NRI entrepreneur, and philanthropist Mr. Zakariya Jokatte is one of the most renowned and respected name today in the whole of Beary community and among Kannadigas abroad. Currently, Chief Executive Officer of ALMUZAIN Company, Saudi Arabia, Mr. Zakariya’s story is one of grit and determination rising up to the pinnacle from grassroots.

Having born on May 10, 1958 and brought up in Jokatte of Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka, Mr. Zakariya, the son of Haji Sheikunhi and Khatijamma was named after his grandfather Late Zakariya Haji, who was the head of Geni Guthu family and under the entire area of ​​the present Bajpe Town was under his control. It was Mr. Zakariya’s grandfather senior Zakariya who moved to Jokatte from Bajpe. Thus, Mr. Zakariya Jokatte though belonged to a well known family had to discontinue his studies with his family falling into bad times. Having responsibility of looking after his parents, brothers and sisters, taking a cue by his neighbour’s vocation, Mr. Zakariya first took up business of selling jaggery from home to home as his initial job. However, soon the sugarcane dry season forced him to join as welding helper for Rs. 4 as salary at New Mangalore Port in 1971, soon giving him and opportunity to join a Saudi-based dredging company where he first served for an year in Mangalore. After being recommended by a well-wisher, his long term dream of travelling to Saudi Arabia came true where for the first six months he had a difficult time working in constructon field with errands like carrying cement over 21 floors and involving himself in road concreting works. Therefore, as he always had the ambition to achieve in Saudi Arabia, he lapped up the opportunity given by the same dredging company, he was working for earlier in India and worked there for two years doing different jobs for an average of 600 Riyals. A keen learner he concentrated on enhancing his skills.

Moving on, he grabbed a next opportunity to work for a Dutch company that provided Industrial Services when he was one among 13 people selected out of 500 to join the organisation. His sincerity attracted an opportunity to do a tough training in Holland within six months into the new company. And post that training within two years, he was promoted five times with finally him reaching a ceiling where he could not longer be promoted. This experience also gave him the courage to set up ALMUZAIN in 1996, which is one of the leading Industrial Services Companies that caters to the ever-growing and complex demands of the Petrochemical and Refineries in Saudi Arabia.

Today, ALMUZAIN employees as many as 7000 contractual employees, majority of whom are from coastal belt as he prioritises Kannadigas. Further, the company aims to employee as many as 15000 people by the year 2025. He has also provided employment to as many as 1,500 Kannadigas as employees and supported as many as 200 companies as he believes that all should be benefitted and must be encouraged if having entrepreneurship zeal.

Mr. Zakariya has always been in the forefront as far as responding to NRIs’ problems. He also has been instrumental in encouraging qualified Muslim Indian women in Saudi Arabia to work by assisting them with opportunities in various sectors. Mr. Zakariya feels strongly about education and is also into social service activities through his organisation, Zara Charitable Foundation and also Chairman of M. Friends Charitable Trust, Mangalore. Also he played a crucial role in founding the organisation, AlKhaadisa in addition to once being the Chairman of Hidaya Trust. Mr. Zakariya who has made strong contribution to society has been bestowed with Star of Bearys award, Vishwamanya Kannadiga award, and Successful NRI Entrepreneur award among several others. To help the youth, he also undertakes lot of drug awareness programmes. He strongly advocates that the parents in Muslim community should give importance to their children’s education, both religious and worldly for the community to prosper.