INTERNATIONAL Expertise for Wood Industries (Inex) has executed a number of large and prestigious projects for Saudi Oger ever since it started sub-contracting works for the leading contractor some 13 years ago.

“As a subcontractor, Inex is well aware of the importance of quality work and timely delivery for the main contractor,” says Zakaria Isfenja, the company’s deputy general manager.

The Jeddah-headquartered company provides exclusive woodwork targeted at the high end of the market, undertaking works for royal families, VIPs and prestigious hotels (five and seven stars), and private villas and palaces. It fabricates, supplies and installs decorative wooden works such as various types of doors (modern, Islamic and custom designs), certified fire-rated doors (with a fire rating of 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes), parquetry, ceilings, vanities, counters, panels, silkscreen, mashrabiya, heritage Islamic designs, galleries, router curving works, decorative interior and exterior works, pergolas, canopies, gazebos and terraces, among others.

Inex is currently executing two major projects for Saudi Oger. These include the complete interior and exterior wooden works (doors, panels, vanities, counters and parquets) for the Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University project in Riyadh; and doors, panels, vanities, counters and trellises for the King Abdullah International Convention Centre in Jeddah (KAICC).

“The challenge for these projects is to provide high quality in a short period of time,” says Isfenja.

Other major projects carried out for Saudi Oger by the company are the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust) in Thuwal near Jeddah, Half Moon Bay in Al Khobar, a project at South Obhur in Jeddah, and a luxury hotel project, Rawda Royal Palace and Janadriyah Royal Palace, all in Riyadh.

In addition, Inex is in negotiations for a number of other projects that Saudi Oger is currently involved in. These include the King Abdulaziz Centre for Knowledge and Culture in Dhahran, and King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh.

“These projects are big and we believe will help strengthen our relationship with Saudi Oger in executing such landmark projects,” Isfenja says.

At work ... Inex employs a total of 528 people in its offices and factories.

Apart from Saudi Oger’s projects, Inex has also undertaken a number of other assignments. It has recently been involved with the Osama Al Saed Compound in Jeddah for Abdul Razek El Farra Engineering and Contracting Company under a contract worth SR10.09 million ($2.69 million); and a SR5.03 million ($1.34 million) deal for Desert Roses private villas at Al Khozam in Riyadh for Amias Real Estate Development Company. The scope on both these projects included modern decorative wooden works, including doors, panels, cabinets, ceilings, parquets, chimneys and vanities.

Inex also executed woodwork for the distinctive Hilton Royal Palace Hotel, Jeddah, under a SR13.38 million ($3.56 million) contract from Haif Contracting Company. The scope of services included special work on doors with leather, mother-of-pearl and marquetry designs and stylish modern decorative wooden works on doors, panels, cabinets, ceilings, parquets and vanities.

Although business in 2009 was better compared to 2010 for the company, Isfenja sees good times ahead, adding that the construction scene in Saudi Arabia is progressing very fast.

Established in 1992, Inex operates factories in Riyadh and Jeddah, in addition to a factory in Jebel Ali in the UAE, which it opened in 2003.  It is now keen to set up a factory in Lattakia, Syria, where it has recently opened an office. Inex employs a total of 528 people in all its offices and factories.

“Inex undertakes wooden works based on sound engineering concepts and continues to reach for new heights through research and development,” concludes Isfenja.