Al Khaleej Ceramics supplied 40,000 sq m of ceramic tiles worth Dh1.5 million ($400,000) to the Mazaya Centre. The tiles were custom-designed for the project. The firm's Rustic series in special colours, shades and designs has been used in the apartments and the company's latest Masafi series with attractive colours and patterns has been used in the shopping mall.

Jebel Ali-based Al Khaleej Ceramics claims to have been the first company in the GCC to manufacture fully vitrified porcelain tiles. The company says its factory is equipped with advanced machinery from Italy, including the largest Grannitto kiln in the world. Its current manufacturing capacity is 1.5 million sq m with built-in capacities for future expansion.

It offers tiles in a range of finishes - such as Matt, Satinato, Silk Matt and Polished - and various sizes - 30 by 30, 40 by 40, 30 by 60, 60 by 60 and 60 by 90 cm.

"Al Khaleej is the only company to offer tiles which are cut to a uniform basic size, making it possible to lay tiles with a minimal joint width and to arrange tiles of different colours and surfaces," says S A Rajarajan, company marketing manager.

"Vitrified porcelain tiles are versatile in nature as regards to their areas of application - they can be used in homes for the living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. They can also be used for high-traffic applications such as the corridors of buildings, shopping malls, swimming pool deck areas, path ways etc. Porcelain tiles are also excellent for external claddings.''

Rajarajan says the company lays great emphasis on quality assurance - right from raw material sourcing, through monitoring of the fully automated process and to rigid acceptance standards for the finished products exceeding European and international norms.

''Al Khaleej has obtained quality certification from Ceram Research Institute, a leading international UK-based ceramics tile testing laboratory and also from Centro Ceramico, Bologna, Italy. The company follows European and ISO standards.'' Rajarajan says.

Al Khaleej is equipped with a modern design studio to offer floor/wall design options using its large range of designs and colours.

"We are geared to work with the consultants/architects/designers to develop products of specific designs to meet specific requirements," he says.

The company has supplied to several prestigious projects in the UAE such as the Al Shola Complex, the Oasis Shopping Mall, where tiles have been extensively used in the entire shopping mall, as well as the Continent Hypermarket. It has also supplied to several hospitals, police stations, schools and to the villa segment.

It has a virtual monopoly on car showroom projects (Mercedes, Porche, Volkswagen, Toyota, Hyundai, General Motors, Nissan etc), Rajarajan says.

Besides the UAE, Al Khaleej exports tiles to over 20 different countries worldwide including Europe and the US.