Al Hamra – which has a 40 year-track record in the construction industry in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and the UK – looks forward to a year of new challenges.

Established in Kuwait around 35 years ago, Al Hamra Contracting and Trading is a grade one contractor, which also offers electromechanical services.  Its commercial division offers a wide portfolio of products including construction chemicals, playground equipment, insulation and flooring materials, parquet flooring, sports courts and running tracks.
The company undertakes a multitude of ‘turnkey’ construction projects, renovation works, maintenance and rehabilitation, and supply and application of special building materials.
Says commercial director Gabriel Ayub: “Al Hamra covers all activities of the construction industry in Kuwait and the Arab world through a well-diversified structure.”
Al Hamra’s association with Ahmadiah Contracting dates back to 1968.  It was a family friendship that developed into a business partnership, according to Ayub. Since then, Al Hamra has been supplying a wide range of products and services to Ahmadiah. “We have established a good relationship with Ahmadiah and have been providing subcontracting services on an array of major projects,” he says. “We think very highly of this grade one company – it ranks among the best in the Gulf.  Ahmadiah’s contribution to the development of Kuwait is commendable – being equal if not more than any other construction company in the emirate.”
Al Hamra is currently working on a number of Ahmadiah’s projects in Kuwait including the Marina Mall at the Kuwait Waterfront in Salmiya and a municipal building in Hawali.
Among the landmark Ahmadiah projects that Al Hamra participated in is the Arab Organisation building, built in 1994, where it provided waterproofing works.
Apart from projects for Ahmadiah, the company has been associated with a long list of projects that range from offshore structures and marine works, industrial painting, roofing and waterproofing, building construction, earthworks, military airports, runways and associated facilities, desalination plants, power plants, general housing, high-rise buildings, hospitals and schools.
“As a prime contractor, sole subcontractor or joint venture partner, Al Hamra has demonstrated an enviable record of accomplishments,” he says.
The company has just completed an Arifjan project involving construction of camps for the US army and is set to sign a KD5 million deal for civil construction works at Rawdha-Tain camp in Kuwait.
“We currently have several ongoing maintenance contracts in Iraq worth $50 million to $70 million,” Ayub adds.
Al Hamra has a number of divisions to carry out specialist services.

Construction division
Its construction division has executed several projects that are diverse in nature, magnitude, location and duration, embracing traditional building construction, fast-track projects, turnkey design/built projects, onshore/offshore, high-rise buildings, housing and infrastructure.
The backing of a team of highly-qualified individuals has allowed the division to render outstanding performance in terms of quality of work and schedules, and made Al Hamra a front-runner in the contracting field, says Ayub.
Projects that have been completed by the division include: the renovation of Al Bayan School; construction of several buildings within the Bayan Palace Phase II; the construction, rehabilitation, maintenance and repair of buildings including sensitive SCIF installations, steel military support buildings and aviation hangars for the US Army Corps of Engineers; the construction of several buildings within the Arcent-KU Installation Zone II (Arifjan) for the Ministry of Defence/US Army Corps of Engineers.
Over the years, Al Hamra has established a strong business relationship with most governmental, private and military entities in Kuwait, forming a wide base of prestigious customers including: Ministry of Defence; Kuwait University; Ministry of Public Works; Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET); Ministry of Public Health; Saudi Arabian Texaco; Ministry of Education; US Army Corps of Engineers; Ministry of Awqaf; US Air Force; Ministry of Electricity and Water; Gulf Investment Cooperation; Directorate General of Civil Aviation; Kuwait Port Authority; Wafra Real Estate Company; Public Authority of Housing Care; United Reality Company; Public Authority for Youth and Sports; Arab Organisation; Kuwait National Petroleum Company; Awqaf Public Foundation; Petrochemical Industries Company; Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research Centre (KISR); Kuwait Oil Company.

