Dubai-based Ahmed Ramadhan Juma (ARJ), which enjoys the status of a leading engineering products supplier in the UAE, plans to further extend its network in the region by opening new offices in Dammam and Madinah in Saudi Arabia.

The company, which began operations in the early 1970s in the UAE, has grown in strength especially in the field of fluid technology, to become one of the Gulf’s largest engineering products supplier. ARJ currently operates 17 outlets across the GCC, and deals with more than 40 global brands.
“Since inception, the company’s focus has been on providing solutions – not just selling products. While tradition still remains as our standard in our day-to-day work, we have absorbed the latest developments to enhance customer satisfaction. This policy has allowed to stand out from the rest as a preferred supplier,” says Sahab Juma, general manager of ARJ Group.
ARJ, which started dealing with assorted water pumps and spare parts about 30 years ago, represents Lowara (Italy) and Vogel (Austria). After acquiring sole rights to distribute Nemitsas diesel-engine-powered turbine pumps, the company established itself as a major pump dealer in the region.
Reacting positively to the shifting trend from diesel to electro-pumps in the early 80s, ARJ acquired the sole distributorship for Lowara products in 1982 and within the first year  clinched a major tender from Al Ain Agricultural Department for 1,000 submersible bore-hole pumps against established brands, he says.
“Since then there has been no looking back and subsequently the company has been bagging numerous government tenders and projects for the supply of 500 to 1,000 Lowara pumps per order in all these years,” says Juma.
“We are proud to be associated with our ‘Partner in Progress’, ITT Lowara, which has helped us in setting up 11 outlets in the UAE – two in Oman, three in Saudi Arabia and one in Kuwait,” he says.
ITT-Lowara and Vogel are part of the 14 companies of the fluid technology division of the US-based ITT Industries – a global engineering and manufacturing company, which is a market leader in the regions it serves. ITT Industries – the world’s premier supplier of pumps, systems and services to move and control water and other fluids – generated sales of $4.9 billion for 2002.
The fluid technology segment of ITT Industries’ pump businesses include leading brands such as Lowara, Vogel, Goulds, Bell and Gosset, Flygt, Marlow, Richter – making it the world’s largest pump producer.
Lowara – a world leader in stainless steel pump manufacturing technology ranging through turbine, centrifugal and submersible pumps as well as related water technology equipment –  is the most favoured supplier in the European and the GCC residential and commercial pump market, while Vogel is a major supplier for pumps for industrial and oil industry applications.
Juma, adds: “Our goal is to try our best to ensure maximum customer satisfaction and loyalty by continuous improvement, regular ‘customer contact’, and resolving customer-complaints promptly. We welcome customers who complain as we view them as our well-wishers.”
Some of the major clients in the UAE to which ARJ has supplied products include:
• Municipalities – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, Sharjah and Ajman;
• Electricity and Water Authorites – Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), Federal Electricity and Water Authority (Fewa), Abu Dhabi Electricity and Water Authority (Adwea) and Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (Sewa);
• Ministry of Agricultural and Fisheries of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, Sharjah, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain;
• Emaar Properties;
• Nakheel;
• Civil and electro-mechanical contractors and consultants;
• Water treatment and reverse osmosis (RO) plant assemblers – Metito, Culligan, Vivendi, Celar and Concord.
Some the major UAE projects to which ARJ has supplied its products are Sadiyat Tower, Al Taweelah desalination plant, Emarat petrol stations, Le Meridian Hotel, City Centre – Ras Al Khaimah, Green Community, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Gate, Festival City and China Town.
“Through providing right products for the right application, we have established a reputation as a ‘reliable and trustworthy’ business house and have spread our presence in all over the GCC states,” Juma concludes.