Al Rahmani General Trading, a diversified building materials trader based in Dubai, is set to establish offices and showrooms in other markets within the UAE.

The company was established in 1917 as a small trading concern.

From a modest beginning, the company has progressed over the years expanding its product base and is today among the leaders in the field of building materials, hardware and interior decorative items in the Gulf region.

The company continuously upgrades and adds new products to its diversified range, which today totals to more than 10,000 products, procured from well-known companies worldwide and also locally.

These include a variety of building materials, hardwared, interior decorative items and related products covering a wide, need-based market, which has rapidly changed with changing times.

"Our products have been used on several prestigious projects such as hotels, commercial and residential buildings, villas, government buildings in the UAE," says marketing manager Harish Annaswami.

Under the present leadership of managing director Ibrahim Al Rahmani, the company has plans to expand by opening offices in other emirates.

"So far we were centralised in Dubai and supplying to other emirates from our three showrooms in Dubai," says Rahmani. "We are now expanding to other emirates. We are opening a showroom in Abu Dhabi next month, which will cover Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

''The new showroom and warehouse will occupy a 40,000 sq ft area and will house all the products available at our Dubai showrooms. ''Later, we plan to expand to other emirates. We also have plans to enter into manufacturing relating to the building industry."

He continues: "We currently enjoy 20 per cent market share and hope to increase it by being closer to our customers and offering them better service.

''We want to present ourselves as a one-stop shop for all building material requirements. We have the expertise and the means and hope we can succeed. We have our loyal customers because of the service and quality products we offer."

The company also undertakes turnkey jobs and has a furniture factory and an interior decoration department.

Also part of the company is National Adhesive Industry which was established recently in Al Quoz to manufacture tile adhesives, grouts and related products.

Al Rahmani General Trading started exporting to other Gulf countries in 1965 and today the company exports to the US, Europe, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Algeria, Mauritania, Zaire, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Gabon, Madagascar, and the CIS states.

All its sales outlets and warehouses are computerised, which has enhanced the quality of service and information requirements to customers, says sales manager K M Purshothaman.

The company's product portfolio includes adhesives, plywood, timber, cement and plasters, structural steel, MDF and HDF boards, gypsum products, roofing materials, ceiling products, diffusion materials, insulation materials, doors and accessories, flooring products, decorative material, hardware, plumbing and sanitary ware and electrical products.