Sweet smell of success: Ajmal Perfumes, the story of an Indian farmer with Dh25 who set up a multimillion-dollar perfume company in the UAE

Sweet smell of success: Ajmal Perfumes, the story of an Indian farmer with Dh25 who set up a multimillion-dollar perfume company in the UAE

Dubai: From a farmer in India to a perfumer in the UAE, the journey of Haji Ajmal Ali has been a remarkable success story. The late Haji Ajmal Ali started his perfume business with Rs500 (Dh25) in India before reaching the UAE in the early 1960's. Today the family-owned business is a multi-million dollar corporate entity. His labour of love, Ajmal Perfumes, is standing tall as a testimonial to his perseverance and business acumen. This year, Ajmal Perfumes celebrates 70 years of its operations. Ajmal Perfumes was founded in the early 1950s by the late Haji Ajmal Ali (left) in the northeastern Indian state of Assam. It started as a small business with a capital of Rs500 (Dh25 at today's rate) in his home state before moving to India's commercial capital Mumbai. Their first Dubai store was set up in 1976. The growth was gradual and steady. They have more than 280 stores across the region now and boast an export network covering 45 countries around the world. Today, Ajmal Perfumes is run by the second and third generation of Ajmals; each playing a key role in the brand's development and growth. From a modest trading house, the company has