ARABIAN Building Support and Rehabilitation Company (Absar), a specialist in concrete repair and marine works, is keen to expand its horizons beyond its main areas of operations in the Eastern and Western provinces to cover the entire Saudi Arabia.

It presently has branch offices in Al Khobar, Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah.

The company is currently engaged in one of the biggest desalination plants in the Middle East. The government project entails rehabilitation of selected concrete structures at Jubail desalination plant and rehabilitation of damage in some buildings within RWTS-PS1-Line C at the power and desalination plant for Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC).

“We are professionals in concrete repair works meeting international specifications,” says Abdullah Khattab, the company’s business development manager.

Another major government contract it is involved in is erecting floating berths in the Eastern and Western regions. “We are exerting every effort to ensure that the scope of marine works we offer is on par with that provided by international companies,” he adds.

Operating since 1980 as a division of the Bin Tami Development Company, Absar became an independent entity in 1991 under the umbrella of the holding company and has grown from strength to strength.

Driven by its success in executing and managing projects, the management decided to diversify into marine works, which is now a core growth area of its Specialized Projects Unit (SPU).

“This field of operations has given a new direction to the company, with the scope of activities being berth maintenance, installation of fenders (cylindrical, wheel fenders and other types), and construction of new berths, among a host of activities,” says Khattab.

“We met with instant success when we launched into this activity, thanks to our reputation in the market. Our company possesses the marine equipment necessary for carrying out such types of works. In addition, we have recruited qualified engineers and well-trained technicians, including certified divers, in order to handle marine works,” he says.

Absar, an ISO9001:2000-certified company has commercial ties with many international companies for the supply of know-how as well as all types of fenders, floating berths and marine equipment with related accessories. The firm is also equipped with up-to-date underwater photography and video recording systems.

Absar has carried out many government projects such as royal naval bases in Jeddah and Qadeema, Jubail, and Yanbu commercial port.  “Absar recently completed the concrete repair works for berths at Yanbu commercial port, which was carried out underwater at a depth of 12 m,” Khattab says.

Apart from concrete repair and marine works, the company’s other activities encompass internal and external waterproofing and insulation works; structural engineering; re-surfacing and floor coating; industrial painting; and cathodic protection.

Some of its key clients include King Faisal University, King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), SWCC, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabian Airlines, King Abdulaziz Military Academy, Saudi Electricity Company, and the ministries of interior, petroleum, planning, industry and electricity, defence and aviation, and post, telephone and telegraph.

The company reports excellent business despite the recent global economic downturn, with a 50 per cent increase in its turnover last year. “Despite the competition in the market, we have registered good growth,” Khattab says.

He attributes this to the fact that the company has established a sound reputation in the market and is staffed by a select team of well-qualified engineers and technicians.

“The company’s qualified engineering and technical staff has been providing guidance and on-the-job supervision to our clients, while focusing on quality and efficient customer service,” he says.