for Economic and Financial affairs until his death on September 11, 1995 in a Salalah accident, whilst in the car with His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said,...
the Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both...
for Economic and Financial Affairs of Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
, the first soft drink and beverage manufacturer was brought to the Sultanate. He is its founder
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, and until 2006, the Managing Director.
He is also a founding member of the National Bank of Dubai
National Bank of Dubai
Emirates NBD, the largest banking group in the Middle East in terms of assets, was formed on 16 October 2007 when the shares of Emirates NBD were officially listed on the Dubai Financial Market...
in 1962, which later merged in 2009 to form Emirates NBD.
In 1980, along with Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum
Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum
HH The Emir Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum was the Vice-President and Prime Minister of United Arab Emirates and Emir of Dubai...
and Sultan Al Owais he founded, Jeema Mineral Water Company. In 1999 he introduced private labeling to the region.
In 2000, under his leadership, Pepsi in Dubai captured 70% of the UAE market share and had its highest ever net profit of 17 AED
AED
AED may refer to:* Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, a genetic disorder* Automated external defibrillator, a portable electronic device that diagnoses and can correct arrhythmia of the heart....
million.
In 2002, Zakaria retired from active duty , although he still retains a significant share in the businessess he founded in both Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
and Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
. Today he runs a real estate portfolio in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and has stakes in active UAE and Omani based industries.
Family
He married Shadia Shahwan (1944–1998) in 1966 and has 4 children, Ghada, Nashwa, May and Ahmed. He has since remarried in 2006. His children hold active roles in DubaiDubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
and Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
Government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
run companies, and they also operate the day to day activities of the family business.
Positions held
| Company Name | Position Held | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Oman Refreshments | Founder & Managing Director | 1974–present |
| Dubai Refreshments | Co-Founder & Chief Executive | 1962–2002 |
| Jeema Mineral Water | Co-Founder& Managing Director | 1980–2006 |
| RC Cola Egypt | Chairman | 1984–1990 |
| United Can Company | Managing Director | 1977–1999 |
| Arabian Advertising Agency (Dubai) | Co-Founder & Partner | 1984–1995 |
| AhmadCo Ltd. | Director | 1981–2007 |
| Zakaria Enterprises | Chairman | 1962–present |
| Zakaria Investments Ltd. | Honorary Chairman | 2007–Present |
| TeleMedia Misr | Advisor | 2000–2005 |
External links
- http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2005/October/theuae_October17.xml§ion=theuae&col=
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVDIcpREQJo
- http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-68276718.html
- http://www1.albawaba.com/ar/node/328943
- http://www.pepsidrc.com
- http://www.pepsioman.com
- http://www.jeemawater.com