The story that started it all

In 1924, 26-year-old Alexander Richardson Grant founded Alexander Grant & Co. in Chicago. Grant, who had been a senior accountant with Ernst & Ernst (now Ernst & Young), chose to leave the comfort of an established company to pursue his plan for public accounting. Alexander Grant was committed to providing services to mid-sized companies, a commitment the firm still holds today.

Building on Grant’s legacy

Despite Grant's untimely passing in 1938, Alexander Grant & Co. continued to grow nationally under the guidance of several dynamic and innovative chief executive officers. The 1950s and early 1960s were a time of explosive growth and centralization for the firm. The national office in Chicago was established, and net revenue exceeded $5 million in 1961.

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Grant Thornton in the UAE

In 1966, the UAE member firm, which was founded by our Chairman Farouk Mohamed, joined Grant Thornton International. 

Since then, Grant Thornton UAE, led by our CEO, Hisham Farouk, has supported economic prosperity in the UAE, serving over 2000 clients across public and private sectors in all major industries. 

Grant Thornton UAE is part of the Grant Thornton International Limited, a network of 76,000 people in 156 global markets. 

Since April 2025, Grant Thornton UAE has been part of a multinational platform established by Grant Thornton Advisors LLC in the US. The platform offers a premier advisory and tax practice, as well as independent audit practices. With offices across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, the platform delivers a singular client experience that includes enhanced solutions and capabilities, backed by powerful technologies.