Tuesday, Oct 12, 2010
Gulf News
Thousands of people attend Kanoo’s funeral on Sunday
Manama Bahrain has paid rich tribute to Abdullah Kanoo, one of its leading businessmen, and the chairman and chief executive officer of the Yousuf Bin Ahmad (YBA) Kanoo Group.
Born in Bahrain in 1927, Kanoo died at his home in Manama on Sunday morning. He was buried a few hours later in the Manama cemetery in the presence of thousands of relatives, friends, diplomats, businessmen and common people from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
His entrepreneurial achievements and his devotion to philanthropic activities made him a legendary figure and earned him the status of a colossal achiever and a deeply compassionate man in the minds and hearts of people in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Known for his outstanding charitable work and activities and for his acute sense of business, Abdullah Kanoo was closely connected with Bahrain’s business and social development into the 21st century and played an instrumental role in the country’s progress.
His business activities spanned a wide spectrum of fields that included travel, aircraft handling, machinery sales and services, shipping, general trade, oilfield supplies and services, manufacturing, chemicals, cargo services, insurance, and investments. He headed several companies in Bahrain and in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
His social activities focused on building health centres, medical facilities, homes for the elderly and mosques. Three health centres and several mosques in Bahrain were built through his generous donations, making the Kanoos one of the most prominently caring families in Bahrain.
In his tribute, Dr Faisal Al Hamer, said that Bahrain would always be grateful to Abdullah Kanoo for his generous contributions to the medical field in the country. He cited the 52-bed Kidney Dialysis Centre in Muharraq, Bahrain’s second largest city, as one of his most generous contributions to people’s welfare.
Business community leaders said that Abdullah Kanoo would be missed a lot.
“We were saddened by the tragic news,” Isam Abdullah Fakroo, the chairman of Bahrain Chamber for Commerce and Industry (BCCI), said. “He was one of the most prominent people in Bahrain who had an outstanding role in leading several business and industrial companies not only in Bahrain, but well beyond. He also had a great role in humanitarian, social and philanthropic action.”
Supplied picture
Abdullah Kanoo
By Habib Toumi?Bureau Chief
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