Mansoor Bin M.H Al Arayedh

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Late Mansoor Al-Arayedh, born about 1890. Owns a good deal of land in Bahrain and is also a pearl merchant also known as the "King of Bahraini Pearls" the Member of the British Empire. The Al Arayedh family is on of the largest and best-known Bahraini family in Bahrain. Mansoor has a great deal of influence among the Bahrainis, which he usually wields with wisdom and sense. He was instrumental in settling the dispute in the summer of 1954 between the reformists and the Government, during which the police opened fire on a crowed threatening the fort, killing and wounding several people. For this he was awarded the MBE (Member of the British Empire)"Information from Leading personalities records for 1955"

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Tracing the Company’s foundation and rich aspirations back to the late 19th Century; Mansoor Al Arayedh’s vision, family ideals and wealthy traditions were reinforced through the lifestyle he led and with the birth of his children in the first half of the 20th Century. 

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History of  Mansoor Al Arayedh

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His origin:

An Arab family, from Al Ruwalah tribe which fled from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, lived in Manama in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Mansoor, the eldest son, was born into a wealthy family in the year 1896. His father, Mohamed Hussain Al-Arayedh, was one of the most famous merchants of the 18th century, a pearl merchant selling his goods in India Bombay, through his agent there. He lost his eye sight and passed away in 1330H.

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After the death of his father, Mansoor inherited his father's profession and went out with two men from the family  (Mohamed and Abdul Wahab) to buy pearls from Saihat and Darin (two regions in Saudi Arabia). He needed money to continue his business. He sold his father's property and his share was 4,000 Bahraini Fils in 1914.

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The turning point of Mansoor

In 1917 he visited India and met many business men and built his connections. From 1914 to 1924 is a turning point in Mansoor's life and his financial and social status.

During the Summer he travels to Saihat and Darin, and in the Winter he travels to India to complete the pearl trade deal. 

But he did not only focus on the pearl trade, he aimed to buy agricultural lands.  In 1348H (1929) he bought a large piece of land which is located from the police station in Manama to Al-Mughaytha, an area submerged by seawater to the end of the Manama border to the south (West Zinj).

1. Mansoor Al-Arayedh was the first to establish and develop agricultural projects that contributed to the increase of agricultural production in Bahrain.

2.  Provided job opportunities for a large number of Bahraini workers. In his project he introduced various kinds of live stock, cattle and chickens.

3. The first modern irrigation system was created after it was based on groundwater and the surrounding water system.

4. First to bring wooden wagons for horse and donkeys from India to facilitate transportation.

5. He brought many vegetables from India and started growing them in Bahrain and the markets started to thrive again.

6. Designed a test farm; To try to grow the crops he brings from India and an agricultural expert called "Asfahani".

7. Brought the first modern factory to fill the fresh milk.

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The Most Popular

In the 1930s, the pearl crisis started and the prices dropped, especially between 1923 and 1926, creating many landowners, the most famous of which was Mansoor Mohamed Hussain Al-Arayedh. His dealings were with the most famous pearl merchants in the world such as Cartier, Diomedes, Gillman, Rob Geden and was one of the most important figures in the pearl and arbitration committee.

In World War II, the total dependence on agriculture began due to the scarcity of food imports and the lack of money, in addition to the closure of the marine and global routes and the danger of maritime navigation. In the period 1941-1943, the region became almost famine.

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World War II

The debts of the merchants to Mansoor equaled to one million Bahraini rupees, and he had the courage to demand their debts and they could not feed their children, so he dropped all the debts and gave them lands in 1941.

In the same year he established an association of Bahrain merchants to import food and distribute it to the poor. The meeting was held at the Grand Mosque and continued until the government adopted this project and established the Supply Management. Mansoor played a prominent role in collecting donations and distributing food to the people.

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Mansoor Al-Arayedh's Personality

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He enjoyed several things:

• He has a delicate sense of humor.

• Dealing with people with humanity.

• Simplicity in everything

• His strong memory

• His character is distinguished among people

• His realistic vision of wisdom in his perspective of things

• Honest in dealing with others

• His relationship with India gave him a culture of Indian aristocratic class 

• Fluent in multiple languages

• His rare courage

• A diplomat, since he chooses his words very carefully, and his ideas on many of the issues he consulted are successful.

