Mapei, a world leader in the production of adhesives and chemical products for the building industry, is making its debut at The Big 5 Saudi in Jeddah next month in a bid to make its way into the biggest construction market in the region.

“Saudi Arabia is a big market that we are trying to penetrate and this is one of our main objectives for 2016,” says Stefano Iannacone, managing director of Mapei Construction Chemicals UAE.

At the show, Mapei will focus on cementitious adhesives.

Mapei manufactures products for buildings, the installation of ceramics and stone materials, resilient and textile materials, wooden floors, repair of the masonry, structural strengthening, waterproofing, underground construction as well as cementitious and resin floor coverings, admixtures for concrete, wall protective and decorative coatings and grinding aids.

“Over the past few years, we have constantly recorded sales growth, proving that our business model is successful and our products and services are enthusiastically accepted by the market,” he says.

Mapei ... extensive range.

“Last year, our business was extremely healthy as we grew 30 per cent compared to 2014. In 2016, we will focus on strengthening our market presence in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman by enhancing our existing sales channels and by reinforcing the ties we already have with major regional players.

“We already have an office in Qatar, while a presence in Saudi Arabia is something we might take into consideration.”

The company’s plans for this year also include expanding its warehouse and production facilities by adding an additional 25,000 sq m, and the construction of a 2,000 sq m regional head office. Both investments will be carried out at its Dubai Investment Park (DIP) facility in Dubai, UAE, where has a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility on a 40,000-sq-m plot.

The company also has a commercial and technical training centre conveniently located in Dubai in order to ensure the highest levels of service and support for its customers.

Mapei operates as IBS (Innovative Building Solutions) in Dubai, and Mapei Doha in Qatar.

Concrete repair solutions by Mapei.

The UAE subsidiary was created in line with Mapei’s globalisation strategy to be closer to the market. Products are manufactured to the most stringent health, safety and environmental requirements as well as complying with the latest material standards such as GSO: ISO 13007-1 and GEV. These products are then tested in one of the region’s most advanced temperature and humidity controlled quality control/quality assurance (QA/QC) laboratories.

Mapei also offers a unique stone testing service where natural or artificial stone can be tested and classified for stability and absorption, enabling the most suitable and durable installation materials such as screed and adhesives to be specified.

Among the prestigious projects under way in the region, Mapei is currently involved with the Riyadh Metro, where its products are being used to waterproof Line Three, the longest line of the giant, mostly underground project in the Saudi capital.

Other landmarks that have used Mapei products include the Ferrari World theme park, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi; the Burj Khalifa, Armani Hotel, Dubai International Airport terminals One, Two and Three, Burj Al Arab and Atlantis Hotel in Dubai.

With its head office in Milan, Italy, Mapei was founded in 1937. It has 68 plants in 32 countries on five continents and employs 8,500 employees. Its annual turnover is around $2.7 billion.