Decoration Establishment - a regional leader in the field of decoration and high-quality finishings - has just concluded a highly successful year and is now in the process of changing its structure into a company that is specialised in decorative gypsum and painting works.

'Last year was one of the most successful in the history of the establishment,' says Renato Zimmerman, general manager. 'It was a complete turnaround from that of the previous fiscal year; and we foresee that this year's activities will be more rewarding, if not comparable to last year's result.'
Established in 1982, AlArabi offers complete concepts for interior and exterior decoration. Staffed by a large team of artists, artisans and decoration specialists and dedicated and qualified managers, the firm provides a wide range of services that covers decorative gypsum works for exteriors and interiors; painting work, including marbleising, gold leafing, trompe l'oeil and other special applications.
It also trades in glass mosaic tiles from Italy.
AlArabi is highly optimistic about prospects for new potential contracts which could keep it very busy over the year.  'Through planned rationalisation and improvement of our sales, we foresee that we will utilise our capacity to the maximum, particularly in gypsum and painting works,' says Saleh M Saleh, business consultant.
Competition, however, is fierce which means that AlArabi has had to match the market rates while offering quality services, he points out.
'We are therefore focusing on improving our organisational structure and cut unnecessary costs to maintain our competitiveness. Our guaranteed and strict adherence to contracted deadlines is undoubtedly a key reason for our success and we will continue to concentrate on achieving these high standards in the preparation and organisation of work at our sites,' he says.
Saleh continues: 'After 20 years of operation in the kingdom, we can claim today to be one of the oldest and the largest companies in the field of finishing and decoration in the Middle East.
The Jeddah-based AlArabi has established a sound reputation for quality and a high standard of workmanship and through its unrivalled references has secured most of the major interior decor projects in Saudi Arabia and abroad.
AlArabi has completed numerous major decoration projects in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, including royal palaces, hotels, casinos, airports, shopping centres and private villas.
Some of the landmark projects completed by AlArabi include the passenger and royal terminals at Dhahran International Airport, three office levels for the Kingdom Holding Company at the Kingdom Centre in Riyadh, Westin Hotel in Jeddah; the Casino du Liban in Beirut (Lebanon); the Sheraton Hotel (Deluxe Collection) in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia); the new extension to the Meridien Hotel in Cairo (Egypt) and the Royal Palace in Marbella (Spain).
AlArabi is currently working on the gypsum work for the second phase of the Hilton Hotel in Jeddah, which is the Jeddah Palace. The firm launched work on its contract in March and is scheduled to complete it in June. The company had previously undertaken work on the first phase of the hotel.
It is also close to completing decorative gypsum works at Al Cornice Hotel, Jeddah.
Other projects in hand in Saudi Arabia include a number of palaces and luxury villas in Jeddah and Riyadh.
AlArabi is currently putting the finishing touches to the sprawling government-owned Official Reception Building in Riyadh. Here, it supplied the original moulds needed for the decorative exteriors and also supplied and installed a major portion of its fibrous gypsum ceiling requirement, ranging from 25,000 to 35,000 sq m.
'This is a huge undertaking - one of the largest of its kind in Saudi Arabia - and is a rush project to be completed within five months,' says Saleh.
The establishment's list of other recently completed projects  in Saudi Arabia include:

• The turnkey supply and installation of interiors of the new multi-million-dollar building of the Asian Pilgrims Guide Establishment in Makkah; and
• The interior decoration as part of a major renovation at the Humanitarian City building in Riyadh.

Commenting on the Saudi market, he says: 'Private sector investment in construction is showing an increasing momentum and there are indications of a steady rise in activity.'
In Kuwait, it has carried out interior gypsum decorative works and painting works for the buildings at Waterfront Phase Five including the Marina Mall, the new headquarters of Public Institution for Social Security, and at the villa of Sheikha Al Anoud Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. The main contractor was Ahmadiah Contracting and Trading Company.
'These contracts mark the successful entry of AlArabi in the Kuwait interiors market,' he comments. 'Following these deals, several others have followed and a number of new contracts are currently being finalised for Kuwait.'
AlArabi has a staff strength of 800 and has a branch office in Riyadh.