{{Short description|Privately held multinational conglomerate}} {{Infobox company | name = Mara | logo = | caption = | trading_name = Mara group | native_name = | romanized = | former type = | type = Private limited company | traded_as = | industry = Conglomerate | genre = | fate = | predecessor = | successor = | foundation = {{Start date|1996}} | founder = Ashish J. Thakkar | defunct = | location_city = Dubai | location_country = United Arab Emirates | locations = | area_served = Africa, Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent | key_people = '''Jagdish Thakkar''',<br />Chairman<br />'''Ashish J. Thakkar'''<br />Founder and CEO | products = Financial services<br />Infrastructure<br />Technology<br />BPO<br />Real Estate<br />Investment Advisory | production = | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | aum = | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = Approximately 11,000 (2014)<ref name=":0" /> | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = {{URL|https://maraphones.com}} | footnotes = | bodystyle = }}
'''Mara Corporation Ltd''' (trading as '''"'Mara Group''') is a privately held multinational conglomerate based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It operates across several sectors including Technology, Financial services, Manufacturing, Real estate and Agriculture. The company was founded by Ashish J. Thakkar in 1996, and is now{{When|date=August 2024}} active in 24 countries. As of 2014, it employed approximately than 11,000 people.<ref name=":0" />
==Description== Mara was founded in 1996 by Ashish J. Thakkar, an East African entrepreneur of Indian heritage. The company grew into an International multi-sector business, with operations and interests across 24 countries including 22 in Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ashish Thakkar - Mara Group - Naseba |url=https://naseba.com/thought-leaders/ashish-thakkar-mara-group/ |access-date=27 March 2023 |website=naseba.com}}</ref> In 2010, the Mara Group was selected by the World Economic Forum as a Global Growth Company.<ref>{{cite web|date=19 November 2013| url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGC_Members_2013.pdf| accessdate=1 August 2014|publisher=World Economic Forum|title=List of Global Growth Company Members As of 19 November 2013}}</ref> As of 2014, the company employed over 11,000 people across its various investments and subsidiaries.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/the-lion-s-roar-ashish-j-thakkar-s-rise-from-rwanda-genocide--1bn-powerhouse-574819.html#.VMnaaGSUc2s|title=The lion's roar: Ashish J Thakkar's rise from Rwanda genocide to $1bn powerhouse|date=12 December 2014|accessdate=30 January 2015|publisher=Arabian Business.com}}</ref>
The companies social impact arm, the '''Mara Foundation''' was launched in 2009 to support African entrepreneurs. It provides Mentorship, business incubation, and funding, primarily through digital platforms.<ref>{{cite web|title=UN Women And Mara Foundation Announce Partnership To Support Women Entrepreneurs|date=29 January 2014|url=http://www.unwomen.org/lo/news/stories/2014/1/mara-foundation-partnership|accessdate=1 August 2014|publisher=United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women|archive-date=8 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808055246/http://www.unwomen.org/lo/news/stories/2014/1/mara-foundation-partnership|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Conglomerate companies of the United Arab Emirates Category:Companies based in Dubai Category:Financial services companies established in 1996 Category:1996 establishments in the United Arab Emirates