Naranjan Naidoo

Historical Background

Born on June 19th, 1959, Naranjan R. Naidoo is the descendant of the distinguished Naidoo family. Originating in Pondicherry, a territory located in South India, the family immigrated to South Africa in the late 1800s, where Naidoo’s grandfather settled in Durban and began to grow his business empire.

With the country torn by apartheid and its related political disturbances, Naranjan’s family fled South Africa in the early part of the 1960s. They moved to the United Kingdom where Naranjan’s father, R. R. Naidoo, continued in his father’s footsteps, carving out a niche for himself in the business world and establishing his family’s foothold in their new homeland. After his father death in 1983, his son Naranjan took charge of the family business and has continued to grow it ever since, honoring his father and grandfather’s legacy.

Personal Details

Today, Naranjan Naidoo is married and has two children of whom he is very proud. Annika, his daughter, is 23 years old and has embarked on a business career of her own. Nikhil, his son, is 20 years old, and is currently finishing up his bachelor’s degree at the University of London, following which he will be begin working towards his MBA.

Naranjan himself, who currently lives in Dubai of the United Arab Emirates, while maintaining his British citizenship, also studied in London. He maintains a strong interest in sports such as squash, and in keeping himself physically and mentally fit.

Current Business

Naranjan Naidoo’s company, headquartered in Dubai, flies under the banner of Gulf Pacific, and has a toehold in several industries; he deals in commodities and futures as well as in base metals, oil and gas. He also deals in private equity and real estate, and manages the family’s investment trust fund.

Professional History

Over the last 20 years, Naranjan Naidoo has had his hand in a number of large transactions involving governments in Africa as well as the Middle East. He has been credited with raising billions of dollars in funds for important multinational deals, and he regularly commutes between the Middle East, Europe and Africa, and occasionally to China and India, to carry on his work. Throughout the Middle East and Africa, his name is known in the highest echelons, particularly in the political arenas.

Humanitarian Endeavors

Naranjan R. Naidoo participates in a variety of endeavors to serve society, the main ones including the World Economic Forum, a non-profit foundation that brings together world leaders to discuss problems humanity is facing; The UN Global Compact, an initiative that was established to encourage businesses to adopt sustainable practices and to become more aware of their social responsibility; and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which endeavors to promote a just and fair society by promoting the ideas of its father. Mr. Naidoo, who takes his social work very seriously, is looking through these methods any others, to encourage developing countries to improve the circumstances of their citizens, to see an end to poverty and to enable people to live rich and fulfilling lives.