15 June 2015
• Glass LLC combined revenue during 2014 exceeded AED 180 million

Dubai - Glass LLC - the glass holding company of Dubai Investments PJSC[DI], has targeted aggressive growth across its five subsidiariesin 2015 and aims to boost its 30%market share in the coated glass sector across the GCC countries in line with escalating demand for glass productsamidst rampant construction in the region.

Glass LLC, which generated combined revenues of over AED 180 million in 2014, has announced that sales for itsEmicool Solite spectrally selective glass range from its subsidiary Emirates Glass LLC is expected to grow 200% by the end of 2015, riding on the market demand for the product offering optimum control over sunlight.

Similarly, Saudi American Glass [SAG], another Glass LLC subsidiary, is eyeing 20% sales surgeduring the year for its high-performance coated glasswhileLumiglass Industries - which produces laminated safety glass - is targeting a 15% increase in sales in 2015, withEmirates Float Glass looking at an impressive growth, locally as well as exports.

Glass LLC's joint venture Emirates Insolaire, specializing in the first-of-its-kind coloured solar panels in the world,is targeting sales of over 50,000 square metres for solar panels and photovoltaic models in 2015 as regional governments are fast moving towards implementing green building regulations and sustainable construction concepts.

The international demand for flat glass is forecast to rise 7.1 per cent per year through 2016 to reach 9.2 billion square metres, as per industry reports. The global market value of fabricated flat glass is forecast to reach $90 billion in 2016, benefiting from the rapid growth of energy-efficient products such as solar control panels, insulation and low E-glass.

Glass LLC subsidiaries also boast of strong order books for projects in GCC, which include 250,000 square metres of Solite coated glass for 'Akoya by Damac' Apartments and Villas, 80,000 square metres of E-Lite Blue glass for Dubai Design District, 40,000 square metres each for Viceroy Hotel in Dubai, Abdel Wahab Tower in Doha and Heart of Doha projects, 35,000 square metres for Worli Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai, 25,000 square metres for Warsan Development in Dubai, among others.

"The strong growth in the UAE and the region, where higher state spending is rejuvenating the construction industry, means that localised demand for glass is on an upward trend. As a leading company, the glass companies of Dubai Investments are aggressively aiming to expand their market share, thanks to their diversified product portfolio across the entire spectrum of the sector," said Abdulaziz Bin Yagub Al Serkal, General Manager of Dubai Investments PJSC.

"The UAE's construction industry is expected to show sustainable growth in the next few years, and has experienced enormous investment in the real estate from public and private enterprises during the past few years. With Expo 2020 projects likely to take off over the next two years, we are on the verge of a major upswing," said Al Serkal.

Glass LLC subsidiaries have also embarked on aggressively expanding their production capacities.Emirates Glass is planning an operational restructuring to boost production of post-temperable coated glass, while SAG is upgrading the production capacity to 1.4 million square metres of high-performance coated glass per annum.

Lumiglass is expanding its production capacity of bullet resistant glass by 50 per centfrom 130 units to 260 units per month. On the other hand, EFG is running to its maximum production capacity of 600 tonnes of molten glass per day. The plant has a capacity to produce about 200,000 tonnes of glass products per annum.

Glass LLCis also tapping into new exports markets in the coming months, to complement its existing presence across GCC and MENA region. The newmarkets include India, East Africa, South Africa, Turkey and other Asian countries.

Glass is an inherent part of the construction industry in the region, and with over $4.3 trillion forecast to be spent on construction in the MENA region in the current decade, there is huge demand for cut-to-size, sustainable, post-temperable coated glass products for both commercial and residential projects.

-Ends-

About Glass LLC
Glass LLC, the first glass holding company in the Middle East, is dedicated to meeting the growing needs of the regional glass industry. Glass LLC incorporates five subsidiaries: Emirates Glass, one of the largest processors of flat architectural glass in the region; Emirates Float Glass, one of UAE's first integrated glass manufacturing and processing facility in Abu Dhabi; Lumiglass Industries, makers of Bullet Resistance automotive and architectural laminated glass products, the Saudi American Glass Company, one of the largest glass manufacturers in the Middle East, and Emirates Insolaire LLC - a pioneer in the development and application of new solar technologies and products.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Venkat Iyer | Public Relations & Media Assistant Manager
DUBAI INVESTMENTS
PO Box 28171, Dubai, UAE
.T: +97148122400
.D: +97148122426
.F: +9714 8122424
.Mob: +971507187383
www.dubaiinvestments.com

© Press Release 2015