COMING to Saudi Build for the second time in as many years, ceramics and tiles giant RAK Ceramics will be promoting its Gres Porcellanato and ceramics tiles, bathware as well as faucets from Kludi RAK.

The Ras Al Khaimah-headquartered company made its debut last year at Saudi Build, which it describes as the largest business-to-business construction fair in the Saudi Arabia and the leading construction trade show that provides a professional and unique platform to tap into Saudi Arabia’s lucrative construction market and generates new leads, both local and regional.

“Saudi Arabia is the largest overseas market for RAK Ceramics, accounting for around 20 per cent of its export sales,” says Abdulla Mahmood, general manager marketing and corporate communications. “Moreover, RAK Ceramics always look to participate in industry events that allow us to interact with our customers, business partners and other stakeholders of the industry. This enables us to anticipate emerging market demands and better understand new market trends.”

Furthermore, Saudi Build provides an unrivalled opportunity for architects, engineers, contractors and developers to network. It also offers an immense networking opportunity to tap new markets and build a rapport with new distributors besides teaming eager buyers with key suppliers, while highlighting new developments and insights that allow it to grow as a company, and advanced concepts in the field of construction and building.

Another factor that has encouraged the company to exhibit at the show is that it presents an opportunity for RAK Ceramics to unveil its latest innovations.

“We will be introducing new products to the Gulf market at this exhibition. RAK Ceramics will be showcasing its newly launched Wood Art Tiles Collection as a part of its promotion of eco-friendly tiles and contribution to sustainable construction,” says Mahmood.

RAK Ceramics is a $1-billion global conglomerate that supplies to more than 160 countries and has been officially recognised as the world’s largest ceramics manufacturer with a global annual production output of 117 million sq m, 4.5 million pieces of bathware and 20 million pieces of tableware. The company offers a comprehensive product portfolio comprising more than 8,000 designs in ceramic tiles, Gres Porcellanato, and several models in bathware.

RAK Ceramics stand at the last Saudi Build.

RAK Ceramics has sold a staggering over one billion sq m of tiles worldwide since production commenced in 1991, and recently reached an equally impressive milestone in terms of bathware, having sold over 50 million pieces worldwide since 1993.

The company is a global pioneer in the world of ceramics through its innovative eco-friendly products such as RAK Slim, Wood Art Collection, Stone Art Collection and Orion Collection which are produced using the latest Nanopix digital printing technology.

The Wood Art, Orion and Stone Art collections are superior alternatives to natural wood, marble and stone as part of the company’s sustainable business and operations.

“Recently, RAK Ceramics became the first ceramics company in the region to produce a GRI-based sustainability report in-house which has been highly appreciated by industry peersand green building products,” Mahmood emphasises.

RAK Ceramics is also the founding member of Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), which supports the development of sustainable buildings in the UAE.

The company has also set up major joint ventures to further diversify its product portfolio. It offers a complete solution with its diversification into tile adhesives and grouts in a joint venture with Laticrete International of the US to form Laticrete RAK. Its joint venture with German-based Kludi enables it to offer an eco-friendly range of taps, faucets and other accessories for sanitary ware products under the brand name Kludi RAK while its RAK Porcelain tableware range of products is targeted at the high-end hospitality industry.

“All these subsidiaries contribute to RAK Ceramics’ brand by offering complete value-added service to clients,” says Mahmood.

RAK Ceramics was established in June 1991. Apart from its head office in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, the company has other offices in Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The company employs about 7,000 people in the UAE and 14,000 people worldwide.

Business for the company this year has picked up strongly. There has been a 10 per cent overall increase in business, on the back of positivity in the market on account of the real estate and construction sectors picking up in the last 12 months, he says, adding that RAK Ceramics’ retail segment has also been steadily growing.

Within the domestic market, the company has a few projects in the pipeline which are sure game changers in the market, according to Mahmood. “Considering the fact that the domestic market has been plagued with many ceramic companies offering products at lower quality and cost, RAK Ceramics has witnessed a surge in business levels majorly driven by innovative and quality products.”

The company has aggressively expanded at the retail level and has opened three new showrooms in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah, bringing the total number of exclusive retail outlets to 10. In addition, it has expanded its production capacity of sanitary ware in the Indian and Bangladeshi markets.

RAK Ceramics is also researching and analysing several opportunities to introduce innovative product ranges with new technology. It also intends to introduce large-format tiles based on cutting edge technology that will be the first of their kind in this region.

Future plans include launching a series of new products primarily in the tiles, bathware and kitchen fittings segments.

RAK Ceramics is currently supplying to numerous projects across the region including the Al Jawarah project for Damac Properties in Saudi Arabia; Banana Island Resort Village in Qatar for UrbaCon Trading and Contracting; the Wadi Al Sail project for the government of Bahrain; the Palazzo Versace luxury hotel for Enshaa-Versace Palazzo in the UAE; Dubai International Airport Terminal Two expansion and refurbishment, for Dubai Aviation Engineering Project Corporation (DAEP); and Phases One and Two of a housing project for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) in Saudi Arabia.

RAK Ceramics will be exhibiting at Stand 105-3, Hall 3, at Saudi Build.