Manufacturers & Procurement

Bahrain firm gears up for rise in demand

Blocks from Ahmed Isa Factory have been supplied to several projects in Bahrain.

Leading contracting company Ahmed Isa Contracting Construction has recently expanded its blocks factory to meet the anticipated increase in demand for its products as well as support its own civil construction activities.

The Bahrain-based company’s second production line is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and has a capacity of around 17,000 blocks per day. It produces hollow blocks of different sizes as well as insulation blocks such as sandwich and IMSI blocks, Ahmed Isa Al Muwali, Managing Director, tells Gulf Construction.

“Ahmed Isa Block Factory is a leading company specialising in the manufacture of concrete hollow blocks and thermally-insulated blocks. The company is approved by all the concerned authorities in Bahrain. Our factory’s production capacity is 35,000 to 40,000 blocks daily. Beside hollow and insulation blocks, we are capable of producing paving stones,” says Al Muwali.

Al Muwali ... sees high potential in Bahrain.

Al Muwali ... sees high potential in Bahrain.

“The second blocks line was launched to serve the market’s needs more broadly and to expand our production capacity, enabling us to take on the big projects in the kingdom. It also serves as a contingency plan ensuring that our factory can cater for clients’ needs within the scheduled time frame and without any delays,” he adds.

The parent company, Ahmed Isa Contracting Construction, was established in 1983 and is a leading company in the construction and maintenance of all types of buildings in Bahrain.  It has a long history in serving Bahrain, with wide experience in civil contracting work for commercial and residential buildings in the kingdom, he says.

The contracting company is classified as a first-class organisation, which confirms the efficiency, wide experience and distinguished services provided by the company in the construction sector, Al Muwali adds.

The company holds credit for the construction of several major projects in the country. Its most recently completed project was Fatima Al-Hoty Mosque in Muharraq, which opened in December 2020, where the scope of works involved demolition and reconstruction.

Fatima Al-Hoty Mosque in Muharraq ... recently completed.

Fatima Al-Hoty Mosque in Muharraq ... recently completed.

Ahmed Isa Contracting Construction is also working on a key project for the Ministry of Housing, which involves the construction and maintenance of 271 villas in East Hidd.

“A number of Ahmed Isa Block Factory’s products are being used at the East Hidd housing project such as hollow blocks and IMSI insulation block of both grades 7.5 and 12.5 MPa. The Ministry of Housing requires all blocks to be tested and certified by many entities such the Ministry of Works, and the Electricity and Water Authority as well as the housing ministry,” he adds.

The past year has not been an easy one for the company, which like others in the market has suffered the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic particularly through increased costs and expenses and delays in the completion of work.

However, thanks to the precautionary measures that Ahmed Isa Contracting Construction has implemented and its full commitment to the guidelines of the health authorities – which involved giving top priority to the health and safety of its employees and workers and careful planning while anticipating changes – the company has been successful in completing its contracts and achieving growth.

Apart from the second block production line, Ahmed Isa Contracting Construction has also launched a carpentry workshop to complement its activities in the contracting field.

Al Muwali believes the construction sector in Bahrain has high potential. “In light of the tremendous support provided by the government of Bahrain during the pandemic and its eagerness to launch huge infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges, we expect the sector will witness a recovery in the coming years,” he concludes.