View source for Firoz Merchant

{{Short description|Indian businessman and philanthropist}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Undisclosed paid|date=March 2022}}
{{Notability|date=September 2025}}
}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Firoz Merchant
| image              =
| alt                = Firoz Merchant
| caption            = 
| birth_name         = <!-- only use if different from name -->
| birth_place        = [[India]]
| birth_date         = 1958
| occupation         = Founder and Chairman of Pure Gold Jewellers
| known_for          = Pure Gold Jewellers
}}

'''Firoz Merchant''' (born 1958) is an Indian businessman, and philanthropist based in the United Arab Emirates.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dubai-based philanthropist Firoz Merchant receives 10-year visa|url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/culture-society/421730-dubai-based-philanthropist-firoz-merchant-receives-10-year-visa}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Dubai-based philanthropist Firoz Merchant pays prisoners debts|url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/culture-society/397105-dubai-based-philanthropist-firoz-merchant-pays-prisoners-debts}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|author=Staff Reporter|date=2021-11-24|title=Philanthropy Leads to Success|url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/268450/20211124/philanthropy-leads-to-success.htm|access-date=2021-12-08|website=Tech Times|language=en}}</ref> He is the Founder and Chairman of Pure Gold Group, which consists of FGM Holding, Pure Gold Jewellers, Pure Gold Real Estate Development, La Moda, and Pure Gold Manufacturing.

== Early life ==
After he left India, he expressed his desire to his father to move to Dubai and try his hand at the gold business, and in 1989, he moved to Dubai to set up his own gold and diamonds trading business, Pure Gold Jewellers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Video: Firoz Merchant, from school dropout in Mumbai to billionaire Pure Gold owner in Dubai|url=https://gulfnews.com/uae-success-stories/video-firoz-merchant-from-school-dropout-in-mumbai-to-billionaire-pure-gold-owner-in-dubai-1.1550552915932|access-date=2021-08-16|website=gulfnews.com|language=en}}</ref>

==Philanthropy==
Merchant has been involved in a number of [[Philanthropy|philanthropic]] activities that have provided help and support for various communities.<ref>Bassma Al Jandaly, [http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/businessman-s-help-for-family-in-need-is-pure-gold-1.621946 "Businessman’s help for family in need is pure gold"], ''Gulf News'', May 4, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://gulfnews.com/opinions/editorials/fine-show-of-generosity-1.588129 "Fine show of generosity"], ''Gulf News'', February 25, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2011.</ref> Merchant has contributed towards correctional institutions in order to release prisoners belonging to various nationalities jailed in the UAE. Merchant announced he will{{Weasel inline|date=September 2017}}{{Clarify|reason=Has he donated it, or has he stated an intention to donate it? "Decided to" is weasely.|text=|date=September 2017|pre-text=}} spend 1&nbsp;million [[United States dollar|US dollars]] (3.8&nbsp;million [[UAE dirham|dirhams]]) to help free prisoners who are behind bars in UAE due to non-payment of debts. He has already paid 150,000 dirhams for the release of 132 prisoners from [[Ajman]] Central jail.<ref name="connectedtoindia">{{cite web|url=http://www.connectedtoindia.com/indian-businessman-comes-to-aid-of-prisoners-in-uae-540.html|title=Indian businessman comes to aid of prisoners in UAE|website=Connected To India|accessdate=September 19, 2017}}</ref><ref>Caline Malek, [https://archive.today/20130114174637/http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/zakat-fund-abu-dhabi-money-frees-10-debt-prisoners "Zakat Fund Abu Dhabi money frees 10 debt prisoners"], ''The National'', January 11, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2011.</ref><ref>Sharmila Dhal, [http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/indian-businessman-rescues-prisoners-in-debt-1.770816 "Indian businessman rescues prisoners in debt"], ''Xpress'', March 3, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2011.</ref>

== Awards ==
* 2017, Community Service Medal/ Award by [[Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan|Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan]]; Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Interior<ref name="financialexpress.com">{{Cite web|date=2017-08-08|title=Firoz Merchant, Indian businessman, receives UAE's community service medal|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/firoz-merchant-indian-businessman-receives-uaes-community-service-medal/798893/|access-date=2021-08-16|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-08-08|title=Indian businessman who paid $4m prisoners' debts wins community award in UAE|url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1141281/middle-east|access-date=2021-08-16|website=Arab News|language=en}}</ref>
* 2017, Business Excellence Award by the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC) 
* 2017, Philanthropic Icon Award by the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC) 
*2016, Philanthropic of the year by Indian [[CEO]] Awards by [[ITP Publishing|ITP]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Agencies|title=Firoz Merchant honoured|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/companies/firoz-merchant-honoured|access-date=2021-08-16|website=Khaleej Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Service|first=Tribune News|title=Indian philanthropist honoured by UAE govt|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/diaspora/indian-philanthropist-honoured-by-uae-govt-448079|access-date=2021-08-16|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
As of 2021, Merchant resides in Dubai with his family and spends his leisure time in horse riding.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.pugold.com/}}
* [https://www.facebook.com/PhilanthropistFirozMerchant/?sk=allactivity Official Facebook Page]
*[https://twitter.com/firozmerchantpg Official Twitter account]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merchant, Firoz}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Kerala]]
[[Category:1958 births]]