Great times with lovely people in The Middle East
Business trips to the Middle East started in 1972 with visits to Iran, Egypt and Libya for pipe supply contracts and then living in Abu Dhabi for 11 years beginning in 1976.
While travelling, some local sponsors were of particular interest with Binladen Brothers Contracting in Saudi Arabia and Osman Ahmed Osman of Arab Contractors in Egypt.
Binladen Brothers was managed by Salem bin Laden whose step-brother was Osama bin Laden. Salem who went to Millfield school in Somerset was a very friendly man who sometimes landed his private plane on the road or airport runway that the company was building. Sadly Salem died in Texas when his plane crashed by hitting power cables in 1988.
Osman Ahmed Osman. a civil engineer, who created Arab Contractors, was a lovely person and he was also Minister of Housing and Development in Egypt. He was a fabulous host and when I was visiting him, I was met on the plane and therefore avoided going through customs and passport control.
Early pipe supply contracts before living in Abu Dhabi were Kurdistan Water Authority pipeline in Iran, Benghazi Sewerage Scheme and a water supply line on Masirah Island in Oman.
