Elia Nuqul (1928 – June 2022) was a Palestinian businessperson based in Amman. He founded the Nuqul Group, a business conglomerate with 31 companies, including Fine Hygienic Holding.
Early life edit
Nuqul was born in Ramla to a Palestinian-Christian family with three brothers and four sisters. Growing up, he had aspirations to become an engineer. His father Costandi was a greengrocer and his mother sold embroidery from their home.[1] He had begun his studies at the American University of Beirut when his family were expelled from their home during the Nakba in 1948. They fled to Ramallah, Al Salt, and then Amman.[2][3]
Career edit
In 1952, Nuqul founded the Nuqul Group under the name Nuqul Brothers. It started off by trading and importing food and consumer goods.[4] Nuqul included "Brothers" in the name with expectations that it would eventually become a family business.[5] In the late 1950s, the company started producing hygienic paper products. In 1958, Nuqul founded Fine, a tissue and paper product manufacturer, and is considered the first Arab to bring such industry into that region.[6] By 2009, the Nuqul Group included 31 companies and over 5,500 employees.[5]
The Elia Nuqul Foundation was formed in 2008. The Foundation provides education to people in underprivileged areas. The idea for the Foundation was from Nuqul's time in Ramla when he was unable to complete his education due to financial conditions and his refugee status.[7]
Personal life and death edit
Nuqul had a wife Samira and four children. He passed away in June 2022 at the age of 93.[8]
References edit
- ^ Tasman-Jones, Jessica (22 April 2016). "Born from necessity: Second-gen Ghassan Nuqul on the Nuqul Group". Campden FB. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ A Promise Fulfilled. Bloomberg Publishing. ISBN 9781845117344.
- ^ Jones, Geoffrey (August 2012). "Elia Nuqul and the Making of a Middle Eastern Business Group (A)". Harvard Business School. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "Nuqul Group". Forbes Middle East. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Meet Jordan's Largest Family Business, the Nuqul Group". Tharawat Magazine. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ "The Brands of Jordan". Venture. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ Goussous, Suzanna (6 September 2018). "Elia Nuqul Foundation celebrates 10 years of empowering youth". The Jordan Times. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ Khaled Yacoub Oweis (16 June 2022). "Jordan industrialist Elia Nuqul dies at 93". The National. Retrieved 29 January 2024.