JEDDAH: Saudi business people are mourning the death of the Kingdoms’s most famous magnate, Hussein Bakry Gazzaz, who died on Thursday morning at the age 95.
The funeral prayer for Gazzaz was performed in Makkah, his birthplace.
Gazzaz was one of the most well-known businessmen in the perfume sector in Saudi Arabia. He was born in 1925.
In his early years, he moved with his family to Egypt where he received his primary education before returning to Saudi Arabia, starting a small perfume business that became one of the largest of its kind in the region.
In a 2014 interview with Hia magazine, Gazzaz described Egypt in the late 1920s and early 1930s as the “Paris of the East.”
He said Cairo’s picturesque streets and shops left a strong impact on the mind “of the little boy who came from Makkah.”
Gazzaz told his interviewer that a child’s early dreams were the basis of any success.
“Dreams are the same, but what follows can be different. Normal people usually have the dream to succeed, but the stronger their belief in their dreams is, the more possible their dreams are likely to come true. Dream motives vary from one person to another,” he said.
“I have dreamed of bringing what I saw in Cairo in the 1920s to my beloved country. In the 1950s, I had another dream — my country would be like Paris, in its streets and beauty. I strongly believed that hard work is essential in making my dreams come true. Dreams live with us, and we should keep dreaming until we stop breathing,” he said.
According to the company’s website, the Hussein Bakry Gazzaz and Company (GAZZAZ) started in 1942, when Gazzaz became the first agent in Saudi Arabia to import fragrances.
Over 77 years, the brand name GAZZAZ has expanded to include cosmetics, watches, cufflinks, pens, gifts, antiques, hair products, makeup, accessories, leather goods and other luxury products.
Their main brands include Dior, Gucci, Versace, Cartier, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), Montblanc, Dunhill and Dupont.
In May 2001, former French president Jacques Chirac honored Gazzaz with the “Medal of Honor” for being the biggest importer of cosmetics in the Middle East in the 1990s.
The Gazzaz chain of showrooms is the strongest retail group in the luxury sector in Saudi Arabia, and in the Middle East.
Saudi perfume mogul Hussein Bakry Gazzaz dies at age 95
https://arab.news/2nayh
Saudi perfume mogul Hussein Bakry Gazzaz dies at age 95
- Funeral prayer for the Kingdom’s most well-known magnate was performed in Makkah, his birthplace
Heroic effort by security personnel at the Grand Mosque saves man’s life
- Saudi interior minister thanks and praises security guard for his actions
- Suicide attempt at the Grand Mosque in Makkah foiled after guard intervenes to prevent fatal fall
RIYADH: Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of the Interior, on Friday reached out to the security guard injured at the Grand Mosque in Makkah while saving a man trying to commit suicide, and praised his bravery.
The heroic effort by the security guard on duty at the Masjid Al Haram saved the life of a man who attempted suicide by jumping from the top floor of the Grand Mosque.
A swift intervention by the security guard averted the fatal fall, the Saudi authorities said on Thursday.
In a post on X, the official account of the Emarah, Makkah Region, said: “The special force for the security of the Grand Mosque has promptly initiated proceedings in a case where a person jumped from an upper level of the Grand Mosque, and a security man was injured while attempting to prevent him from hitting the ground at the time of his fall.”
The interior minister personally contacted soldier Rayan bin Saeed bin Yahya Al-Ahmad to inquire about his recovery after he suffered injuries in the line of duty at the Grand Mosque.
Al-Ahmad sustained multiple injuries while trying to break the man’s fall and prevent him hitting the ground. Medical teams quickly reached the site and after preliminary check-ups rushed both men to hospital for treatment.
The minister commended Al-Ahmad’s bravery, commitment, and heightened awareness during the incident, qualities that demonstrate his dedication to his security mission.
The interior minister told the officer that his response exemplifies the high principles security forces uphold while serving the religion and the country.
The minister characterized the intervention as “far more than routine duty” — describing it as a selfless humanitarian act embodying supreme sacrifice and reflecting the exceptional preparedness and professional capability required to manage critical situations at Islam’s holiest site.
The minister highlighted the unwavering support and care security personnel receive from the Saudi leadership in appreciation of their contributions and sacrifices in safeguarding the Grand Mosque and the pilgrims.
This backing, he noted, provides essential encouragement for maintaining distinguished performance in security operations.
Prince Abdulaziz concluded the call by praying for the officer’s swift recovery and safe return to duty.
As social media filled with the heroic story, Saeed Al-Qahtani, a social media user, praised the life-saving attempt saying: “Is it a military vigilance or a human spirit inhabiting that uniform? Between one heartbeat and the next, and in the heart of reassurance, the security man rescues a desperate soul; transforming the disaster into a heroic rescue story and a smart reading of the features of breakdown before it’s too late. You are not a guardian of a place, you are a guardian of lives.”
