Kheireddine Abdul Wahab
Encyclopedia
Kheireddine Abdul Wahab was a Lebanese businessman and mayor
of the city of El Mina
, who played a pivotal role in the establishment of Lebanon's second largest harbor, at Tripoli
, as well as founding the Piloting & Harboring company, which oversees present-day harbor activities.
, which was then known as Al-Askaleh, during the Ottoman
rule. Wahab received little schooling, and became a foreman on the El Mina docks, where merchant ships used smaller, local boats to onload and offload cargo. This was a lengthy, and labor intensive process, and Abdul Wahab, with the help of his brother Adel, and enjoying the advantage of having a large family, the Abdul Wahabs, came to dominate the El Mina harbour labour force during the first decade of the 20th century, seeing Kheireddine himself become the owner of the small loading boats, leveraging his labour advantage.
In 1914, with the World War I
imminent, the importance of vital harbors became apparent. Kheireddine enjoyed good relations with the Ottomans at the time, and with political backing was the first, and to this day, the only man who leased one of Lebanon's islands, Cows island (today known as Abdul Wahab Island), as his ship construction site. This was the beginning of a long history of shipping, that extended between Cairo
and Aleppo
, branching out into commercial transport, import and export, in addition to the piloting and harboring business in El Mina.
By the end of the war and the inception of the French Mandate on Lebanon
, Abdul Wahab had switched camps, and had helped allied forces
during the war through using his shipping business and in his status as a respected figure in the region. Among other tasks, he served as a proxy to assist the Allies in smuggling arms, ammunition and food behind enemy lines.
With the end of war in 1918, the French mandate modernized many outlets in Lebanon, one of which was the construction of the "Grumpk" key, as well as deepening the waters and the construction of a modern harbor in Tripoli, Lebanon
, that still stands today. The project was contracted to a French corporation, which in turn subcontracted it to the local businesses, including Abdul Wahab's. The mandate then issued him the exclusive right of providing piloting, harboring, and fresh water supply services within Tripoli harbor waters.
The French mandate appointed Kheireddine Abdul Wahab as mayor of the newly established city of Al-Askaleh, a position which he held for 20 years until his death. In his later years, and after forming the Kheireddine and Adel Abdul Wahab Holding company, which at one point was a major owner of Al-Askaleh business and real estate, Abdul Wahab retired and took to philanthropy until his death in January 1944.
, went on to open up the first hospital in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, his daughter Fadwa was one of the first female graduates of the American University of Beirut
and became the president of the Lebanese Red Cross
and his elder son Abdul Ghani, who took over his business, the Kheireddine Abdul Wahab & Sons, was a founding member of the North Lebanon
Chamber of Commerce
, to which he served on the board for 25 years, as well as serving as mayor of El Mina. His grandsons continued a string of achievements. Ramzi opened the first exhaust pipe industry in Saudi Arabia, Rida was one of the board members to plan the new Tripoli harbor expansion plan in 2004, which – as of late 2008 – is in the process of being implemented and Mounes Abdul Wahab
, author and civil rights activist, pioneered the disabled rights movement in North Lebanon.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the city of El Mina
El Mina
El-Mina or El Mina,which means "harbour" in Arabic, is a coastal city in Northern Lebanon. El-Mina occupies the location of the old Phoenician city of Tripoli, Lebanon's second largest city...
, who played a pivotal role in the establishment of Lebanon's second largest harbor, at Tripoli
Tripoli, Lebanon
Tripoli is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in Lebanon. Situated 85 km north of the capital Beirut, Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Geographically located on the east of the Mediterranean, the city's history dates back...
, as well as founding the Piloting & Harboring company, which oversees present-day harbor activities.
Biography
Abdul Wahab was born the son of a sailor in the northern city of El MinaEl Mina
El-Mina or El Mina,which means "harbour" in Arabic, is a coastal city in Northern Lebanon. El-Mina occupies the location of the old Phoenician city of Tripoli, Lebanon's second largest city...
