Saudi Arabia-based Masa Establishment for Pest Extermination Services, which witnessed a near 40 per cent growth in business last year, is now set to further expand its network of offices as a part of its silver jubilee celebrations.

“Our strategy for the year includes the opening of three more branches to add strength and reach to the already existing 11 branches including the central head office in Riyadh,” says owner and general manager Mousaied Shieshakly.
“The main theme of our silver jubilee celebration, which the company will be celebrating for the entire year, is to seriously concentrate on the expansion of its business by opening new branches in Taif, Yanbu and a satellite branch in Al Kharj area to fill the long standing vacuum,” he adds.
“Undoubtedly, with the construction industry booming in the kingdom this year we see a lot of prospect in the pest control business,” he points out.
A pioneer pest management professional in Saudi Arabia, Masa has dedicated itself to exterminating pests and termites by providing a clean and hygienic environment in the kingdom.
“Our primary role in the construction industry has been to provide customers termite control services at a very competitive price so that newly constructed buildings can be protected from any future damages caused by the subterranean termites in the soil. Towards this end, we have been advocating the importance of pre-construction termite control,” says Shieshakly.
“With developers aiming towards risk-free investments, pre-construction termite control has become increasingly popular – especially in Saudi Arabia where the soil is favourable for subterranean termites. Already some countries around the world have made pre-construction termite control mandatory by including it in their construction guidelines. On its part, Masa has been emphasising on the need to include this aspect in the kingdom’s new constructions guidelines.
“Pre-construction treatment is all the more important as it is more difficult to treat and ensure that the chemical is actually applied uniformly once the structure is in place. The best time for termite treatment is before the construction of ground level flooring so that the right dosage of termiticide is applied into the soil in contact with construction elements,” he continues.
Explaining the various stages of treatment, he says: “Generally, soil treatment is done in three stages:
• Foundation treatment: Where the soil along the inside and outside of foundations is treated to prevent termites from gaining access to voids or cracks in foundation;
• Slab treatment: The spraying of termiticide around the plumbing, utility entrances, expansion joints, and where two slabs join;
• Perimeter treatment: By rodding or trenching around the structure, a continuous barrier is created.
New technology
Masa’s untiring efforts to attract big clients from both private and government sector for its services have been rewarded, he says. By the end of last year, the company had increased the number of contracts by 39 per cent when compared to 2003.
The current trend of using modern technologies – such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) products – plays a vital role in pest management, as they are not just safe but cost effective too, says Shieshakly.
“IPM – a treatment using a combination of chemicals and non-poisonous chemicals – is gaining overwhelming success and we are determined to educate people of the enormous health benefits that the products offer through launching a massive effort in the direction,” he says.
Towards this effort, Masa has been popularising the method through media coverage and by setting up a separate booth at trade exhibitions taking place in Riyadh, Jeddah and Jubail.
“Only few professionals are using IPM techniques,” says Shieshakly. “In fact, Masa is working on a scientific purview which involves a short and long-term plan. For the short term, we are planning to streamline the use of pesticides in the kingdom by encouraging the setting up of an organisation such as the Saudi Pest Control Association and other similar private groups. These organisations and groups will seek to spread knowledge about pest control and environmental issues, which will hold well for the safety of the people, the flora and fauna, and the environment of the kingdom as a whole. In the long term, it is expected to minimise the use of pesticides and poisonous chemicals as much as possible by using IPM.”
Established in 1980, Masa has been primarily engaged in providing professional and quality services in all areas of pest control.
“In the pursuit of our goals and social commitment, we are committed to quality and professionalism in the delivery of our services through a team of highly-qualified service technicians who work closely with our clients to achieve the desired results,” says Shieshakly.
Over the years, the company has grown in size and spread its activity across the kingdom to include 11 branches with 250 highly trained professional staff and has satisfactorily completed pest treatment for a long list of satisfied clients that includes not only individual citizens but also many reputable names in various business concerns, both in private and public sector.
Among the major ongoing projects include hospitals, a technical  college and an orphanage in Madinah; Onaizah Market, university building and cold storage rehabilitation  in Onaizah and Buraidah; schools for the Royal Commission of Jubail, and housing for Aramco and Hadeed (Saudi Iron and Steel Company), shopping malls, police training building and 220 villas in Jeddah; and shopping malls and a hospital in Tabuk.
Its central warehouse is located in Riyadh monitored with self-timer ventilating system to maintain the required temperature for pest control related chemicals.
In recent years, the company has transformed into a fast-growing organisation and is continuing to widen its business interests in pest control and related concerns.
In its attempt to diversify into related business interests, Masa has been involved in chemical sales, starting with termiticides and fumigants, which will include the whole range of public health and agricultural chemicals including IPM products. At present, there are 20 valid registered pesticides under the Masa name. It has added newly-registered public health chemicals (Aldiol paraffin block for rat control and Kemethrin EC for crawling insect control) and Seifban TC for the eradication and control of subterranean termites to its growing list, he concludes.