130 Years of Innovation

Heritage

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.

1890

1890s

1890: Haji Yusuf takes over the family business aged 22

1890: Kanoo Properties division is established

1910

1910s

1911: Kanoo Shipping is established

1913: Haji Yusuf is appointed agent for APOC in Bahrain

1938

1930s

1938: Kanoo Travel is established

1945

1940s

1945: Haji Yusuf passes away

1950

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

1960

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

1970

1970s

1970: Kanoo Machinery is established

1975: YBA Kanoo begins operations in Oman

1976: The Kanoo Joint Venture division is formed

1987

1980s

1987: YBA Kanoo Chemical division begins its operations

2003

2000s

2003: Kanoo Travel becomes American Express’ Master Franchise

2010

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

2022

2020s