Faizal Kottikollon is a UAE based Indian-entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the founder and chairman of KEF Holdings (technology integrated enterprises) and Meitra Hospital, an advanced quaternary care hospital in Kerala, India. Started in 1995, Faizal set up his first company, Al Ahmadi General Trading, a scrap metal trading business in UAE. In 1997, he opened Emirates Techno Casting (ETC), a world-class foundry with research facility. Faizal is now transforming the healthcare sector, with the aim of making premium healthcare accessible to everyone through their flagship hospital – Meitra Hospital – in Calicut, Kerala.

Faizal and his wife Shabana founded the Faizal & Shabana Foundation in 2007, with the vision of ‘Giving to Create Impact’. The Foundation has supported and implemented more than 50 projects, till date, across Asia, Australia, Africa, and North America positively impacting the lives of more than 600,000 persons. To date, the foundation has donated in excess of $20 million on various projects. The Foundation launched the Krishnagiri Development Project where they adopted 8 villages for targeted intervention through the participatory approach. By the end of 5 years, more than 56% of farmers are practicing organic farming and there has been more than three times increase in the annual income of an average household with women being empowered to play a critical role in family and societal decision making.

Faizal has been ranked among ‘The 100 Most Powerful Indians in the Gulf 2014’, the ‘PV Sami Memorial Award 2016’ for his valuable contribution to business and philanthropy, and was named one of the ‘Top 100 Indian Leaders in the UAE’ by Forbes Magazine (2016).