Al-Kifah Precast, a leading manufacturer of precast concrete solutions in Saudi Arabia, is experiencing significant growth and is poised for further expansion, according to Ehab Abu Salim, CEO of the company.

In an exclusive interview with Gulf Construction’s Bina Goveas, Abu Salim says Al-Kifah Precast, which has seen its revenue almost triple compared to pre-2020 levels, is among the top three players in the domestic precast market, boasting facilities in the Eastern and Western provinces.

The company secured a coveted role as the exclusive precast factory at site in 2020 for the Red Sea Global’s Red Sea Project, one of the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism destinations.

“Having a facility within Red Sea Project was a strategic move,” Abu Salim says, highlighting that it gave Al-Kifah Precast the ability to liaise with the project developer right from the tendering stage to ensure a high-quality product.

The company has a dedicated facility serving the Red Sea Global project and this precast production plant is also ideally positioned to serve developments at Neom, Amaala, and Rua Madinah, or any other projects nearby, he points out.

Abu Salim ... strategic move.

“The plant produces all types of precast elements and we are also looking to improve the facility. We have an expansion planned; very soon it will be serving the entire region,” he adds.

Established over 14 years ago and a part of AlKifah Holding, Al-Kifah Precast offers a wide range of precast elements, including panels, beams, columns, hollowcore slabs, skeleton systems, full frame systems and even modular solutions. The company has a research and development department focused on innovation and partners with international firms to adopt new technologies.

Abu Salim emphasises that the dedicated research and development team focuses on adopting global best practices and developing local solutions, in line with the company’s focus on constantly innovating and expanding its product portfolio.

 One such recent example (Pipeshield) is the company’s partnership with a UK firm specialising in subsea elements.

“We are one of the main suppliers of subsea elements in the kingdom. We have partnered with a UK company, which has been in the field for the last 40 years,” he states.

Abu Salim is also proud of Al-Kifah Precast’s role in developing a sustainable precast technology in collaboration with Aramco, which has been patented.

The technology was under development for the past three years and will be launched by Aramco soon.

“Aramco received an award in Canada, for that technology,” he points out.

Green precast

“We are one of the first companies to offer green precast products,” Abu Salim says, explaining that Al-Kifah Precast utilises eco-friendly materials like fibreglass rebar and pozzolan materials in the production of its precast systems in a bid to reduce their carbon footprint.

He also mentions that the company has managed to reduce transportation emissions through positioning its facilities in close proximity to major projects, eliminating the need for trucks to transport these huge precast elements over large distances.

Abu Salim also highlighted the company’s efforts to minimise paper usage.

The company has seen strong growth in the past three to four years, with revenue almost tripling compared to pre-2020 levels, and expects the trend to continue. Abu Salim attributes this success to the strong leadership within the group and the company’s own strategic initiatives.

These strategies include fostering close relationships with decision-makers, educating the market on the benefits of precast technology, and prioritising Saudisation within the workforce.

“I’m encouraging even my colleagues and other precast companies to educate the market. Because educating the consultant and the client leads to increased awareness about the benefits of using the precast technology. So, if I do not get the job, they will get it. But at the end, it is for the benefit of the country,” he says.

“Precast technology helps to speed up projects, is more sustainable, offers higher quality, and the price now is reasonable. There was a time, when the cost of precast price was high, but now it is on par and sometimes even lower than using traditional construction solutions,” he adds.

Looking ahead, Abu Salim remains confident of Al-Kifah Precast’s future.

“As a part of AlKifah Holding, we believe that each and every company within the group is participating in ensuring the group’s success. As Al-Kifah Precast Company, we are one of the highly successful companies. And we are looking forward to an even better future,” he remarks.