AS SAUDI Arabia’s largest roof tile supplier, Maidan Al Emarat Trading intends to put the spotlight at Saudi Build on products from three of its principals, which are among the leading international clay roof tiles factories.

“We have only just added two of these principals – Tejas Borja Clay Roof Tiles Factory, Lliria (Valencia), Spain and Claudio Vogel Glazed Clay Roof Tiles, Brazil – this year to our portfolio and will be showcasing their products alongside those of our main partners Ceramica Laescandella Agost-alicante, Spain,” says Mazhar Ali Qureshi, the company’s commercial and import manager. “Maidan Al Emarat is the sole and exclusive agent of all these three factories and is enjoying good business relations and facilities with them.”

“Spanish clay roof tiles are perhaps the most reputed in the Saudi market, thanks to their quality and visual appeal compared to competing products. Quality-conscious people choose only Spanish clay roof tiles for the decoration of their homes,” Qureshi adds.

Maidan Al Emarat deals mainly in building materials, more specifically clay roof tiles, ceramic porcelain tiles and marble decorative countertops and steps. The company imports clay roof tiles from Spain and Brazil, ceramic and porcelain tiles from Thailand, and ceramic, porcelain and terracotta tiles from Spain. It also has a factory which designs and produces marble decorative products such as vanity tops for bathrooms and washrooms, marble tiles and all other related marble accessories for staircases.

Maidan Al Emarat has been a participant at previous Saudi Build editions in 2005 and 2009, and has a positive impression of the event.

A Maidan Al Emarat outlet.

“The show has always given a boost to a result-oriented company such as ours. We managed to introduce ourselves to many new local buyers,” says Qureshi.

“Such events also provide wide exposure to our products and give us an opportunity to introduce and sell our products and attract potential clients. In fact, we achieved more sales in the years we participated in Saudi Build,” he adds.
Business has been satisfactory, says Qureshi, who adds that sales this year have improved tremendously compared to last year after adding the two new partners to its list of principals.

This apart, Maidan Al Emarat has also expanded its business arena to Saudi Arabia’s business hub, Jeddah. “Since our products arrive from Europe to Jeddah, the city being the nearest port, it was unanimously decided to expand our business to Jeddah. Two showrooms have been opened there along with a huge warehouse to cater all our imports,” explains Qureshi.

There are also long-term plans to build a local factory for Ceramica Laescandella’s products.

Meanwhile, the company is already expanding its newly-established business of ceramic, porcelain and terracotta tiles from Thailand, Spain and Romania. The firm has a huge variety of designs, colours, shapes and sizes available in ready stock in its warehouses, especially for glazed clay roof tiles at economical prices.

Maidan Al Emarat has taken part in several projects, including the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust), many royal and high-profile palaces in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province, while other projects in Al Khobar are still under negotiation.

“In addition, our principal Ceramica Laescandella supplied beach housing projects at The Palm islands in Dubai,” Qureshi says.

Maidan Al Emarat Trading, established in 1999, has its head office on Old Al Kharj Road near Askaan Al Awal, and branches in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. It also has warehouses in Jeddah and Riyadh, and a marble decoration factory in Riyadh. The company employs 50 people and generates an annual turnover of $5 million.

Maidan Al Emarat will be present at Stand 325-1.