• Giving, and even saves the liquid of the face and stimulates the work, he says: "I do not give without work"

 

As Belgrave describes it as "a broad-minded, sophisticated entrepreneur, pearl dealer, landowner and Bahrain's richest man."

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Mansoor Al Arayedh Majlis:

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Mansoor Al Arayedh majlis was one of the most vital councils in terms of the continued presence of pearl traders and dealers, and Jassim Al-Jowder was his writer and secretary. Since the death of his wife Fahima in 1951,  Mansoor's house has become the home of many pearl merchants from Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Saudi, and Kuwait, and remained open to his hospitality until he died in 1968, it was the only house that has remained a guest house for that period of time. There were many literary, political and economic problems in these councils, as well as the subjects of sale and trade. The 1950s were one of the most intellectual years in the Arab world, and Mansoor received many journals and books.

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The last years of pearls:

In the mid-1940s, the markets were falling and the large dive project was shrinking and diving vessels continued to decline year after year. In 1946, a dangerous incident occurred that shocked the hearts of the people. The Indian government ordered a ban on the entry of natural pearls to the country, after it was the main market for pearl procurement from Bahrain. It was the disaster that struck the heads of people and the curtain on those Trade and then its death forever.

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Mansoor Al-Arayedh and his National Contributions:

• Administrative reform began in 1923, and Bahrain changed from natural law to civil law. Mansoor's obsession with reform and his aspirations for reform was the result of Bahrain's reforms and a pioneer in the fruits of understanding.

• In 1934, I wrote a letter to Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa on the issue of reform of Islamic courts. Mansoor was one of the signatories of this letter.

• In 1935 Mansoor met with a group of his companions who wrote the letter and agreed to write a letter of thanks to His Highness

• In March 1935 the government announced the formation of a committee to collect all previous laws issued by the government. Mansoor was one of three who collected the laws.

• In October 1938, the government published an important declaration stating that it would open the Shari'a Court. The decision was issued to appoint prominent figures as judges of the  Shari'a Court. A delegation headed by Mansoor Al-Arayedh visited the Chancellor and expressed their satisfaction with the procedures they have adopted regarding the opening of the Court and the appointment of judges.

•  He played a prominent role in legalizing judgments and increasing proportional representation in the Commercial Council (the customary council), the municipality and the education system

• He was an active member of the Awqaf, the Minors' Funds and the Municipal Council. He was also one of the most important supporters and supporter of Al Aroba club.

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Mansoor Al Arayedh and Housing Projects

Mansoor has helped many of the citizens to own their homes by paying easy installments and some of these areas on which the housing projects were built:

 

Mansoor Al Arayedh and National Bank of Bahrain

Mansoor Al Arayedh played a prominent role in the establishment of the National Bank of Bahrain, where he was one of the most important founders of the bank after he went with some traders to the Governor of Bahrain Sheikh Salman to obtain the bank's license, as the idea was unacceptable to Chancellor Charles Belgrave.

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Mansoor Al Arayedh - in the memoirs of Belgrave

• Belgrave points out that in 1953 a strong underground movement led to political instability. This trend was accompanied by violent articles in the local press. There were differences in social matters, in which three members of the Manama municipal council resigned. "One of the three members is of a different character, descended from a well-known family and has given birth to a well-known poet, who was a pearl merchant, He was characterized by a huge body, he had extensive information On political and social issues. "In this paragraph Belgrave referred to Mansoor Al Arayedh.

• In 1954, there were shootings between the police and a crowd of people, which led to the death and wounding of some people and Mansoor had a prominent role in resolving this crisis. Where he was appointed as a judge by Sheikh Salman and Belgarave said that the fair wisdom of Mansoor was better than some judges appointed in court.

• In 1957 he lost his sight and stopped his work as a pearl merchant.

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Mansoor Al-Arayedh, Sh. Salman and Belgrave Relatinship

 Was a special and intimate relationship where he was asked to express his opinion on many of the things related to the country where he was honest and wise and has advanced ideas.

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Mansoor Al-Arayedh concluded his life after the events of 1956, which he started in the 1920s. He contributed in four decades to what is happening in the political arena, which has had a great impact on political, social and administrative development in Bahrain. He died in 1968