Afif Abdul Wahab
Encyclopedia
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 Dr. Joseph Yamine and Dr. Richard Jebara, for a short period before moving to Saudi Arabia
in 1949. Again with Drs Yamine and Jebara, Abdul Wahab opened up the first Arab-owned hospital in Jeddah
, The Lebanese Hospital in Jeddah, and was one of the first medical doctors to live and work in Saudi Arabia. In !953 Abdul Wahab received the Saudi Citizenship from King ,Saud Bin Abdul Aziz
, In 1962 all three partners opened another hospital in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia,Ash-Sharq Hospital which was a medical contractor for ARAMCO.
In 1971,Abdul Wahab entered into the industrial world,as a silent partner with his son Ramzi, by opening up the first car exhaust pipe factory in Saudi Arabia, and moved from a one time doctor to entrepreneurship. He retired and moved to London
in 1981, before moving back to Lebanon at the end of the Lebanese Civil War
in 1992. He participated in the country's resurrection by getting involved in charity work as a philanthropist, establishing several scholarships and funds at local universities and foundations.
Abdul Wahab, along with Dr. Yamine received the National Cedars Medal from Lebanese president Suleiman Frangieh
, which is the highest honor given to a Lebanese citizen. He died in January 2003, aged 87.
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...
doctor, general surgeon and urologist, businessman and philanthropist, born and raised in 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...
. After receiving his Medical Doctorate
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from 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...
in 1941, he opened up a hospital in his hometown of El-Mina in 1946 in partnership with Dr. Joseph Yamine and Dr. Richard Jebara, for a short period before moving to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
in 1949. Again with Drs Yamine and Jebara, Abdul Wahab opened up the first Arab-owned hospital in Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
, The Lebanese Hospital in Jeddah, and was one of the first medical doctors to live and work in Saudi Arabia. In !953 Abdul Wahab received the Saudi Citizenship from King ,Saud Bin Abdul Aziz
Saud of Saudi Arabia
Saud bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud was King of Saudi Arabia from 1953 to 1964. He was removed from power by Faisal because of Saud's mismanagement and waste. He was the eldest surviving son of Ibn Saud and became Crown Prince in 1933. He died in exile in Greece.-Early life:Saud was born in 1902 in Kuwait...
, In 1962 all three partners opened another hospital in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia,Ash-Sharq Hospital which was a medical contractor for ARAMCO.
In 1971,Abdul Wahab entered into the industrial world,as a silent partner with his son Ramzi, by opening up the first car exhaust pipe factory in Saudi Arabia, and moved from a one time doctor to entrepreneurship. He retired and moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1981, before moving back to Lebanon at the end of the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
in 1992. He participated in the country's resurrection by getting involved in charity work as a philanthropist, establishing several scholarships and funds at local universities and foundations.
Abdul Wahab, along with Dr. Yamine received the National Cedars Medal from Lebanese president Suleiman Frangieh
Suleiman Frangieh
Suleiman Kabalan Frangieh, last name also spelled Frangié, Franjieh, or Franjiyeh , was President of Lebanon from 1970 to 1976...
, which is the highest honor given to a Lebanese citizen. He died in January 2003, aged 87.