During a visit to the Kanoo Tower, Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Former President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, stated that preserving the history and memory of the Kanoo family in the city of Manama contributes to the Government’s aim to preserve the city’s historical memory and its components that contributed to making it an economic and cultural centre in the region and the world.
The delegation from the Culture Authority, formerly headed by Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa was received by the Group Chairman, Mr. Khalid Mohamed Kanoo, Deputy Group Chairman, Mr. Fawzi Ahmed Kanoo and a number of members of the YBA Kanoo Board.
The meeting discussed areas of cooperation for the realisation of the Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Family Museum in the city of Manama, at the company’s old headquarters in the heart of the Manama souq, where the building will preserve its basic features dating back to the period of its construction in the early sixties of the last century.
During the meeting, Group Chairman, Mr. Khalid Mohamed Kanoo, welcomed the visit of Her Excellency Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa and praised her distinguished efforts in promoting the cultural achievements of the Kingdom of Bahrain on the regional and global levels. He also highlighted his full confidence that collaboration with the Culture Authority on the Kanoo Family Museum will enhance the status and value of the project and will contribute to achieving new cultural achievements for the Kingdom.
“We are proud of being one of the leading Gulf family businesses, and we are proud of our long commercial history in the Manama Souq, and the Kanoo Museum will contribute to the continuation of our distinguished role and presence.” said Group Chairman Mr. Khalid Mohamed Kanoo.
“The establishment of this museum is an ideal way to document the history of Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo’s footprint in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Arabian Gulf region which spans over 130 years, in addition to displaying the family values that we continue to adhere to. This project has always been one of the ideas and plans that we aspire to implement, as it celebrates the efforts of our parents and grandparents in achieving the rich history of this group.” He added.
Mr. Khalid Mohamed Kanoo also affirmed the company’s keenness to build a community partnership with government institutions in various fields, especially with the Culture and Antiquities Authority for its cultural projects that reflect the directions of our wise leadership.
Her Excellency Shaikha Mai hailed the Museum Project and stressed that the museum would enhance the cultural infrastructure in Manama and the Commission seeks to inscribe Manama on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a model for coexistence and peace and the museum will play its role in introducing visitors to the history of the city.
During the meeting, she praised the role of the Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo family, which made its mark in Bahrain’s history and thanked the family, which has always supported the cultural movement in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Her Excellency Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa expressed her hope that the notable families in Bahrain would take the initiative to revive the houses and sites that embrace the city’s history, stressing that the Culture Authority will put all its capabilities to ensure the Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Family Museum is a beacon of success.