Founder Profile
Dhirubhai Ambani
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is Dhirubhai Ambani?
Dhirubhai Ambani is a founder of Reliance Industries Limited, which was founded in 1966 with Mukesh Ambani.
- Company founded
- Reliance Industries Limited
- Founded
- 1966
- Co-founders
- Mukesh Ambani
Background
Dhirubhai Ambani (1932-2002) worked as a clerk in Aden, Yemen, before returning to India in 1958 to trade yarn and spices in Mumbai.
Founding Story
Dhirubhai Ambani founded Reliance as a trading firm and, in 1966, opened a textile mill at Naroda, Gujarat. He built the Vimal fabric brand, took Reliance public in 1977 with a large base of small shareholders, and pushed the company backward into polyester, petrochemicals and refining. He led the company until his death in 2002.