Rimal Engineering Products (Rimal), the premier agent for construction and building materials in the UAE, is celebrating two decades of trading under the Rimal name with the launch of a new website. After 20 years of trading in Abu Dhabi, during which time the company has grown substantially through word of mouth and client and partner recommendations alone, Rimal has launched a website which will provide another channel for information for the increasingly web-wise construction industry.
The company has managed to stay relevant and expand through its innovative approach to working with brands new to the region and developing their full market potential, and the last two decades have seen Rimal grow from a start-up in 1989, to a trusted partner for some of the construction and development industry’s largest companies. Key to its success is its close relationships with its principal brands and its ability to market, promote and sell products through its long standing network of customers and referrals.
Commenting on the changes in the industry over the last twenty years, Ahmal El Solh, Head of Business Development, Rimal, said:
“Considering how the industry we work in has been transformed since we began trading under the Rimal name twenty years ago, it is remarkable how little our customers’ preferences have changed in terms of what they want from us. Our customers still turn to us for honest, no-nonsense information and service, but now a growing segment of our market is looking for the first point of contact online. As much as 30 per cent of our potential customer base do online research first before arranging a meeting with suppliers - which is a drastic change from only a few years ago.
“We also expect the website to be a first port of call for construction and building material companies looking for agents to launch their brands in the UAE. We have witnessed a surge in international companies wanting to enter the UAE market in the last few years, including the last year in spite of the global economic downturn. Most of these companies look to find a local partner to develop their brands in the local market, as it offers the least risk and greatest opportunity for rapid returns. While we have been doing this for the last two decades, we felt the time was right as we celebrate our 20th anniversary to step up our game and get an online presence.”
Over the last 20 years, Rimal has launched and developed the market for leading international brands such as Conmix, Alno, James Gibbons Format, Strongwell, Avonite and E-Max, as well as Arabian Concrete Products. It has also been associated with BASF Construction Chemicals, formerly known as FEB Construction, since the company was formed. Rimal has a proud legacy of professional service and is involved with most new projects under construction in Abu Dhabi, including some of the most prestigious new residential and commercial developments in the Emirate.
