Riyadh, 20 November: Ma'aden is participating this week in the 16th Arab International Aluminum Conference (ARABAL) which takes place between November 20 - 22 in Doha, Qatar.

Ma'aden is a sponsor of the event which is the premier trade event for the Middle East's Aluminum industry and the only conference in the world attended by every single primary Aluminum manufacturer in the region.

Ma'aden's presence at the event includes an exhibition showcasing the latest progress in its $10.8 billion joint venture with Aloca at Ras Al Khair which will be the largest and most efficient vertically integrated aluminum complex in the world.

Also, Engr Abdullah Busfar, Vice President of Ma'aden Aluminum Company will join a panel discussion alongside other aluminum industry executives from across the Middle East to debate key topics: stimulating growth of downstream industries, promoting careers in the aluminum industry, encouraging research and development, caring for the environment, fostering regional cooperation and capturing future demand for aluminum products.

"The significant success of our recent collective efforts is clearly putting the Middle East at the forefront of the global Aluminum market and it's important that we take opportunities provided by collaborative events like ARABAL, to take stock and debate how we can best continue that journey.", said Engr Busfar. "I was delighted to share with my colleagues what we have achieved in the Kingdom and what lies ahead for us.", he added.

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About Ma'aden Aluminum
Ma'aden's $10.8 billion joint venture with Alcoa will be the largest and most efficient vertically integrated aluminum complex in the world. It will use Saudi Arabia's bauxite resources to profitably produce Aluminum for domestic and international markets as well as to facilitate the development of domestic downstream industries in the Kingdom.

The project's alumina refinery, Aluminum smelter and rolling mill are under construction at Ras Al Khair, 90 km North of Jubail. Bauxite ore transported by rail to Ras Al Khair will be refined in the GCC's first alumina refinery to produce 1.8 million mtpy of alumina, which will in turn be processed in the smelter to produce 740,000 mtpy of Aluminum. The rolling mill with initial hot-mill capacity of 380,000 mtpy will focus initially on the production of sheet, end and tab stock for the manufacture of cans and other products including auto, construction and foil applications. The rolling mill will be one of the world's most technically advanced and will have the capacity to re-cycle Aluminum scrap.

About ARABAL
The story began in 1983 with Kuwait Aluminum Co. bringing together the leading figures in Middle East Aluminum to strengthen ties and discuss the issues of the day to provide an overview about the entire Aluminum industry. Over the past 29 years, The Arab International Aluminum Conference, ARABAL, has grown to attract heads of industry from around the world to attend, speak, and exhibit, and by 2011 ARABAL attracted more than 450 delegates. Since its foundation, and until 2009, the conference has been hosted in a different country in the Middle East region bi-annually. As of the 2010 conference in Oman, due to the impact and significant role of ARABAL, the steering committee agreed to hold the conference on an annual basis.

For more information:
Malek Abderahman
ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Mobile: 0544426364
Tel: 026067202, Ext: 200                  
malek.abdelrahman@bm.com

© Press Release 2012