UNDER ONE UMBRELLA Bernard Simon talks to Kanoo, the Gulf state conglomerate that has accomplished much diversity in 120 years. ess than one per cent of family- Machinery and Kanoo Commercial are all ering all ports from Suez to India range. owned businesses ever survive ISO 9001:2000 certified. Kanoo Travel With recent expansion into the Far Lbeyond the fifth generation. Yet The was the first company in the Middle East East, the division handles over 11,000 Kanoo Group, a sixth generation family- to achieve this international certification. port calls per year. And its fleet of fast, owned business, has not only survived modern offshore crew supply boats but has achieved tremendous success in Summing up the divisions operates at various locations within the Gulf despite two World Wars and Taking a brief trip around the divisions the region, offering customers safe, several economic depressions. shows a conglomerate on the top of its comfortable and rapid handling of off- Today’s The Kanoo Group, now more form. Kanoo Shipping, for example, has port requirements. than 120 years old, insists on implementing grown into the largest regional shipping Another market sector leader is Kanoo world-class business excellence models agency in the Middle East. With region - Travel. The family's involvement in air to achieve the highest standard of quality ally centralised operations, finance travel goes back to 1935 when the com - in all its businesses. Kanoo Shipping, and communications, the Kanoo office pany provided refueling facilities in Kanoo Logistics, Kanoo Travel, Kanoo network covers an extensive area cov - Bahrain for Imperial Airways seaplanes 1 Inside Industry Inside Industry 2 en route to India and Australia. In 1937 Kanoo Machinery is one of the leading trained service engineers, technicians Kanoo Travel was the first IATA agency in materials handling, construction, agricul - and support staff. Kanoo Machinery car - the Gulf and in 1997 became the first ture, cleaning and industrial equipment ri es an inventory of parts in excess of US travel company in the Middle East to distributors in the Gulf. It offers its $5 million, stocked in all branches with receive ISO certification. With a network clients premier world leading brands an online link to regional warehouses in of offices in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, such as Grove, Hyster, Perkins, Bobcat, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar, Tennant, Massey Ferguson, Lincoln Kanoo Oil and Gas claims to be a ‘One Kanoo Travel offers a unique level of geo - Electric, Norton, Ausa, Sullair, Beach stop shop for Oil, Gas, Chemical and graphical spread. It has also entered into Tech, and Deves among others. Products Petrochemical industries’. At the same the Egypt travel market in partnership from these Principals are marketed time, the company supplies specialist with American Express Travel Services through dedicated product specialist products and services while providing Egypt and recently acquired a strong net - from sales and aftermarket who are unique value solutions to technical prob - work of retail travel and foreign available in five branches, with an expert lems through a well-developed network exchange shops in the UK and France. team of over 214 sales and factory of international principals, supported 3 Inside Industry Inside Industry 4 locally by experienced and skilled staff. commercial services are important On top of the work of the divisions, Dubai and Abu Dhabi for consecutive As Deputy Chairman Mishal Kanoo says to them too.” the group has entered into joint ventures nine years from 2000 to 2010. “Our stranglehold on this market has None of these divisions designs and with some of the world’s leading compa - “We like to think that the group is enabled us to provide exceptional serv - manufactures so the group has no nies such as AXA, AKZONobel, BASF, forward looking with our people in the ices to some of our major clients in the need of R&D. Instead it is able to Maersk, Freighhtwork, Wollfkran and a company and the community always in Gulf region such as Saudi Aramco, spend the five per cent or so it might number of others. mind” says Mishal Kanoo. “The Kanoo SABIC, ADNOC, BAPCO, SEWA, DEWA, normally expect to earmark for product Emiratisation Programme, Shababona ('our PDO Oman. They rely on our expertise in innovation on other things, such as International standards youth’ in Arabic), is a prime example of our Oil Pollution Control Equipment, Storage investment in new technologies appro - In everything it does The Kanoo Group enterprising spirit. It helps train and recruit Tanks, Safety Equipment and Clothing, priate for development of the divisions, strives towards meeting global stan - young UAE nationals in various business Pneumatic Tools and Equipment as the next generation of entrepreneurs dards and ensures it excels at the vocations and sets the benchmark for both well as our ability to supply Oilfield within the group, the role of the group exacting quality and business excellence the private and government sectors in the Equipment, Chemical Products, Power within the community and not least standards set by the UAE government. UAE. Imaginative, innovative schemes Tools, Gas Turbine Services and important the group’s distinctive envi - The Kanoo Group is the only corporate like this are one of the ways in which we Instrumentation. Our logistical and ronmental commitment. group to have won Quality Awards in secure our future.” n 5 Inside Industry Inside Industry 6.