MASA Establishment for Pest Extermination, Maintenance and Contracting is boosting its workforce as well as equipment and pesticides supply to meet its ambitious growth plan and the surge in demand for its products and services.

Its growth strategy has already resulted in the creation of two departments – a quality assurance and a research and development (R&D) department – both of which will bolster its plans to broaden its horizon across Saudi Arabia as well as the Gulf.

Masa has upheld its reputation among customers as a leading establishment in general pest and termite control that maintains a high standard of service and professionalism.

“For the past 31 years, Masa has employed the latest pest control technology based on scientific research conducted by its expert entomologists to obtain the best results meeting all standards,” says Dr Natalio Mercado, company entomologist at Masa’s R&D department.

The Riyadh-based company provides a wide range of services, which includes the control of all kinds of rodents and crawling and flying insects; stored product pests in warehouses, silos, and in ships/vessels, which are controlled through fumigation; termites through preconstruction (proofing) and corrective or preventive (post-construction) treatment of buildings and other structural pests; stray/wild animals such as dogs and cats; and other public health and plant pests.  It also sells pest control chemicals and equipment.

Masa sees increasing prospects and a growth in its clientele due to the surge in construction projects in Saudi Arabia, which include houses, luxury villas, hotels, buildings, showrooms, department/grocery stores, offices and factories. “It is due to this booming market that Masa has increased its manpower, equipment and pesticides supply to meet the demand of the pest control industry,” says Mercado.

According to him, the company’s ambitious expansion programme entails boosting its network of branches in Saudi Arabia, which currently add up to 11 branches.

The new facilities will be set up in the growth areas of the kingdom such as Hafr Al Batin, Hail, Yanbu, Taif, and Al Baha. Masa also intends to set up branch offices outside Saudi Arabia, particularly in the rest of the GCC countries.
Each of its branch offices in the kingdom has its own warehouse.

Masa’s main head office in Riyadh – which features an operations department, a library, research laboratory, a training centre and a huge warehouse for all imports from manufacturers and suppliers around the world – has recently been expanded with the addition of the quality assurance and R&D departments.

“The quality assurance department’s role is to implement and maintain an appropriate and strict quality system to monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of its services particularly in equipment and safe handling of pesticides and awareness of Masa pest control management programme,” he says.

The R&D department is focused on continuous research on chemicals and equipment and establishing hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), which are prerequisite programmes in integrated pest management system (IPMS).

“This correlates with the concept of the American Institute of Baking, of which Masa has acquired membership,” he says.

Commenting on the impact of the recent global crisis, Mercado says: “The company has not been affected by the downturn, but we are alarmed by the mushrooming of pest control operators in the kingdom.”

“Pest control practices need to be standardised to earn the recognition and respect they deserve,” he says, adding that there should be stricter laws on licensing of pest control companies.

Masa was founded 1980 and has branches in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Hofuf, Makkah, Abha, Qassim, Gizan, Jubail, Tabuk and Madinah.

The company is a member of 14 reputable international and local organisations and is the first pest control company in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East to acquire ISO certification by SGS International Certification Services. It has a long list of clients and projects for termite-proofing and pest control services, such as the Royal Commission of Jubail, Rehabilitation Society of King Fahad, King Abdulaziz International School, Al Naghi Brothers Company, Al Yamama Company, Oriental Shipping Company, Saudi Binladin Group, ABV Rock Group, Aramco, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), Pepsi Cola Bottling Company, and Al Marai, to name a few.