NCA Middle East pays its respects to Prof KK Abdul Gaffar, the distinguished techno-educationist, consultant engineer and author who passed away at his residence in Mangalore, Karnataka, on Sunday, 5 July 2026, at the age of 88. A former Indian expat in the UAE, Prof Abdul Gaffar devoted decades to shaping engineering and medical education across India and the Gulf, and his passing is mourned by generations of students, colleagues and the institutions he served.
Recognising His Work: The Respect & Excellence Award
In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to education and institution building, NCA Middle East proudly presents the Excellence Award to Prof KK Abdul Gaffar, conferring the Respect & Excellence Award upon him posthumously under the Techno-Education Excellencecategory. This award acknowledges his pioneering role as Senior Director and Commissioning Lead at Gulf Medical University in Ajman, the first private medical college in the UAE, where he was instrumental in developing it into one of the region's leading medical institutions. It also recognises his earlier leadership as Professor and Head of the Department at NIT Calicut (then REC) and at TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, as well as his tenure as Principal of the Anjuman Institute of Technology and Management, Bhatkal.
The Importance of His Work
Prof Abdul Gaffar's work matters far beyond any single classroom or campus. By commissioning the UAE's first private medical college, he helped lay the foundation of a sovereign healthcare education system in the Gulf, enabling thousands of Emirati and expatriate students to train as doctors at home instead of travelling abroad, a contribution that continues to strengthen the region's medical workforce, public health resilience and economic self-reliance to this day. His engineering teaching at NIT Calicut and TKM College, together with his consultancy work for Saudi Aramco Technical Services, shaped technical talent across two continents, while his acclaimed Malayalam autobiography Njan Saakshi, launched by Indian cricket legend MS Dhoni, carried his message of integrity, humility and service to a global audience. In an era when the Gulf is racing to build knowledge economies under initiatives such as Dubai's D33 agenda, his life stands as a blueprint for how education, technology and nation-building can be woven into one enduring legacy, a legacy that, as his family said, will continue to inspire generations to come.
Life & Career Highlights
- Senior Director & Commissioning Lead, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, the first private medical college in the UAE
- Professor & Head of the Department, NIT Calicut (formerly REC Calicut)
- Professor & Head of the Department, TKM College of Engineering, Kollam
- Principal, Anjuman Institute of Technology and Management, Bhatkal, Karnataka
- Consultant Engineer, Saudi Aramco Technical Services Company
- Author of the acclaimed Malayalam autobiography Njan Saakshi (I Am the Witness), launched by MS Dhoni
Family & Legacy
Prof Abdul Gaffar is survived by his wife, Jameela Schamnad, and four children: Dr Shajir Gaffar, Dr Farida Gaffar, Dr Jamalunissa Gaffar and Shahnaz Gaffar. He was laid to rest at Kunnil Rifai Masjid, Chowki, in Kasaragod, Kerala, after Janaz prayer at noon on Monday, 6 July 2026. His lifelong contributions to engineering education, academic administration, institutional development, leadership and nation-building earned him immense respect from colleagues, students and the wider academic community.
"His legacy of integrity, humility, and service will continue to inspire generations to come."