He is survived by wife Mariam, sons Ali and Ahmed and daughters Lamya, Hana and Safia. His immediate relatives were too shocked to comment on the family patriarch's death. A number of top management executives based at the Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group headquarters in Dammam were heading to Bahrain to attend their chairman's last journey.

The Kanoo Group that Abdulla Ali Kanoo headed as chairman and chief executive officer is a diversified business conglomerate with activities across the world's most dynamic industries from shipping, travel, machinery, oil and gas, power and industrial projects to exhibition services, courier services, logistics, specialty chemicals and business centers.

He was in Dammam on Saturday for the inauguration of Kanoo Terminal Services' high-tech inland container depot. He was too frail to speak at the event and remained in his wheelchair throughout the ceremony but took keen interest in the speeches that were delivered by KTS executives and foreign partners. He smiled and shook hands with all those who called on him.

Talking to Arab News this morning, KTS General Manager S. Krishna Kumar said he was shocked beyond words at the news of Abdulla Ali Kanoo's death. "More so because despite his ill health he attended yesterday's inaugural ceremony of our new facility. That only showed his fighting spirit. He continued to lead by example till the end ... He had this inimitable charm and was a great human being."

Beside being the head of Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group, Abdulla Ali Kanoo was also chairman of the National Bank of Bahrain, International Paint Saudi Arabia Ltd., Kanoo Terminal Services Ltd., King Wilkinson (Saudi Arabia) Ltd., AXA Cooperative Insurance Co., Inspectorate International (SA) Ltd. and Port Services Containers Co. He was also the vice chairman of Saudi Arabia's United Arab Shipping Agencies Co. Ltd.