Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group
Also known as YBA Kanoo, Kanoo Group, Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo (Holdings) Company BSC (Closed), Kanoo Capital
Bahrain family-owned multinational and investment holding; runs shipping, logistics, travel and real estate and invests via Kanoo Global Investments and Kanoo Ventures.
USEFUL FOR Fund managers raising capital · Business owners seeking a long-term partner · Co-investors
Family & background
- HEADQUARTERS
- Manama, Bahrain
- FOUNDED
- 1890
Investment approach
- SECTORS
- Real Estate & PropTechIndustrial & ManufacturingMobility & LogisticsHealthTechSoftware & SaaS
- GEOGRAPHY
- Middle EastGlobal
- STAGES
- Growth
- ROUTES
- Companies (own capital) · Funds (as LP)
- STRATEGIES
- Direct investmentsVenture capitalPrivate equityFunds (as LP)Public equitiesHedge fundsReal estate
- LATEST DEAL
- The Eye Infirmary · Mar 2026
Overview
Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo (Holdings) Company BSC (Closed) is headquartered in the Diplomatic Area of Manama and describes itself as one of the largest independent family-owned multinationals in the Middle East, with about 3,000 employees in 22 countries and more than 130 years in business; its heritage timeline dates the group from 1890, when Haji Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo took over the family business. Its stated vision is to be a leading family investment holding company. Kanoo Global Investments, the group investment arm since the late 1980s, invests across public and private markets mainly through externally managed funds (about 70 private-market and 30 public-market investments). Kanoo Ventures, founded in 2022, is its direct equity and joint-venture platform for later-stage technology, mid-market growth and expansion deals; in early 2026 it invested in The Eye Infirmary in Bahrain alongside a healthcare fund managed by Esterad Bank.
Investment thesis
Deliver superior returns for shareholders, partners and customers through strategic investments and active management of portfolio companies; Kanoo Ventures provides expansionary capital through the growth cycle (later-stage technology and VC, mid-market growth, geographic expansion via joint ventures).
Holdings & investments (1)
INVESTMENT ARMS & VEHICLES
- Global investment arm overseeing YBA Kanoo investments across asset classes, mainly via external fund managers
- Direct equity investing and partnering platform (founded 2022)
HOLDINGS & INVESTMENTS · MOST RECENT FIRST
- The Eye InfirmaryHealthTech · since 2026
People
- Nabeel KanooChairman, Kanoo Ventures · source
- Fawzi Ahmed KanooGroup Chairman · source
- Faisal Khalid KanooDeputy Chairman · source
- Saud Abdulaziz KanooBoard Member · source
- Mohamed Abdullatif KanooBoard Member · source
- Ali Abdulla KanooBoard Member · source
- Ahmed Fawzi KanooBoard Member · source
- Nandi MehtaBoard Member · source
- Michael ShakesheffIndependent Board Member · source
- Amro ShawliIndependent Board Member · source
Frequently asked questions
Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group is a family holding based in Manama, Bahrain, founded in 1890.
Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group invests its own capital into companies and in third-party funds as an LP. Its stated asset mix includes direct investments, venture capital, private equity, funds (as lp), public equities, hedge funds and real estate.
Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group invests at Growth stage in Real Estate & PropTech, Industrial & Manufacturing, Mobility & Logistics, HealthTech and Software & SaaS.
Key people at Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group include Fawzi Ahmed Kanoo (Group Chairman), Faisal Khalid Kanoo (Deputy Chairman), Saud Abdulaziz Kanoo (Board Member) and Mohamed Abdullatif Kanoo (Board Member).
Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group's holdings and investments include The Eye Infirmary.
The most recent publicly reported investment by Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group is The Eye Infirmary, announced in Mar 2026.