December, 2011

Rizwan Sajan, Founder and Chairman of the Danube Group, leader in construction, building materials and shop fitting industries, has been recognized as one of the top 25 ‘Young Asian Achievers’ in the UAE in a gala ceremony that was held last December 12, 2011 at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. During the event, Sajan was presented with a plaque of recognition by Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI). The Danube founder was cited for his dynamic leadership as chairman of the Middle East region’s premier building materials and home interiors products provider and the significant contributions he has made towards the UAE’s continued growth and development.

The 25 UAE-based Asian expatriates are also included in a book entitled ‘Young Asian Achievers,’ released by Xponent Media. Achievers, which come from eight Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Afghanistan, Philippines, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, were chosen for their contributions, innovative and out-of-the-box approaches in their respective fields.

“I am both humbled and honoured to be a part of this pioneering list of Asian Achievers in the UAE. This recognition stands as testament to the commitment and dedication that I have given in driving Danube to become an industry leader in its own right. Moreover, I hope that this pioneering Achievers list and book will inspire today’s generation of Asian expatriates in the UAE to make significant contributions and opt to be a part of the unified efforts directed towards the country’s growth and development,” said Rizwan Sajan, Founder and Chairman, Danube.

Opening of 34^th showroom is part of leading company’s efforts to consolidate UAE market presence

December 15, 2011

Danube Building Materials, the leader in construction, building materials and shop fitting industries, has announced the opening of its 34^th ‘BUILDMART’ showroom today (December 15, 2011) in Bur Dubai. H.E. Sami Dhaen Al Qamzi, Director General, Dubai Economic Department (DED), led the inaugural ceremonies and was joined by Rizwan Sajan, Founder and Chairman, Danube and other senior officials of the company. The new B2C stand alone showroom is part of the leading company’s continuing efforts to consolidate its market presence in the UAE and the rest of the Middle East region.

The new ‘BUILDMART’ showroom is strategically located in the activity laden Computer Street of Bur Dubai and measures at 7500 square feet. The B2C retail facility is looking to target Dubai’s growing number of construction projects while also tapping into the local homeowners based in the many building apartments and villas located in the Bur Dubai district.

“We congratulate the Danube group on the opening of their latest ‘BUILDMART’ in Bur Dubai,” said H.E. Sami Dhaen Al Qamzi, Director General, Dubai Economic Department (DED). “Over the last few years, Danube has become a strategic partner in the country’s move towards driving in growth and development.  We applaud the company’s continued efforts to maintain its leading position as a key provider of world class high quality building materials and home interior products across the many ongoing projects in the UAE and beyond.”

The new branch will offer an impressive collection of products that range from essential building materials to key household items. Products to be offered will include chandeliers, sanitary, ceramic tiles, wallpapers, curtains, blinds, carpets, plywood, timber, steel, hardware, flooring, gypsum and veneer.

“Amidst the impact left by the recent economic downturn, the UAE is now quickly recovering as demonstrated with the increasing number of construction and development projects happening in Dubai and other parts of the country. Looking to become a major part of this growth, we have embarked on the strategic mission of opening more ‘BUILDMART’ showrooms across the Middle East in general and the UAE in particular, not only to mark a stronger market share in the building materials segment but also to give our customers the assurance of having a ‘BUILDMART’ nearby that will provide them with all their building material and home interior needs,” concluded Rizwan Sajan, Founder and Chairman, Danube.

New water heater collection from Danube buildmart

Opening of new B2B and B2C retail showroom complements leading company’s move to create stronger Middle East market presence

October 09, 2011

Danube Building Materials, the leader in construction, building materials and shop fitting industries, revealed the opening of its new ‘BUILDMART’ showroom in Hamad Town. The new B2B and B2C showroom, which is the third BUILDMART in Bahrain, is part of the leading company’s strategic initiative to consolidate its market presence across the Middle East region, particularly in key emerging economies like Bahrain.  Mr. A. Ajay Kumar, First Secretary, Indian Embassy in Bahrain, led the inaugural ceremony and was joined by Adel Sajan, Director, Danube Group and other senior officials of the group. The opening complements a recent report from leading business research and intelligence firm, Research and Markets, showing that Bahrain’s construction industry is on the rebound, further made stronger with the influx of new projects across the country.

The new ‘BUILDMART‘ is centrally located in the heart of Hamad Town’s industrial area, which is primarily dominated by fabricators, joineries and other related industries. Measuring at 36,000 square feet, the new retail facility is split into a retail showroom and a covered warehouse. The showroom is looking to target Bahrain’s current crop of construction projects and also tap into home owners by addressing their home interior needs.  The new branch will offer an impressive collection of products that range from essential building materials to key household products.

“I congratulate the Danube Group on the opening of their new ‘BUILDMART’ showroom in Bahrain. This event reflects the continuous efforts to drive in more business and investment opportunities into Hamad Town and help in the growth and development of the region. The new showroom will be a strategic complement to current ongoing projects in the country,  allowing developers easier and quicker access to world class building materials while also giving homeowners access to a wide portfolio of home interior products and services,” said A. Ajay Kumar, First Secretary, Indian Embassy in Bahrain.

Aside from the Hamad Town showroom, Danube also operates two other ‘BUILDMART’ retail showrooms in Bahrain Mall and Salmabad. The products offered in the new showroom includes chandeliers, sanitary, ceramic tiles, wallpapers, curtains, blinds, carpets, plywood, timber, steel, hardware, flooring, gypsum, veneer, etc.

