K.T. Rabeeullah’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming a towering figure in the healthcare sector has been guided by love, compassion and dedication. His life stands as an example of how hard work and kindness, when combined, can create great change. The journey of K.T. Mohammed Rabeeh, known as Rabeeullah, Chairman and Managing Director of Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group, began in East Kodur in Malappuram district. Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group was founded four decades ago.
It was a time when expatriates had to spend large sums to access good medical treatment. For ordinary expatriates, language was also a barrier when speaking to doctors. Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group was born from Rabeeullah’s thought: why should quality healthcare institutions not be available at an affordable cost? Before long, it grew into one of the leading healthcare centres in the region.
A Small Beginning, a Great Success
The journey began in 1979 with Badrudeen Polyclinic in Jeddah. Medical services were made accessible to everyone there, at affordable fees, regardless of their financial situation. This paved the way for change in Saudi Arabia’s private healthcare sector. Soon, polyclinics were opened in major cities across Saudi Arabia. Free medical camps became a source of support for expatriate communities. Major opportunities also opened up for Malayali medical professionals in the Gulf.
Today, Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group is at the forefront, with more than 50 healthcare facilities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. These include hospitals, multispecialty medical centres, polyclinics, primary care clinics and dental care centres.
The group also has a centre in Dubai that manufactures medical equipment and disposables. Its services have expanded beyond the Gulf as well. One important example is Medinova Healthcare, which was established to bring high-quality medical services to underprivileged communities in East Africa. Around 20,000 patients seek healthcare services every day at Shifa Al Jazeera clinics across the GCC. The group employs 1,500 healthcare professionals, including 500 doctors, and more than 3,000 staff members. Its workforce includes employees from 20 countries.
Rooted in Values
Rabeeullah has always had a heart that stands with people facing hardship. He is actively involved in service initiatives such as food kit distribution, medical aid, housing construction and rehabilitation, support for dialysis patients and people with disabilities, orphan welfare and educational scholarships. He sets aside a major portion of his income for charitable work.
Rabeeullah has extended help in several emergencies, including the Wayanad landslide and the Puttingal temple fire tragedy. He has also focused on providing immediate financial aid, medical assistance and employment opportunities to affected families.
By adopting his native village, East Kodur, he also presented a major model of social upliftment. Through initiatives such as pensions for senior citizens, distribution of autorickshaws, and the construction of schools and libraries, he laid the foundation for the village’s development. Through various initiatives, direct assistance has reached more than 1,000 families in Kerala.
Recognition for Service
Rabeeullah has played a decisive role in strengthening social and economic ties between India and various other countries. His contributions have earned him several honours. In 2013, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee honoured him with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, the highest honour for overseas Indians. In 2016, the British Parliament presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his charitable work. He has also received the Pravasi Ratna Award for social welfare and humanitarian initiatives. He has won the Gulf Madhyamam “Arabian Legacy” Award as well. In recognition of Rabeeullah’s extraordinary compassionate service, the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam presented him with the Pravasi Mitra Award.
Rabeeullah’s success and charitable activities have been strongly supported by his family. This tradition is something he inherited from his parents. His wife, Sahra Banu; his children, Niveena, Naseeha, Nada, Amal and Mohammed Fazal; and his sons-in-law, V.P. Miandad, Munthasar Majeed, Ziyad Umar and Mohammed Ihsan, continue to follow that legacy.