Al-Wakeel Glass Factory, established in 1995 as an autonomous division of Abdulla Ali Al-Wakeel & Bros Company, is one of Saudi Arabia's leading glass processors which has been gaining a reputation for delivering unique solutions for project requirements in terms of aesthetics and functionality.

At its prime location close in Dammam in Dallah Industrial Area on the main highway to Jubail, the ISO 9001 certified facility covers 12,000 sq m with a technical staff and workforce of over 100.
The company sources and manufactures a range of quality glazing through international principals such as Emicool Glass, Glaverbel, Pilkington and Saint Gobain. In 2002, the company secured a sole agency agreement for high performance structural glazing from Emirates Glass in the UAE for the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain markets.

Al-Wakeel has been actively developing the high performance glass sector with Emicool glass installed on several prestige projects.
The landmark Gulf Terrace hotel project on the Al Khobar corniche next to the Gulf Meridien is a case study in the attributes of this high performance structural glazing. Applied through the Technal system, more than 1,500 sq m of double glazing using tempered glass has been installed with powder-coated aluminium transoms and mullions. The double-glazing comprises a 6 mm outer tempered glass with Emicool CR 14 coating on pink glass  with a 12 mm airspace and a 6 mm inner clear tempered glass. 

Al-Wakeel worked closely with Alawami Planners and Consultants to determine reductions in heat gain for this high-profile residential-hotel building, its optimum air-conditioning load factors whilst ensuring that the aesthetics of the glazing in terms of translucence and clear perspectives from inside the building were achieved. 

'In the glazing industry, processing technology has been improving rapidly in the high-performance glazing sector. In fact, research and development has led to new applications of high-performance glazing now being recommended by architects and designers and other technical disciplines. 

'In terms of thermal insulation, acoustics, the maximum utilisation of daylight and reductions in heat transmission and UV (ultraviolet) radiation, high-performance glass provides important advantages both functionally in terms of cost savings for building owners and aesthetics,' says Eng. Ahmad Baker, the company's sales and marketing manager.

'In particular, Emicool glass provides an attractive uniform colour that can substantially reduce  indoor reflection, particularly at night, as well as having a low thermal break, low UV and good shading coefficients. As well as lower air-conditioning loads and power for lighting systems, the overall reduction in electrical power is substantial,' says Baker.

Baker reports that business is extremely buoyant with the company's specialist designs for structural glazing units in strong demand for houses, villas, office towers and hotels. 
Al-Wakeel is active in Kuwait and is currently working on the Salwa and Qurtoba building. In Bahrain, high-performance glass is used on the Almoayyed Tower and the Formula One facilities. In Saudi Arabia, the company is completing the Agricultural Bank in Riyadh, the Sharbatly building in Jeddah and Al Mashi building in Al Khobar.

'Each project must be treated differently in terms of the glazing, and our approach is to study each one individually. A thorough and complete study is necessary, and the company is actively engaged with architects and consultants to develop the application of high-performance glazing,' says Baker.

Baker is presenting case studies to clients in Riyadh, and will attend a special symposium at Jubail Industrial City this month (October) prior to his participation at the Annual Aluminium and Glass Conference staged at the Big 5 Show in November.