The UAE paint market grew by 15 per cent last year to more than Dh630 million ($171.5 million), according to Al Gurg Leigh’s Paints (AGLP) marketing manager Ashish Chaturvedy.

“Decorative paints and architectural coatings comprise 60 per cent of the total paints and coatings industry while the balance is used for marine and industrial applications,” he continues. “Almost 60 per cent of the total decorative paint consumed fell in the exterior coatings segment.”
AGLP manufactures Dulux Paints in the UAE. Dulux is a flagship brand of UK-based ICI Paints. To meet market demand, AGLP has launched a new exterior emulsion paint called “Weathershield” designed to withstand the Gulf’s harsh climate with high temperatures and extreme exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun.
Chaturvedy says the product with superior anti-carbonation properties, is available in several smooth and textured finishes and provides up to a 15-year guarantee for external durability.
“Weathershield helps bridge fine cracks, is resistant to moisture, offers ultraviolet protection and has flame-retardant properties,” he continues. “In addition, the paint does not contain added lead or mercury making the product environment-friendly.”
Chaturvedy says what has set AGLP apart from its competition is the firm’s commitment to product improvement and customer satisfaction.”
ICI Paints-UK managing director Tony Myers says the Middle East is an important market, accounting for 46 per cent of the firm’s annual turnover.   
ICI Paints invests more than Dh184 million annually worldwide on research and development. For the last five years, 35 per cent of its business is comprised of new products. In 2005, the decorative paint market made up 90 per cent of ICI Paints’ global turnover of Dh15.3 billion. Last year, the company achieved sales of more than Dh192 million in the Middle East and projects sales growth to reach around Dh640 million by 2010.
AGLP was established in Sharjah in 1988 to manufacture industrial and decorative coatings. The protective coatings for the industrial, marine and petrochemical industry, including coatings for fire protection, are manufactured under licence from Leigh’s Paints, UK, while high-quality Dulux decorative paints are manufactured under licence from ICI Paints, UK. AGLP manufactures and distributes a full range of paints under the Dulux, Leigh’s, Firetex and Oasis brands.
In addition, AGLP operates a regional technical laboratory equipped with the latest research and development methods and analysis equipment providing a high degree of technical commitment. The manufacturing facility is fully equipped with the latest plants and machinery offering an installed capacity of about 20 million litres of paint annually, which caters to the Gulf, the Levant, North Africa and the Subcontinent.
AGLP, an ISO 9001:2000 certified company, is a member of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group of Companies, which was founded in 1960 by group chairman and UAE ambassador to the UK, Easa Saleh Al Gurg. Today the group is associated with more than 20 global brands, including British American Tobacco, Unilever, Dunlop, Siemens, United Colours of Benetton, Electrolux, Interiors, ID Design, Fisher & Paykel, Fosroc, Armitage Shanks and ICI Dulux.
AGLP pioneered the Dulux Decorator Centre (DDC) concept in the UAE, which is a one-stop shop for transforming a home into a lifestyle statement. Each of the in-house colour consultants in these colour boutiques are trained to offer inspiration and colour advice based on personal requirements and individual personality.
Dulux Decorator Centres offer a choice of decorating solutions and services in the UAE with a number of unique services exclusive to Dulux, including free colour consultation and one of the largest colour portfolios. There are eight DDCs in the UAE, three in Dubai, two in Sharjah, and one each in Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah, while the Doha store opened just last month.
The DDC colour selection process is aided through well-developed software wherein the customers can visualise limitless colour combinations for both exterior and interior walls. Its software and services include:
Mouse Painter – perfect software to help one choose the colour while looking at the room type they are actually designing, thus selecting the colour schemes before starting to paint a villa or apartment
Sophisticated tinting machine – mix and match more than 20,000 colours and order any shade in minutes with the advanced computerised tinting system
Scan and match any colour – With the help of state-of-the-art scanning machine called Spectrolino Colour Scanning Device, customers can automatically match the nearest Dulux shade with their choice of fabric, wallpaper, tile, paint or smooth surface
Free colour consultation - the Dulux Decorator Centres provide personalised customer support through Colour Experts who are trained to give infinite possibilities in the world of colour creating trends
Certified and trained applicators – quality application is one of the biggest concerns while painting a villa or an apartment, and DDCs recommend professional applicators and decorators who ensure all that through their special techniques and expertise.
AGLP general manager Philip Mathew says the decorative paints market is evolving at a rapid pace.
“The eight DDCs in the UAE and one in Qatar have stimulated the growing need for quality ‘Buy-It-Yourself’ and ‘Do-It-Yourself’ services,” he continues. “Through opening new stores and continually launching innovative products, ICI Dulux intends to keep up with the increasing demand for quality decorative products and services.”
Mathew says it is the company’s belief that safety, health and environmental care are critical for both quality of life and the success of its business.
“For more than two decades, ICI Dulux Paints has remained the only paint company that has no added mercury, lead and chromium in its product line, which are potentially harmful for health and carcinogenic in nature,” he adds.
ICI Dulux Paints has become an obvious choice for interiors for healthcare projects. Added to that, an extensive range of finishes and colours has made it the inevitable inclusion in contemporary healthcare facilities, such as Zulekha Hospital, American Hospital and Welcare Hospital. In the UAE, several bodies, such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, have recognised and commended AGLP’s commitment to safety, health and environment issues. Moreover, AGLP features on the approved list of suppliers for Adwea, Adnoc, and Zatco in addition to Emaar, Nakheel and Union Properties.
Other UAE projects with Dulux paints include Emaar Towers, Deira City Centre, Ibn Battuta Mall, Arabian Ranches villas, Green Community, Burjuman Mall’s new extensions, Wafi City, Abu Dhabi Trade Centre, Marina Mall (Abu Dhabi), Sahara Mall, retail stores of Starbucks Coffee, Pizza Hut and Debenhams.
Projects with Leigh’s protective coating include Burj Al Arab, Maktoum Bridge, Garhoud Bridges, Flower Centre (Dubai Airport), Palm Jumeirah, Crescent Bridge, Ritz-Carlton Hotel Dubai, Lloyds Bank Dubai, Maqta Bridges (Abu Dhabi), Grand Mosque and Grand Stand Stadium.
Headquartered in London, ICI Dulux operates 49 manufacturing facilities in 25 countries, selling in more than 120 countries. In the Middle East, ICI Dulux is manufactured in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the UAE. Dulux is distributed in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Palestine, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
ICI Dulux produces 1.1 billion litres of paint annually, which is enough paint to cover 2.8 million football pitches or paint every house in Los Angeles, Beijing and London combined, with some to spare.