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Sheikh Moosa Abdul Rahman Hassan [الشيخ مُوسَى عبد الرحمن حسن], born in 1902 in Muscat, was a businessman, owner and sheikh of the Muscat tribe. He completed his studies at the American Mission school in Muscat and soon after founded the Moosa Abdul Rahman and Co. LLC company in 1927 to supply coal and food to British ships and barges in Muscat.

Postal Services

Sheikh Moosa was one of the pioneer users and founders of the Post Office Box P.O. Box 4 Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman. Omanis abroad (especially East Africa, other Gulf States and India) used to send him mail to his personal mailbox and he used to deliver them to people living in Oman later on, so it was a mailing address for anyone to use. The mailing box was not only public, it was also a destination, a title, and nationality. The company still maintains the same P.O. Box 4 Muscat. In addition, he was a founding member & one of the directors of The British Bank of The Middle East, which was established in 1948. The bank is one of the oldest banks not only in the Oman, but also in the entire region. Later on in the mid 1970s, he was involved in establishing the Bank of Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait which was a joined venture with the Bank of Bahrain & Kuwait (BBK).

Business and Trade Sector

Well through the early to mid part of the 20th century, the city of Muscat was recognized as the center of trade between the Arabian Peninsula, India, East Africa and other parts of Oman. Sheikh Moosa traded several variety of goods including dates, dried fish and timber. Furthermore, he housed the travelling traders in his residence, which later on was converted to a hall that is used to host various social occasions.

Due to his involvement of trading in kerosene, which was the main source of energy at that time, Sheikh Moosa was chosen by The British Petroleum Company (BP) to become their representative in Oman. He owned a network of BP filling stations in Muscat and the Batinah coast.

Sheikh Moosa also entered into a partnership with the British company Gary McKenzie, and Oman's W.J.Towell & Co; which formed Gary McKenzie Moosa Towell Group Of Companies, which later became Oman United Agencies. The company catered supplies and logistics for oil companies in Oman, which also had a foodstuff division and a travel agency. Sheikh Moosa originally formed the company in 1956 before it partnered up with other partners. Moosa Furniture, which was the furnishing arm of the establishment, has successfully done furnishing projects for many ministries and government owned organizations especially in the 1970s. Sheikh Moosa also represented a number of products and brands such as Canon cameras, Eterna Swiss watches in the Omani market throughout the 1970’s, until these agencies were sold to other merchants in early 1980’s

The Agricultural Sector and Irrigation

Sheikh Moosa has ventured with a leading firm from the United Kingdom in order to construct a project for water supply in Muscat and Muttrah. He also represented various United Kingdom companies that were involved in water pumps and diesel generators, which have had a significant impact on the prosperity of the agricultural sector in the Sultanate steadily. Water has been supplied and disturbed to many regions of Oman and The United Arab Emirates.

Al Khaleej newspaper , on its 17th of February 2012 issue, stated his contributions with late Sheikh Zayed (former President of the United Arab Emirates), in the agricultural sector of the United Arab Emirates, specifically in Al Dhaqdaqah irrigation project in Ras al Khaimah.

Electricity

As mentioned above, Sheikh Moosa provided a source for kerosene, which was a major source of energy in that time, as well as a distributor of diesel generators. Both of them were needed in order to supply the country’s demand for energy and electricity. Sheikh Moosa founded the first electricity company in Muttrah, Oman, with other partners in order to cover the increasing demand for energy in the country at the time.

In the Field of Construction and Real Estate Development

Sheikh Moosa founded Moosa Abdul Rahman Foundation in the construction sector when it partnered with the British Contracting firm, Costain Group, which was involved in building the Postal Office Building in Muscat, the expansions in Bait Al-Falaj in Ruwi area of Muscat, as well as defense camps in Bait Al-Falaj and Bidbid. He also partnered with Oman's leading businessmen the late Qais Al-Zawawi, Suhail Bahwan and Mohsin Haider Darwish to establish Qurum Contracting Company In addition, Oman's Currency Board was established in 1972 by a Royal Decree; Sheikh Moosa was the Vice Chairman and the Secretary of Finance of the board.

Furthermore & also in the 1970's, he was assigned in the committee to form Oman's Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al-Said, Sultan of Oman, granted late Sheikh Moosa AbdulRahman in 1983 Oman's Civil Medal for his social, economical & political contributions to Oman & Omani civil societies. Sheikh Moosa died and was buried in old town Muscat on 21st of April 1987, leaving a long legacy of accomplishments and services to his country & community; he is survived by two sons (Abdullah & Ali), who are the family's patriarchs & looking after family's business, social & governmental interests.

References

[1] [2] [3] history of Oman (Part II) Abdullah bin Said Al Balushi 1990 and the Ministry of Post and Telegraph and Telephone [Zanzibar Figures and EventsSecond Edition, Nasser Al Riyami Beirut Library] [Diversity of Omani SocietyAlbraitanihan Middle East Publications, 2004 GE Peterson]