Mukesh ‘Micky' Jagtiani is a Gulf legend and a colossus of the region's retail industry. His company is easily the largest importer of non-food items in the Middle East, and although we may not realise it, we've all paid money into his pocket at one time or another.

A self-made billionaire, Jagtiani was educated in Mumbai and Beirut before emigrating to London. He founded Landmark Group in Bahrain in 1973 when he opened Babyshop, selling children's fashion and footwear.

The group has since diversified into leisure, food, hotels and electronics and its own logistics and distribution. It employs around 31,000 people at more than 900 stores across fifteen countries including the Gulf states, India, China, Spain and Pakistan.

Boasting fourteen brands including Home Centre, Shoe Mart, Shoe Express and Spar, the Landmark Group has recently been linked to a bid to break into the keep-fit market.

Al Hokair Group, the Saudi leisure conglomerate, is understood to be in talks to sell its subsidiary Leisure Unlimited, holder of the Middle East franchise for Fitness First, to the group. Jagtiani's firm has begun due diligence on the deal, which would see the Landmark Group add the gym brand to its franchise portfolio.