Farooq family

The Faruq al-Arshi (Arabic: فاروق) family are a Sunni Muslim Family that originates from Saudi Arabia belonging to the Al ansar tribe that settled in Bastak in the Hormozgan province in Iran in the year 1200 Hijri. The family is amongst the first of UAE’s business and aristocratic families.[1][2]

Farooq family seal
Farooq Family Tree 1
Late Al Hajj Mohammed Aqil was widely recognised as the most successful merchant of his time.
"The Great Farooq" Farooq Bin Mohammed Aqil

As of 2014, the majority of the family members reside in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, United States and Canada. The Farooq Al Arshi family are the first cousins of the Al Olema family.[2] The Al Olemas are also known as the Sheikh Sultan Al Ulama, the Fikree and the Al Khaldi family.

Background

The Al Arshi family led by Al Hajj Mohammed Aqil was part of the first wave of migration which started in 1899 due to the "introduction of customs tax by the Persian government under the Qajar dynasty which led to reduced profits for merchants.[3]

Political instability in 1909, and a flu epidemic in 1918 saw the heads of most merchant families from Bastak relocate to the Arab States of the Persian Gulf, Karachi and the Indian Ocean regions.[3]

After Al Hajj Mohammed Aqil died, his sons Mohammed Farooq, known as The Great Farooq and Ahmed Al Arshi took over as the heads of the family expanding the business internationally and mainly trading in diamonds, pearls and precious stones. As Coles and Jakson put it "The Great Farooq’s generosity and hospitality earned him respect and a reputable status amongst Gulf royalty".[2]

After Mohammed Farooq died, his son Abdulkarim Farooq became the heir to the family. Abdulkarim Farooq was also an advisor to the former rulers across the Persian Gulf.[4]

Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al maktoum with Abdulkarim Farooq, Dr. Mohammed Habib Al Redha and Saeed Al Oteiba in Bombay during a business trip

Abdulkarim Farooq owned a general trading establishment in Al Bastakiya, Dubai known as London store which specialized in importing quality brands directly from London,UK. He was regarded as the "wealthiest man in Dubai and owned symbols of affluence which included a yacht".[5]

The rapidly expanding family business is now a truly global brand through various members of the respectable family amongst which is son of Mohammed Aqil Mohammed Farooq Mohammed Aqil Arshi: Dr. Mohammed Zubair Farooq Al Arshi, a renowned poet [6] and medical doctor.[7]

Family members that currently rule the business including Mohammed Farooq Abdulkarim Farooq and Essa Farooq Abdulkarim Farooq. The family is profoundly known for their ambitious, entrepreneurial and philanthropist stance and work with many international, commercial and Charitable organisations.[8]

This mosque was built by the Farooq family for the purpose of worship during their early business travel to Dubai
Farooq Mansion In Bahrain. Now Ibn Sena medical centre

The female members of the Farooq family have also contributed successfully. Faiqa Farooq, daughter of The Great Farooq, was the Arab world's first female ambassador[9] of the United Nations. Faiqa was born in Paris in 1929, and joined the diplomatic corps of Tunisia due to her Tunisian mother, and was soon posted to Washington as the Third Secretary.[10]

Social responsibility

The Al Arshi family has a history of association with humanitarian causes. The Bait (house) Farooq in Bahrain played host to many events that contributed to the good of society.[11] One of the most renowned political events that were held at the "Bait" Farooq during 1948, provided the initial impetus of Bahrain’s support for Palestine. The mass meeting led to many generous donations and lectures about Palestine during the year.[11]

Today, the generosity of the Al Arshi family is evident through various landmarks such as a mosques [12] and the Farooq House [13] part of the Dubai creek heritage in Al Bastakiya, Dubai and a museum in Bandar Lengeh all named after the family.

The Al Arshi’s continue to support various global initiatives focused on humanitarian and environmental issues.[14]

Trivia

In English, the family name is often spelt ‘Farooq’ / ‘Faruk’ or ‘Faruq’, however in Arabic and Persian the spelling is فاروق.

Businesses were often operated by the men of the Al Arshi family in Bandar Lengeh who would regularly travel back to Bastak during trading, to visit their families. Consequently, the family built a mosque in Al Bastakiya, one of the oldest a districts in Dubai. The mosque is now known as the Farooq Mosque.[12]

The original wind tower house that this family lived in while staying in Bandar Lengeh has been turned into a museum and is sometimes called the Farooq mansion due to its size.

The Great Mohammed Farooq had close ties with the rulers of Arab States of the Persian Gulf, namely the late Sheikh Mohammed Bin Saqer Al Qasimi, the former ruler of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah and the late Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, The former Ruler of Dubai.[15]

Abdulkarim Farooq was an extremely close associate and advisor to the rulers of the Gulf, as was his father "The Great Farooq" before him.[4][16]

The official Farooq al-Arshi family Seal of the two carved lions was placed at the entrance of Bayt Faruq in Bahrain Which is now current Day Ibn Sina medical hospital.

Faiqa Farooq, The Arab world's first women ambassador to the United Nations is from the Farooq and Al Arshi family.

The Farooq and Al Arshi family name have been recognized as one of the wealthiest families in the Persian Gulf area.[4][16]

Two-thirds of the family currently resides in the UAE.

The book Windtower which has been used as a reference in a foreword by HRH the Prince of Wales.

References
  1. Anne Coles & Peter Jackson, Windtower: Houses of the Bastaki, pg 12-13-14-15 (2007)
  2. Behnam, Mariam (1994). Zelzelah: A woman before her time. Dubai, UAE: Motivate. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-873-54452-5.
  3. Anne Coles & Peter Jackson, Windtower: Houses of the Bastaki, pg 14-15 (2007)
  4. Anne Coles & Peter Jackson, Windtower: Pioneers, pg 13 (2007)
  5. Anne Coles & Peter Jackson, Windtower: Pioneers,pg 12- 13 (2007)
  6. http://www.thedowdays.com/wp/2013/11/17/zubair-farooq-dowite-1977-a-poet-in-4-languages/
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. Faika, Farooq. "The Arab world's first women ambassador". Gulf News. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  10. Al Jum'a, 12 November 1982
  11. Al Bassams, Khaled. "Bait Farooq". Flickr. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  12. Anne Coles & Peter Jackson, Windtower: Farooq Mosque pg 29 (2007)
  13. Anne Coles & Peter Jackson, Windtower: Farooq house creek side Dubai pg 12 (2007)
  14. Al Arshi, Rashid Mohammed Zubair Farooq. "Rashid Mohammed Zubair Farooq Al Arshi". abudhabienv.ae. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  15. Mariam Behnam, Zelzelah: A Women before her time, pg 20 (2007)
  16. Mariam Behnam, Zelzelah: A Women before her time, pg 115 (2007)
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