25 November 2009
The UAE has slowly emerged to be the biggest producer of tiles in the Middle East, according to industry insights, despite the impact of the global crisis on the property market.
About 35 million square metres of tiles is produced in the country every year - a figure that's expected to rise to about 50 million sq m in the coming years, officials told Emirates Business.
There are four producers of tiles in the UAE - with the latest one Porcellan having established a base in the country just six months earlier. "We are producing 10 million sq m of tiles annually at present. We plan to increase it to 18 million sq m," said Bassem M Helmy Area Sales Manager, Porcellan.
Helmy said Porcellan, a venture backed by Jamal Al Ghurair Group established its tiles producing unit in Dubai to cater primarily to the demand within the UAE. However, the company has also been exporting its products. "The demand for tiles is not only in the UAE but across the GCC and Middle East. Also we export tiles to destinations worldwide from here," added Helmy.
While Porcellan produced 10 million sq m of porcelain tiles annually, two other UAE-based factories - RAK Ceramics and Al Khaleej Ceramics produce - more than 10 million sq m of tiles each every year.
Fujairah Ceramics, a subsidiary of Fujairah Building Industries produces around 3.6 million sq m ceramics tiles every year. And these companies on an average export almost 75 per cent of their products.
"We have been producing ceramic tiles since 1980. We export our products to more than 100 nations,"said KC Cheriyan a Senior Manager Sales and M marketing, Fujairah Ceramics.
These tiles companies find themselves competing with exporters from Spain and Italy - traditional exporters of high quality tiles.
Establishing a tiles manufacturing factory is considered a logical business idea in the UAE considering the low energy costs involved. Having a production plant in an emirate in the UAE also makes it easier to reach out to countries in Africa and Asia, as the Emirates is strategically located. Similarly, it is easier to import raw materials necessary for tiles production from other countries in Asia.
The UAE has slowly emerged to be the biggest producer of tiles in the Middle East, according to industry insights, despite the impact of the global crisis on the property market.
About 35 million square metres of tiles is produced in the country every year - a figure that's expected to rise to about 50 million sq m in the coming years, officials told Emirates Business.
There are four producers of tiles in the UAE - with the latest one Porcellan having established a base in the country just six months earlier. "We are producing 10 million sq m of tiles annually at present. We plan to increase it to 18 million sq m," said Bassem M Helmy Area Sales Manager, Porcellan.
Helmy said Porcellan, a venture backed by Jamal Al Ghurair Group established its tiles producing unit in Dubai to cater primarily to the demand within the UAE. However, the company has also been exporting its products. "The demand for tiles is not only in the UAE but across the GCC and Middle East. Also we export tiles to destinations worldwide from here," added Helmy.
While Porcellan produced 10 million sq m of porcelain tiles annually, two other UAE-based factories - RAK Ceramics and Al Khaleej Ceramics produce - more than 10 million sq m of tiles each every year.
Fujairah Ceramics, a subsidiary of Fujairah Building Industries produces around 3.6 million sq m ceramics tiles every year. And these companies on an average export almost 75 per cent of their products.
"We have been producing ceramic tiles since 1980. We export our products to more than 100 nations,"said KC Cheriyan a Senior Manager Sales and M marketing, Fujairah Ceramics.
These tiles companies find themselves competing with exporters from Spain and Italy - traditional exporters of high quality tiles.
Establishing a tiles manufacturing factory is considered a logical business idea in the UAE considering the low energy costs involved. Having a production plant in an emirate in the UAE also makes it easier to reach out to countries in Africa and Asia, as the Emirates is strategically located. Similarly, it is easier to import raw materials necessary for tiles production from other countries in Asia.
By Shashank Shekhar
© Emirates Business 24/7 2009
