Al Zubaidi Modern Decorative Systems, also known as Globecoat, was launched in 1976 as a division of Al Zubaidi Company in Dubai. It specialises in supply-and-apply of high-quality decorative paints and finishes for prestigious projects throughout the UAE and the GCC.

Headed by A Al Zubaidi, founder and owner of the company, Al Zubaidi is the agent for top quality specialised finishes from the UK, Italy, US, Germany, Australia including Amourcoat, Novacolor, Sanmarco, Debra Incorporated, Mankiewicz, Luminore, Decor Du Passe and Guppo Gani.

The company also has its own paint factory in Al Quoz, Dubai, called Intercolor - a partnership of Al Zubaidi and Al Amoodi in joint venture with Kalon Group of the UK - which manufactures products for export to Russia, Malaysia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nigeria as well as for the GCC.

Al Zubaidi is proud of his company's achievements to date. "Our project list bears out the company's popularity and success in major prestigious projects ranging from villas and palaces for ruling families and the business elite through commercial offices and showrooms to top-quality hotels such as The Fairmont Dubai," he says.

Under contracts totalling Dh1 million ($272,500), Al Zubaidi was responsible for supply-and-apply of decorative finishes and textured coatings for a number of the guest rooms and public areas in The Fairmont.

Stucco finish, supplied by Armourcoat UK, was applied to good effect in the Spectrum on One multi-menu restaurant on the first floor of the Fairmont, in the Arabic guest rooms on the 31st floor and throughout the executive conference centre on the 33rd floor of the hotel.

The penthouse entrance and the guest bathrooms on the 21st to 31st floors called for a very special stone effect called Marmofine, while Gani finishes, also from Italy, was used for the second floor Business Club in the hotel.

Al Zubaidi has worked on many other prestigious five-star hotel projects in the UAE, such as the Emirates Towers, Hyatt Regency and Grand Hyatt, Chicago Beach Hotels, Jumeira Beach Hotels and Royal Le Meridien.

In the commercial sector, Al Zubaidi has been specified for all branches of the National Bank of Dubai (NBD) in all the emirates.

"We are usually specified from the UK, US, Italy and Germany," he says.

Outside the Emirates, Al Zubaidi has successfully completed three commercial and hotel projects in Qatar including the Qatar Airways head office, Blue Saloon Commercial Centre, QNHC (Qatar National Hotels Company) Business Hotel at Old Salata and even ventured as far as Mauritius to apply the Stucco finishes in the Spoon restaurant in the Sun International property there and is also doing work in Kenya.

Al Zubaidi's workforce comprises 47 highly experienced painters who have been trained by British, Belgian, French, Dutch, Australian, Italian and Japanese experts in all aspects of the products employed and techniques required. The company also specialises in gold and silver-leaf paint finishes.

The company is now planning to expand into partitions, wall coverings, floorings, fabrics and other decorative products shortly.

A Al Zubaidi sums up: "Although we are not a big company, we pride ourselves on being very good - perhaps the best in the region - at what we do."