Page 198 - DILMUN NO 20

Haji Yusf Bin Ahmed Kanoo tory ‫ﺍ‬

he word recession in the thirties which brought about an expected decine
in demand for uxury items such as pears combined with the Japanese
Mikimoto's cutured pear caused the bottom to fal out of the Guf tates
economy, taking with it a myriad of merchants and workers Haji Yusuf
Kanoo's business did not escape unscathed, He refused to decare
bankruptcy (How can ‫ ﺍ‬face AI١ with poor peope's' money on my conscience).
He sod a his property and took out a mortgage on his own home with the
newy estabished Eastern Bank Ltd, He secured a oan from heikh Hamad
to keep his remaining business ventures afoat, especiay his contract with
the Ango-ranian Oi Company, where Kanoo had undertaken to refue hte
mperia Aiways' (Forerunner of BOAC which is now British Airways) aircraf‫ا‬
which Kanoo were sevicing, refueling and acting as agents from the first bi­
pane to fying boats and ater jet aircraf‫ا‬, he years of depression in Bahrain,
however were short-ived as oi was discovered in 1932, bringing with it
expectations of better days to come. Much trade was restricted during the
years of Word War ١١. Haji Yusuf used this time to reappraise and to
consoidate for the future. Ahmed Ai Kanoo and Mohammed Jassim Kanoo,
the third generation, were recenty returned from their studies at the
American University of Beirut and began their initiation, and at times tough
apprenticeship, to the Kanoo business, working from the bottom-up under
Haji Yusuf's strict super‫ق‬ision.

he Buiders he ransitiona Years.

1942 saw the demise of the ruer, heikh Hamad, who was succeeded by
heikh aman. he new ruer was determined that Bahrain woud estabish
a firm foothod in the 20th century. he Kanoo famiy aso suffered the oss of
Haji Yusuf Kanoo in 1945, however before his death, he ensured that the
tradition woud be smooth for the House of Kanoo by drawing up ist of wishes
for his heirs. his stipuated that a the chidren of the famiy shoud receive
a proper education and medication and that none shoud ever be aowed to
fa into poverty. It aocated equa shares in the company to the three sons of
Ai and the five sons of Jassim, with Ahmed Ai Kanoo at the hem when his
father and Jassim fet that he was ready. Mr Ahmed Kanoo became the
Chairman in 1954 with Mohammed Jassim k‫ق‬anooas Deputy Chairman.