Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) is the most influential construction company working in the Arab world, maintaining a presence in all countries in the region and working on major projects across a variety of sectors including building work, transport infrastructure, oil and gas, petrochemicals, power, and water.

Born in Safad, Palestine, in 1923, Khoury made an indelible mark on the Arab world as the construction company he formed in 1952 built much of the infrastructure that governments, businesses and residents in the Middle East take for granted today.

He founded CCC in Lebanon with Khalid Abdul Rahman and Hasib Sabagh as the three Palestinians looked for work opportunities outside their homeland. As the company grew it was able share its successes by launching the careers of thousands of young Arab engineers.

The company’s first major project was the civil engineering and foundation works for US-based Bechtel on the BP Tap oil pipeline running from Iraq to Syria, in the early 1950s. Over the following decades, the firm worked on a wide variety of major projects across the Gulf, such as the commercial harbour at the Jubail petrochemicals complex in Saudi Arabia and the 400-kilometre oil export pipeline in Yemen from Marib to Hudaiba port, and all of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) trains.

The company’s ongoing projects include the Riyadh Metro, the Midfield Terminal Building at Abu Dhabi International airport and, most recently, the Khazzan gas scheme in Oman. In 2013, the company’s total workforce was more than 130,000 and its turnover was more than $4.5bn.

Khoury’s three sons sit on CCC’s board and play an active role in the running of the company. Samer is president of engineering and construction, Wael is chairman/president of petroleum and minerals, and Tawfic is executive vice-chairman.

In addition to his work with CCC, Khoury was a board member for Beirut-based Bank Audi, Canada’s Canvest Corporation, Jordan’s Arab Life & Accident Insurance Company, and CCC – Oman.

He also held a variety of other positions including: governor of Palestine at the Arab Monetary Fund; chairman of the board of International Business Group (IBG); chairman of the board of Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal in Lebanon; chairman of the board of Palestine Electric Company in Gaza; and chairman of the board of the Palestinian Student Fund.

Khoury was also a recipient of the Legion of Merit from the President of the Republic of Lebanon and a Legion of Unity from the President of the Republic of Yemen, as well as many other medals of merit and honour from across the world. He also held honorary doctorates from the American University of Beirut, The Lebanese American University, Birzeit University, The Russian Federation Academy of Security, Defence, Law & Order, and The Medical Foundation of Kazakhstan.