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Heritage

130 years of innovation

YBA Kanoo’s heritage is deeply rooted in the history of its visionary founder, Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo. His influential leadership and the company’s many milestones have played a pivotal role in shaping the Kingdom of Bahrain’s development, making YBA Kanoo synonymous with the island’s history and growth.

1890s
1890s
1890s
1890: Haji Yusuf takes over the family business aged 22
1890: Kanoo Properties division is established
1910s
1910s
1910s
1911: Kanoo Shipping is established
1913: Haji Yusuf is appointed agent for APOC in Bahrain
1930s
1930s
1938: Kanoo Travel is established
1940s
1940s
1940s
1945: Haji Yusuf passes away
1950s
1950s
1950s
1950: Abdulla Ali Kanoo opens the first KSA office and secured the first contract with the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Now Aramco)
1952: YBA Kanoo establishes the Bahrain Shipping and Labour Agency
1954:  The Kanoo Slipway company is formed in Muharraq, Bahrain
1958: Kanoo Oil & Gas is formed
1960s
1960s
1960s
1960: Official opening of YBA Kanoo’s Corporate office block in Manama, Bahrain
1961: YBA Kanoo is granted a trading license to operate in Dubai
1963: YBA Kanoo opens its first office in Abu Dhabi
1964: YBA Kanoo becomes a limited liability company
1968: YBA Kanoo’s Jeddah office is established
1969: Kanoo Logistics is formed
1970s
1970s
1970s
1970: Kanoo Machinery is established
1975: YBA Kanoo begins operations in Oman
1976: The Kanoo Joint Venture division is formed
1980s
1980s
1987: YBA Kanoo Chemical division begins its operations
2000s
2000s
2003: Kanoo Travel becomes American Express’ Master Franchise
2010s
2010s
2010s
2010: Mubarak Jassim Kanoo becomes the chairman of the group
2016: YBA Kanoo wins the 2016 Bahrain International CSR Award for excellence in CSR communications
2017: The YBA Kanoo group wins the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship
2018: Khalid Mohamed Kanoo is appointed chairman of the Group
2020s
2020s
2022: Establishment of Kanoo Ventures and Kanoo Global Investments business units