, which was then known as Al-Askaleh, during the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
rule. Wahab received little schooling, and became a foreman on the El Mina docks, where merchant ships used smaller, local boats to onload and offload cargo. This was a lengthy, and labor intensive process, and Abdul Wahab, with the help of his brother Adel, and enjoying the advantage of having a large family, the Abdul Wahabs, came to dominate the El Mina harbour labour force during the first decade of the 20th century, seeing Kheireddine himself become the owner of the small loading boats, leveraging his labour advantage.
In 1914, with the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
imminent, the importance of vital harbors became apparent. Kheireddine enjoyed good relations with the Ottomans at the time, and with political backing was the first, and to this day, the only man who leased one of Lebanon's islands, Cows island (today known as Abdul Wahab Island), as his ship construction site. This was the beginning of a long history of shipping, that extended between Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
and Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
, branching out into commercial transport, import and export, in addition to the piloting and harboring business in El Mina.
By the end of the war and the inception of the French Mandate on Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, Abdul Wahab had switched camps, and had helped allied forces
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
during the war through using his shipping business and in his status as a respected figure in the region. Among other tasks, he served as a proxy to assist the Allies in smuggling arms, ammunition and food behind enemy lines.
With the end of war in 1918, the French mandate modernized many outlets in Lebanon, one of which was the construction of the "Grumpk" key, as well as deepening the waters and the construction of a modern harbor in Tripoli, Lebanon
Tripoli, Lebanon
Tripoli is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in Lebanon. Situated 85 km north of the capital Beirut, Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Geographically located on the east of the Mediterranean, the city's history dates back...
, that still stands today. The project was contracted to a French corporation, which in turn subcontracted it to the local businesses, including Abdul Wahab's. The mandate then issued him the exclusive right of providing piloting, harboring, and fresh water supply services within Tripoli harbor waters.
The French mandate appointed Kheireddine Abdul Wahab as mayor of the newly established city of Al-Askaleh, a position which he held for 20 years until his death. In his later years, and after forming the Kheireddine and Adel Abdul Wahab Holding company, which at one point was a major owner of Al-Askaleh business and real estate, Abdul Wahab retired and took to philanthropy until his death in January 1944.
Legacy
Khereddine Abdul Wahab was a shipping pioneer in Lebanon, but was also a visionary. His son Afif Abdul WahabAfif Abdul Wahab
Afif Abdul Wahab was a Lebanese doctor, general surgeon and urologist, businessman and philanthropist, born and raised in El Mina. After receiving his Medical Doctorate from the American University of Beirut in 1941, he opened up a hospital in his hometown of El-Mina in 1946 in partnership with...
, went on to open up the first hospital in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, his daughter Fadwa was one of the first female graduates of the American University of Beirut
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
and became the president of the Lebanese Red Cross
Lebanese Red Cross
The Lebanese Red Cross is a humanitarian organization and an auxiliary team to the medical service of the Lebanese Army. Its headquarter is located in the Lebanese capital city of Beirut. Founded in 1945, the organization comprises a number of approximately 7,000 members/volunteers and 200 staff...
and his elder son Abdul Ghani, who took over his business, the Kheireddine Abdul Wahab & Sons, was a founding member of the North Lebanon
North Lebanon
North Lebanon may refer to:*North Lebanon Township, Pennsylvania*North Governorate, Lebanon...
Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, to which he served on the board for 25 years, as well as serving as mayor of El Mina. His grandsons continued a string of achievements. Ramzi opened the first exhaust pipe industry in Saudi Arabia, Rida was one of the board members to plan the new Tripoli harbor expansion plan in 2004, which – as of late 2008 – is in the process of being implemented and Mounes Abdul Wahab
Mounes Abdul Wahab
Mounes Abdul Wahab is a civil rights activist, author and pioneer of disabled rights movement in Lebanon. He is blind by birth.-Early life:...
, author and civil rights activist, pioneered the disabled rights movement in North Lebanon.