Dr, Ravi Pillai, Chairman, RP Group of Companies has actually topped the list of 13 people southern Indian state of Kerala included in the Top 50 Richest Indians rankings in the Gulf, announced by Arabian Business, the area's leading business magazine.

Dr Pillai ranks No. 3 on the overall list of the 50 wealthiest Indians in the region which is led by Sunil Vaswani, Chairman, Stallion Group, at No 1, while Micky Jagtiani, Chairman of Landmark Group stands at No. 2.

The RP Group creator's net worth has been approximated at US$ 4.6 billion, with his wealth built on the back of the Saudi Arabia-based RP Group which has varied investments in hospitality, building and industrial advancement, healthcare and wellness, education and trading, and operates throughout Middle East, Africa, Australia and Asia.

The group is an effective international business network that is among the biggest work providers in the Middle East with over 100,000 employees and has performed projects worth over $25 billion worldwide; the corporation has 26 company entities in 20 cities throughout 9 nations with a prominent part of the firm being its oil & gas design company, making it the largest commercial specialist in the Middle East.

Last year was a substantial year for RP Group as it won big commercial construction contracts in the Gulf's O&G sector worth over US$ 2 billion, while its realty arm, RP Global, revealed the design of two significant jobs in the Downtown Dubai location for a combined expense of US$ 1.5 billion.

Dr Pillai likewise owns six hotels-- four in India and 2 in Dubai, with a seventh hotel, a brand-new Crowne Plaza in Dubai Marina, set to open this year. The RP Group's hospitality department owns the Leela Raviz Kovalam, the most awarded luxury beachfront luxury hotel in Kerala.

The 13 Keralites deserve almost US$ 20 billion, and form 26 per cent of the Top 50 list of Richest Indians with an approximated wealth of almost US$ 60 billion, showing the southern Indian state's growing influence in the local financial scene.

Other notable Keralites making the list this year are Yusuffali MA, Chairman of Lulu Group International, the leading retail group, who is available in No 2 amongst the list of wealthiest Keralites. Sunny Varkey, Founder and Chairman of GEMS Education, the world's biggest K12 education company, is at No 3.

Dr. Azad Moopen, Chairman of Aster DM Group ranks 4th among the richest Malayalees in the area, making him the most successful Indians in the Gulf's health care sector, followed by PNC Menon, Chairman, Sobha Group and Joy Allukkas, Owner of the Joyalukkas Group.

Arabian Business chose the 50 wealthiest Indians approximating the value of their assets, shareholdings and projected business value were it to be drifted on the stock exchange. The team likewise ascertained the value of the holdings of the richest Indians in equities, bonds, property and other possessions.