Jeddah-headquartered Alarabi Decoration and Construction Company, a leading interior finishing specialist in the Middle East, has recently visited Oman with a view to establishing a presence in that market.

“With the Sultanate’s economy on the upswing, a number of mega projects have been announced and many others have got under way.  Hence, we have set our eyes on that market so that we can be closer to our customers and provide support at their doorsteps,” says Saleh Mohamed Saleh, business consultant. “Alarabi is a company that has a clear vision of the Sultanate’s requirements and policies. The new unit that we intend to create, will be backed up by Alarabi’s offices based in Jeddah, Riyadh, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi.”
“We are also studying the prospects of setting up a local presence in Qatar,” he adds.
The Abu Dhabi office – which operates as Alarabi Decoration Abu Dhabi – was opened in August to meet the growing demand for quality finishing works in prestigious projects in the UAE. It specialises in gypsum works and painting and also offers a choice of furniture products.
Alarabi has two manufacturing facilities – a 2,000 sq m workshop in Jeddah and another 1,500 sq m facility at the Riyadh branch and intends to build another such facility in Abu Dhabi.
Now, with the enhanced local support in a number of Gulf countries and a string of prestigious projects to its credit both in the region and abroad, Alarabi is confident of further strengthening its grip on the rapidly-expanding Middle East market.
“More than 24 years of experience in interior decor work has given Alarabi a depth of experience in completing a broad range of top-qualitly finishing works in high-profile projects to the total satisfaction of our clients,” says Saleh.
“Business in the region is booming and Alarabi sees increasing prospects for itself. A number of projects are being implemented on a fast track, which call for  multiple firms to work in parallel. We believe that we are well-positioned to take on the challenges of becoming an important member of the team that is implementing these projects, and contribute towards their  early completion,” he adds.
Alarabi, which was established in 1982, undertakes decorative gypsum, special painting and various artistic decoration works. 
“With over 80 engineers, 300 carvers and 500 specialists, Alarabi is not only the largest company for decorative gypsum and special artistic paint application in the Middle East, but also one of the largest in the world. Thanks to the professionalism of its management, the expertise of its artisans and craftsmen as well as the hard work of all its employees, the company has created a good reputation for itself in the entire Gulf. In fact, there are very few major projects in the area where Alarabi has not been somehow involved,” he claims.
Alarabi’s expert workmanship can be seen not only in royal palaces, airports, hotels and shopping malls in the Gulf area, but also in Europe (France, Italy, and Spain), Africa (Ethiopia and Egypt) and Asia (Kazakhstan, Lebanon, and Turkey).
The company is currently working on the supply and installation of gypsum suspended ceilings at the King Abdul Aziz Endowment mega complex in Makkah. This major ongoing project continues to offer Alarabi further contracts as the development unfolds. It also has other contracts with leading Saudi contractors Saudi Oger and Saudi Binladin group.
The firm has recently completed work on the 6,000 sq m deluxe Dhahran Shopping City in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, where it undertook work on the vaulted decorative gypsum false ceiling. Other recently-completed projects include the decorative gypsum work on the prestigious Phase II of the Hilton Hotel, known as the Jeddah Hilton Royal Palace – considered to be the largest hotel in the kingdom – the Al Corniche Hotel, the 4,000 sq m Official Reception Building in Riyadh and the renovation of a royal palace in Obhor, Jeddah – both of which have been undertaken for Saudi Oger.
Other landmark international projects include the Casino du Liban in Beirut (Lebanon); Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia); the new extension of the Meridien Hotel in Cairo (Egypt); the Royal Palace in Marbella (Spain) and the Marina Hotel and Shopping Mall in Kuwait.