One of the Kingdom of Bahrain's loyal sons, Khalid Mohammed Jassim Kanoo, Chairman of the Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Group, passed away at the age of 84 on Friday evening 29th August 2025 and was buried on the following afternoon in the Manama Cemetery.
He was known for his significant role in the social, economic, commercial, cultural, charitable and artistic developments. He was one of the pillars of the national economy, through his leadership of the Kanoo Group, one of the renowned and largest family businesses in Bahrain, the Gulf and the Arab world. The institutions and companies of which he chaired the board of directors, are the largest and most successful commercial institutions of today. His achievements made him one of the most prominent names among the businessmen and economists.
He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kanoo Group since February 2018, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Society of International Companies, Chairman of the Board of Directors of The K Hotel, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Ship Repairing and Engineering Company, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Gulf Hotels Group since 1998. He was also a director of Kanoo International Travel Holding Company, a member of the Board of Trustees of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh College, a member of the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Bourse and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Award, which was established in 1998 to commemorate the founder, who was known for his interest in science and scientists and helping students, in addition to his significant contributions to humanitarian and charitable causes.
He was keen to include a group of distinguished academics on the Board of Trustees to expand the award's horizons in order to realize its new vision, to highlight the works of young researchers and innovators, and to diversify the award's competitions and topics. He was always keen to support scientific, cultural, and artistic initiatives, both in the Arabian Gulf and across the Arab world. Thanks to those in charge, the award has become a symbol of Arab scientific excellence and holds a prominent place among the awards that honours science, culture, and the arts.
He absorbed many of the events that accompanied developments in various fields in the Kingdom of Bahrain as well as in the region. He was born in in the famous Kano Block of Manama, on 12 July 1942. His life was filled with generosity, respect, humility, and interactions with family, relatives, friends, and employees. He was well-read, and followed local, regional, and international events and developments. He lived during the reigns of H.E. Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, H.E. Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
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We will always miss him, especially during Ramadan, holiday, and family occasions and the fond memories he left behind will remain with everyone. He was keen to interact with people on various occasions, sitting with him was a pleasure, as he was an encyclopaedia of knowledge in recalling events, facts, and experiences he witnessed or heard about.
He received his primary education in Bahrain and his secondary education in Sidon, Lebanon. He continued his education to obtain O and A-level certificates in Nottingham, England, and graduated with honours from Tri-State University in Indiana, USA, in 1969. He also attended numerous training courses, other management qualifications, including an Executive Program in Advanced Management from Harvard Business School in 1984.
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He began his career with the Kanoo Group in 1969 as Director/Manager of Administration in Bahrain. In 1970, he was appointed as Branch Manager of Abu Dhabi, and was a pioneer in establishing and developing the company’s operations. After several years in Abu Dhabi, he was promoted to Deputy General Manager of the Group for the UAE and Oman in 1975. He established Kanoo’s operations in Houston, Texas, and in 1978 was appointed a member of the company’s Board of Directors. In 1981, he moved to Jeddah and in 1984, he was transferred to the company’s head office in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, as Executive Assistant and Group Commercial Manager, then General Manager of Saudi Operations.
In 1996, he was transferred to the head office in Bahrain as Group Managing Director. in May 2017 he was appointed as Vice Chairman of the Group, and in February 2018, he was appointed as Chairman of the Group in addition to being Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group Holding Company. He also held several other positions and has served in the boards of directors of major companies in Kingdom of Bahrain and in other countries. He has written and published numerous articles in the press covering various aspects of family businesses. He has lectured and chaired international seminars and conferences on the subject of family businesses inside and outside the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and he founded the Bahraini Family Business Association to support their continuity.
He continued to lead one of the oldest family business groups in the Gulf, which was established in 1890. He also published five books, the most prominent among them is “House of Kanoo,” which charts the history of the family business in which he worked throughout his life. Despite his preoccupation with the company’s business, he had many hobbies and owned a great collection of books, newspapers, magazines, antiques, souvenirs, and rare photos. He had experience in agricultural work, and left a rich and important legacy that deserves to be recorded and documented during his eventful life, which was a symbol of giving in various fields. He also left his mark in the visual arts, which reflected the creative and humane side of his personality.
He held a number of visual arts exhibitions, including an exhibition in 2016 entitled “A New Beginning,” which displayed many of his paintings. He also had many other cultural inclinations and was the editor-in-chief of “Kanoo Cultural Magazine.” He authored biographies and documentations, including the book “House of Kanoo: A Century of Business for an Arab Family Company,” which contained many valuable documents and information, and the book “The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Future Challenges of the Chambers of the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries.”
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He played a significant role along with Fawzi bin Ahmed Kanoo, Vice Chairman of the Group, and other members of the Kanoo family, in making important decision to transform the historic Kanoo family building, which is located in prime centre of Manama, overlooking Al Khalifa Avenue, into a museum to preserve the company's 135-year-old legacy. This decision reflects his unwavering loyalty and commitment to the nation and its people as the museum would contribute considerably in preserving the history and heritage of nation and passing into the future generations. He oversaw all the details of the building's transformation into a museum, which is now ready to open. Unfortunately, he passed away before its official opening. His presence was not limited to economic and charitable activities but also held national positions, including the chairmanship of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry during its 25th session, membership on the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Board, and membership on the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Monetary Agency (currently the Central Bank).
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He founded and chaired the Gulf Diabetes Specialist Center, in partnership with the Joslin Center at Harvard University, making it the first medical centre specialized in diabetes treatment and research in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He also contributed significantly to establishing the Young Leaders Organization in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, generously dedicating his time, effort, and expertise in supporting them. Many prominent figures and institutions in Bahrain and the region mourned his demise, as he was one of the most prominent economic and social figures in Bahrain and the region, leaving a clear mark in his endeavours.
He was a role model in philanthropy and his stances were clear in demonstrating his loyalty and devotion to his family, friends, and acquaintances in Bahrain and the region. He was known for his community and humanitarian initiatives, regardless of race or gender. He was committed to continuing the company's support for social and charitable works as well as the leadership, educational, and humanitarian projects. He was conscious to spread religious awareness among young people. He chaired the Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Charity Committee, which funded the construction of mosques, condolence halls, clubs, schools, hospitals, health centres, and projects to support productive families. He was deeply involved in helping people, he loved them, and joined them in their joys and sorrows, thus he won abundant love of people and everlasting place in their hearts.
yousufsalahuddin@gmail.com
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