Fast-tracking growth in building materials
Empowered by Vision 2030, building-material ventures are advancing world-class Saudi manufacturing
A key illustration of how the private sector is contributing to the development of the region’s economies and societies is Juman Industrial Investment.
With a footprint across the region, Juman’s partnerships with global market leaders in building materials blend those firms’ expertise with Juman’s strengths in manufacturing, supply, installation and local market understanding.
One example is Gerflor Middle East, a joint venture with Gerflor SAS. Since 1977, the region’s only vinyl-flooring manufacturer has been a preferred provider of innovative and sustainable floor solutions and wall finishes. It has two manufacturing facilities in Saudi Arabia and is investing in a third state-of-the-art 25,000-square-meter luxury-vinyl-tile plant with a production capacity of about 2 million square meters to meet growth in demand. Juman also recently partnered with Bostik, an Arkema company, to manufacture and distribute adhesive, sealant, and wall and floor systems in Saudi Arabia. “The combination of Juman and Bostik’s expertise will enable us to expand our offering with world-renowned and quality building solutions,” says Mohammed Al Bassam, who gained degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Bath and Imperial College London, a University of Cambridge master’s in industrial engineering, and worked at Mckinsey & Company before joining his family’s business as Juman’s managing partner.
Another of Juman’s companies is USG Middle East, a joint venture with Knauf ’s United States Gypsum (USG) that is a preeminent producer of ceiling systems, finishes and partitions, which are manufactured at five regional plants and sold across the region. Renowned for innovations that create smarter buildings, it has been involved in numerous iconic projects. Over the coming years, Juman plans to further expand its portfolio by investing in more collaborations that create value in the region’s flourishing building sector, Al Bassam says: “Juman is excited about Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transformational growth under Vision 2030 and is committed to playing an active part in realizing the vision’s objectives and potential.”