Commercial Division
Al Hamra’s commercial division represents one of the leading, most experienced groups specialised in roofing and waterproofing works in Kuwait and elsewhere in the Middle East.
Vandex of Switzerland, Polybit of the UAE, Nord Bitumi of Italy, Tremco of the US and Pyrok of the UK are a few of the leading international specialist manufacturers of waterproofing materials that are represented by the company.
“The division has succeeded in diversifying its activities to cover all types of buildings and structures and to render the most efficient and practical solutions in the construction industry,” says a spokesman for the company.
The commercial division also covers many other important speciality trades in the construction industry including fire-proofing and acoustics, heat and sound insulation, construction and maintenance of swimming pools, sports arenas, parking and industrial flooring, dewatering and injection and soil stabilisation, says the spokesman.
For roofing applications, the division uses waterproofing materials based on bituminous membranes, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), spray-on polyurethane foam, and acrylic elastomeric coatings. It also offers waterproofing services for basements, swimming pools, potable and non-potable water-retaining structures, below and above-grade concrete structures and foundations.
The division also offers concrete repair and protection services for structures such as bridges, buildings, towers, reservoirs, other concrete structures in offshore/onshore plant.
The division also undertakes the supply and the application of construction chemicals. Materials supplied by the company range from sealants, admixtures for concrete, surfaces treatment for mortar and concrete, grouts and anchors, concrete repair, adhesives, and water stops.
In addition, the firm supplies and applies floor coatings and surface hardeners. Floor materials used are self-levelling compounds, floor hardeners, sports-floor coatings, water and solvent-based epoxy coatings, polyurethane coatings, epoxy screeds, epoxy fillers, epoxy injection materials, floors surfaces, micro concrete, epoxy repair mortar, PVC covering, and wooden parquet.
Other services offered by the division include supply of expansion joints; and supply and application of special flooring systems for playgrounds, sports floors, running tracks, and other sports floors for both indoor and outdoor areas.
A few of the major projects implements by the company include a $3.7 million project for Arab Organisation; and the $850,000 works at the Salmiya waterfront project – Phase V – Inland Mall (Kuwait) for The United Company.

Electro-mechanical division
The M&E division not only serves the company’s projects, but also extends its services to most of the construction companies in Kuwait.
“Through this division, the company is ranked first in the mechanical and fire fighting works in Kuwait,” says the spokesman.
The division executed the mechanical and electrical works for most, if not all, the projects of the company, and has built strong relations with other contractors and construction companies, he adds.
“The prestigious Salhia Complex and the Meridien Hotel are just a few examples of the magnitude and the standard of work the division has been known to undertake.’’
The division employs a group of highly-experienced engineers and foremen in both the electrical and mechanical domains and offer specialised services in:

• Fire fighting and protection services;
• Plumbing and water supply services;
• Draining services;
• Irrigation;
• Water treatment;
• Sewage treatment;
• Medical gas services;
• Special fluid services (gas, compressed air, steam etc);
• Olympic, semi-olympic and private swimming pools;
• Air-conditioning services;
• Cold stores and freezers; and
• Industrial ventilation.

Elevator division
Launched in 1991, the elevator division’s activities vary from covering installation of new lifts and escalators to providing maintenance services of lifts already in operation.
The division, which comprises a highly-qualified team, has built up a capability to handle hundreds of contracts every year and extends its activities to cover the sales of various materials needed for the installation and maintenance, the spokesman says.
Currently, the division offers electrical and hydraulic elevators; panoramic elevators; escalators and conveyors; and service elevators, including dumbwaiter and instruments lifts (in clinics and hospitals).

Maintenance division
Set up about 20 years ago, the maintenance division undertakes maintenance and repair of buildings and facilities of various government organisations.
“The works executed under this category varies between standard construction works, updating and enhancement of electrical, mechanical and HVAC systems and refurbishment of finishes and architectural works,” says the spokesman.
Although state schools and other educational facilities form a major part of the maintenance projects, yet the division has executed many other prestigious projects in Kuwait, such as the Municipal Council and the Diwaniya of the Nabat Poets, he adds.