AL RAYES Décor relished the joinery challenge posed by the King Hamad University Hospital project, which is a valuable addition to the company’s extensive project portfolio.

The Bahrain-based firm was required to provide joinery items for 330 rooms at the medical facility under the strict supervision of consultant Australian Hospital Design Group – a task it has performed well and completed in July 2010, according to Abdul Rahman Al Rayes, CEO.

A large volume of MDF (medium density fibreboard), plywood, wood, laminate and other components were used in executing the project, which was worth BD907,624 ($2.4 million) to Al Rayes, he adds.

“The challenges during the course of work at various stages were enormous, simply because of the number of subcontractors involved,” Abdul Rahman says. “Utmost care was required to be taken in the final stages, as different trades were busy finishing their works, which increased the risk of damage to the finished products. However, we did not face major problems, as we had a number of skilled professionals along with a project management group at hand, as and when required.”

“We are very fortunate to have been awarded the joinery contract for a hospital project of this magnitude. The hospital itself is a landmark and will stand Bahrain in good stead for its overall development in general and for the public health system in particular,” Abdul Rahman comments.

Abdul Rahman ... buoyed by major contract.

Al Rayes Décor, which is a division of Abdulla A Al Rayes and Sons Company, was established in 1995. The parent company was set up in 1972. This division undertakes carpentry work and specialises in joinery and interior decoration assignments. Other activities include trading in products such as wall-coverings and interior-related materials, interior turnkey contracting, design solutions for offices and retail facilities, project management, gypsum partition and ceiling works, wooden demountable partitions, lighting, commercial painting, various types of flooring, plumbing, and electromechanical services.

Al Rayes Décor has three sub-divisions – décor, electromechanical and solid surfacing (Corian) – and employs 240 people including 42 nationals. It has a joinery workshop over 900 sq m in Tubli and a 1,800-sq-m spray painting workshop in Salmabad equipped with various machines to implement a diverse range of projects. Its warehouse covers 2,500 sq m.

The ISO9002-certified company has to date completed projects worth millions of dollars. Recently, it successfully completed the Fitness First (Leisure Unlimited) Gym located on the third and fourth floors of the Bahrain World Trade Centre (BWTC), in a turnkey project, which Abdul Rahman describes as “interesting technically” and one that won the company acclaim for its quality.

It has also carried out projects for Daiwa Securities, Phase Two, at Bahrain Commercial Centre for BD36,475 ($96,736), miscellaneous works for the Water Park at Bahrain City Centre, a new display area for Louis Vuitton at Moda Mall at the BWTC, turnkey projects for the Bose showroom at Bahrain City Centre and The Coffee Shop at Al A’ali Mall, among others.

Elsewhere in the region, Al Rayes Décor has executed turnkey projects for Faces retail outlets at various malls in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE; Costa Coffee outlets in Saudi and Qatar; and Asgharali in Qatar, Saudi and the UAE, among others.

Its clients outside Bahrain include Michele Chalhoub Trading, Retail Group and Apparel Group in Dubai, Paris Group in Sharjah, Farouk Trading and Contracting in Saudi Arabia and Mach Trading in Qatar.

In Bahrain, it has executed projects for Daiwa Securities, Ashraf Brothers, Kuwait Finance House, Arcapita, Yousuf Al Hawaj and Sons, Jawad Business Group, Gulf International Bank, Asgharali and Sons and Jashanmal and Sons. It is also a pre-qualified contractor for the ministries of works, transportation, and electricity and works.

Commenting on Bahrain’s construction market and the company’s performance, he says: “The market is very slow at the moment but we hope it might pick up during 2011.”

Al Rayes’ business levels decreased by 25 to 30 per cent compared to 2009, given the market scenario. “However, there has been a slight change in the market towards the year-end. We hope this trend continues and brings cheer this year,” Abdul Rahman concludes.