The following is a list of some notable Hadhramis who have made significant contributions in India:
Awaz Bin Sayeed (3 March 1934 – 2 July 1995): Noted Urdu writer from Hyderabad, known for his impactful prose and pen-sketches.
Jaafar Al-Sadiq bin Ali Zainul Abidin: Renowned religious scholar and translator of Mughal prince Dara Shikoh’s work into Arabic, Tuhfat al-Asfiya bi Tarjamat Safinat al-Awliya. He lived in Surat, Gujarat.
Mahmood Bin Mohammad: Senior IPS officer from Hyderabad, Telangana, who later served as India’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed Juma’a Khan (1903–1964): Renowned Yemeni singer born to a Hadhrami mother and Indian father, known for Hadhrami songs.
Major General Sayyid Ahmad Al-Aidarus (1889–1962): A distinguished military officer who rose to the highest rank as the Commander-in-Chief of the Hyderabad State Forces in the 1940s, notable for his role during ‘Operation Polo’.
Mohiuddin Al-Qadir Al-Aidarus: Scholar of mysticism and biography, known for his contributions to Islamic scholarship.
Nuruddin ar-Raniri: Islamic scholar
Omar Khalidi (1953-2010): Born in Hyderabad, India, he was a Muslim scholar, author, and staff member at MIT in the US. Of Hadhrami descent, he wrote extensively on the role of Hadhramis in India, particularly in Hyderabad, and was known for his scholarship on the status of Muslims in India.
Salam Masdoosi: Islamic scholar and social activist from Hyderabad, who contributed to community development.
Sayyid Ahmad Dihlawi (1846–1920): Lexicographer, author of the monumental Urdu dictionary Farhang-i-Asafiya.
Sayyid ‘Alawi b. Muhammad b. Sahl: A significant figure in Kerala’s Hadhrami Sayyid lineages, believed to have legitimised attempts by Kerala Muslim agriculturalists to establish a form of local governance in the early 19th century.
Sayyid Bin Mohammad: A reputed painter from Hyderabad whose works adorn the Central Hall of the Parliament of India.
Sayyid Faḍl b. ‘Alawi b. Sahl: Son of Sayyid ‘Alawi, he played a significant role in the religious and social life of the Muslim community in Kerala during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Sayyid Hasan al-Jifri: An ancestor of a prominent Hadhrami Sayyid lineage in Kerala, who arrived in the early 18th century and settled in Tirurangadi.
Sayyid Umar Aidarus Ba Shiban: Sufi saint and spiritual leader who lived in Belgaum, Karnataka.
Shaikh Abdullah Shaikh Al-Aidarus: Renowned scholar and Sufi leader who lived in Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Shaikh Abdullah Habib Al Aidarus: Renowned Sufi saint and religious leader who lived in Bijapur, Karnataka.
Sulaiman Areeb: Renowned Urdu poet from Hyderabad, celebrated for his literary contributions.
Sultan Ghalib Al-Qu’aiti (born 1948): The last Sultan of the Qu’aiti State (Hadhramaut, Yemen), he has strong historical ties to India through his family. His ancestors, including his grandfather, served the Nizam of Hyderabad and received financial and military support from influential Hadhramis in Hyderabad, which helped them consolidate their rule in Hadhramaut. Sultan Ghalib himself possessed a good knowledge of Urdu and Hindi and authored books on Indian history.
Syed Abdur Rahman Bafaqi Thangal: Kerala Political leader, co-founder of the Indian Union Muslim League. He played a crucial role in the religious and political life of the Malabar Muslim community.
Yahya Umar Abu Mujab al-Yafii (Abu Mujab): A prolific poet who notably blended Urdu words into his Arabic poetry, spending time in Baroda and Hyderabad.