Having established a strong foothold in Saudi Arabia over the past 25 years, Dammam-based Saudi Leather Industries Company (SLI), a specialist in industrial safety, military and casual footwear, is now stepping into new territory by becoming the first manufacturer in the Gulf to produce safety footwear with composite non-metallic toe caps.

The new footwear is expected to be introduced into the market during the last quarter of this year.
“We are well known in the region for safety footwear with steel mid-sole, which are puncture-proof affording protection to the under sole. This footwear is manufactured in accordance with EN-345 S3 international quality standards. We also have the capacity to manufacture customised work footwear in large quantities in accordance with the pattern and design needed for specific job environments of different clients,” says a company spokesperson.
Footwear from SLI is currently exported to more than 12 countries, including Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Syria, Jordan, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, India and Afghanistan. There are also plans in the pipeline to extend the network and export to other countries, such as Algeria, Libya, Iran and Iraq.
Established in 1982 as the Saudi Shoe Company, SLI is a 100 per cent locally-owned company with a 15,000 sq m manufacturing plant located in the Second Industrial City of Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Its plant is equipped with sophisticated machinery and follows modern processes in the manufacture of footwear.
The facility is also equipped with a laboratory to test raw material and finished goods, in order to monitor and ensure compliance with the required international quality standards and specifications. To keep abreast with contemporary footwear manufacturing technology, SLI is a member in many international institutes specialised in shoe research and testing and is also a member of UK-based Satra, the top-notch institute for footwear technology in the world.
The company’s quality management system is accredited to ISO 9001:2000.