As the founder of Galfar Engineering and Contracting Co, Dr P Mohamed Ali has earned his stripes as one of the Gulf's leading entrepreneurs. From its start in 1972, the firm has grown into the single largest private sector employer in Oman, with an annual turnover of more than $1bn and more than 27,000 staff.

Galfar's wealth has risen with Oman's. The firm has snapped up some of the sultanate's largest infrastructure projects, such as the Muscat-UAE expressway and - just last month - the $101.3 contract to build the harbour and road network at Al Halaniyat Islands. While the firm hasn't sidestepped the Gulf construction bust - Galfar reported a $2.19m loss in the first quarter of 2010 - it has retained a healthy order book, with Galfar Engineering winning contracts worth $106.5m in April.

Outside of his business interests, Dr Ali is the founder of the Oman Petroleum Alliance and the former vice chairman of the state-backed Omanisation Joint Committee. His charitable works include founding the PM Foundation, which promotes education in rural Indian communities, and being chief patron of the Talikulam Vikas Trust.

Dr Ali has been awarded the Oman Civil Order for his services to the sultanate and, in 2004, received the coveted Outstanding Non-Resident Indian Award.