The UAE-based Al Abbar Group aims to become completely self-sufficient and strengthen its leadership in the aluminium, glass and stainless steel industry, according to Rashid Al Abbar, chairman and founder of the group.

Established in 1959, Al Abbar Group has been associated with several of the stunning architectural achievements in the region, placing the emirate on the world architectural map.

The success of Al Abbar through the years stems from the company's clear vision and consistent investment policy.

Al Abbar Aluminium, established in 1987 under the Al Abbar Group of companies, is one of the leading aluminium and glass cladding specialists in the Middle East, recognised by its partners and customers as a designer and installer of international systems and services.

"After 16 years in the business, we consider ourselves well established in the UAE market and our plans are to grow internationally," says Peter Grove, commercial manager of Al Abbar Aluminium.

Since the beginning of the year, the company has embarked on an ambitious programme for overseas expansion.

"Our focus initially is the GCC," says Grove. "After winning projects in Kuwait recently we opened an office there, which will be followed by one in Qatar."

According to Grove, with the development of tourism, Bahrain is also emerging as an important market for the group.

In the long term, Al Abbar Group plans to expand beyond the Middle East region, targeting Europe and the Far East.

The company has signed a joint venture agreement with the international contractor Seele, and is supplying curtain-walling for Seele's projects in Europe and the Far East.

Recently, Al Abbar was granted a contract on the imposing Dubai Marina project. The company will handle the 'external envelope' - curtain-walling, windows and cladding - of the Dubai Marina's North package consisting of three tower buildings, the 'podium' comprising the retail development at the foot of the towers, 35 luxury villas and a health and fitness centre.

Other prestigious projects won by Al Abbar in the last 12 months are: Fairmont Hotel, the Capricorn Tower and Dubai Media City in Dubai; Takreer/Athreer headquarters in Abu Dhabi; Hilton Resort Hotel and Al Bahar headquarters in Kuwait: and Al Hodaifi Tower, Doha Marriott Gulf Tower and Doha International Airport in Qatar.

Al Abbar is fully aware that in a competitive and constantly developing market, leadership can be maintained through serious investment in new equipment and technology. The group's investment policy is based on increasing production capacity and expanding the product and service range offered to customers.

During the last 12 months, Al Abbar has added to its equipment a new water-jet cutting machine, which increases production volume and allows for patterning and cutting of intricate shapes. A second CNC machine station has also been purchased to increase capacity and enhance quality.

The group is heavily investing in its glass division too. A new laminating line is being installed, bringing a whole new range of products to its portfolio.

According to Jean Lelievre, commercial manager of the Al Abbar Tempering Plant division, there is a growing demand for laminated glass, which has better safety parameters than regular tempered glass.

"We see developing the laminated glass production as an opportunity for us to step into the market as a stand-alone supplier," Lelievre says.

"We are also in the process of installing a heat soak oven which allows us to further improve the safety and quality of the glass," he adds.

In this context, Al Abbar Tempering Plant succeeded in securing a licensing agreement with Pilkington Architectural for the exclusive manufacture of its Planar systems throughout the Middle East.

''Currently, Al Abbar is the only provider of curved and tempered glass in the region, '' says Lelievre. ''Al Abbar Glass also operates the most sophisticated double glazing line in the Middle East. The ambition of the glass division is to establish its own line of products and services, complementing the package offered by the Al Abbar Group.''

At the Big 5 exhibition this year, the Al Abbar stand is focused on glass, featuring an impressive all-glass structure demonstrating two of the imminent technological orientations of Al Abbar Glass: the point-fix system and the curved glass panels.

Al Abbar's stand number is 4E191.