Abdul Gafoor: A Luminant Odyssey

In today’s competitive market landscape, brands call the shots and business houses do not leave a stone unturned in their efforts to push their brands to stay ahead in the race.

Among those brands that have become household names is UAE-based Mr. Light, which is not to be taken lightly. Flip through the pages of its annals and you can see a remarkable journey of transformation. A veritable metamorphosis from being a local brand into a globally recognised name in lighting solutions, thanks to the foresight, perseverance and determination of a visionary entrepreneur— Abdul Gafoor.

His astute business acumen and remarkable vision make his brand remain light years ahead of others when it comes to expansion. Gafoor deserves the credit for taking Mr. Light, which initially focussed on the needs of the GCC expatriate population, on an expansion spree. Today, the brand has morphed into a comprehensive range of products that now illuminates countless homes in 26 countries. In this enlightening conversation with Unique Times, Gafoor shines a light on the challenges, innovations and strategic decisions that fuelled his successful journey and made Mr. Light a force to reckon with in the global market.

What sparked off the remarkable journey of Mr. Light? 

Rewind to the nascent years of the new millennium. It was the keen understanding of the daily needs of the common man in the GCC that led to the birth of Mr. Light in the UAE. Particular focus was given to the huge population of expatriates in the Gulf countries. Initially, our marketing initiatives were primarily targeted at this demographic group. After realising that a flashlight was a crucial component of an expatriate's homecoming kit, and given the frequent power disruptions in the region at the time, Mr. Light was conceived as an antidote. The brand name, Mr. Light, symbolises the ambition to provide bright, and reliable lighting solutions.