“The opening of our new ‘BUILDMART’ showroom demonstrates our unending commitment to create a key presence in the Middle East region. Over the years, our pioneering move to introduce key showrooms that carry all the essential needs in building materials and home interior products has received overwhelming response from our customers. This has given us the confidence to consolidate our reputation of being strategic providers of world-class materials, banking on our ability to understand the demands and requirements of our growing customer base,” concluded Adel Sajan, Director, Danube Group.

-ends-

Danube BUILDMART bags two prestigious categories in latest edition of ‘Images Retail ME Awards 2011’,

Leading company named ‘Most Admired Retail Professional of the Year’ and ‘Most Admired Retailer-Home & Office Improvement’ October 17, 2011 Danube BUILDMART, the retail arm of leading buildings materials supplier, Danube Building Materials, a leader in construction, building materials and shop fitting industries, won two awards during this year’s edition of the ‘Images Retail ME Awards 2011,’ which was held recently at the Meydan Hotel. BUILDMART was named ‘Most Admired Retail Professional of the Year’ and ‘Most Admired Retailer-Home & Office Improvement.’ H E Mohamed Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz, Undersecretary, UAE Ministry of Economy was the Guest of Honor during the ceremonies. The first award, ‘Most Admired Retail Professional of the Year,’ was presented to Rizwan Sajan, Founder and Chairman, Danube Group by Rashid Doleh, Executive Director, Dalma Mall, while the second award, ‘Most Admired Retailer-Home & Office Improvement,’ was presented to Rizwan Sajan and Adel Sajan, Director, Danube BUILDMART by Mohammad Abdullah, Managing Director for Media Cluster, Dubai Media City.

The ‘Images Retail ME Awards 2011’ aims to recognize the top performing retailers and retail practices in the Middle East region and rewards excellence across retail categories. The event is positioned as the most prestigious event of its kind in the region’s retail calendar and helps set benchmarks and best practices that make the Middle East a vibrant retail destination. BUILDMART was recognized for its creditworthy performance last year and its move to introduce strategic innovations and initiatives that helped position the company as a leading retail institution for the Middle East.

“We are very honoured and humbled to be recognized in two categories for this year’s edition of the ‘Images Retail ME Awards.’ These two awards not only serves as an inspiration and tribute to our employees who have maintained strong commitment in keeping our customers satisfied but also reinforces our promise to provide world class high quality building materials and home interior products in the Middle East region,” said Rizwan Sajan, Founder and Chairman, Danube Group.

The Jury members for ‘Images Retail ME Awards 2011’ include Mohammad Alawi, CEO, Red Sea Markets Co.; Peter Walichnowski, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Properties; Alexander John Andarakis, Founder and Managing Director, Andarakis Advisory Services; Roy Higgs, CEO and Partner-in-Charge, Development Design Group; David Macadam, Head of retail at Jones Lang LaSalle MENA; Frederick John Douglas, Director – Leasing, Aldar Properties; Davide G Padoa, CEO, Design International (DI); and Hussein Doughan, Regional Manager, Euromonitor International, MENA and Turkey.

The two-day show, the third event organized in Dubai since 2009 by “MagicBricks.com, India’s leading property site was inaugurated by Rizwan Sajan, Chairman of Dubai-based Danube Group.

T. Bala krishnan, regional manager of “MagicBricks.com, said the Pune-centric show has been designed to offer the best residential and commercial properties from across the Pune region at a single venue.

Property prices in Pune has been on a steady and sustained surge averaging between 10 and 15 per cent over the past several years despite the general slump witnessed in most parts of India,

“As one of the fastest growing IT, automobile and educational hubs of the India, Pune has become a sought-after destination of property buyers looking to settle down,” said Bala krishnan.

The show offers a wide array of apartments, villas and residential plots. “We are hosting the Pune Property Shows to serve as a showcase for sellers. With a wide variety of properties to choose from, NRIs in the UAE can make the most of the ideal investment opportunity that Pune property market offers,” he said. On an average, the past two editions of the event drew 3,500 footfalls. “The feedbacks from exhibitors have been always very positive with some reporting brisk business, he said.

Despite an increase in housing loan interest rates — from 8.25 per cent a few years ago to 10.4 per cent at present — end-users are still buying properties, said an executive of HDFC, a leading Indian home financing company.

The line-up of developers includes BEPL, Bramhacorp Infrastructures, Amanora, Prime Purple, Alcon Builders, Anshul Realties, G-Corp Properties, IBT Realty, Kool Homes, Naiknavre Associates, Nandgude Patil Developers, Nyati Group, Phadnis Infrastructure, Rohan Builders and Developers, Sairung Developers, and Shapoorji Pallonji and Co.  Nitin Rupani, director of Bramhacorp, said his company offers both high-end and mid segment properties with prices ranging from Rs3,800 to Rs7,000. “We are getting good response because of our attractive prices as we play in volumes,” said Rupani.

Vikas Bhalla, joint development partner of BEPL, which is offering Le Belle Grand, said he already sold two luxury apartments priced at around Rs40 million each within hours after the opening of the show. BEPL also sells retail space at a shopping mall it is developing on a prime location.

The B2B retail unit, which is the leading company’s 31^st showroom in the region and its third in Oman, was inaugurated by Sheikh Abdullah Salim Al Rawas, Chairman, Salalah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), in the presence of Danube senior officials led by Rizwan Sajan, Founder and Chairman, Danube; Anis Sajan, Managing Director; Adel Sajan, Director and other key officials and representatives from Danube’s partner companies.

The opening is part of Danube’s move to create a stronger presence in the Sultanate of Oman and involves the opening of more showrooms and warehousing facilities in the country, thereby adding to the two showrooms currently located in Muscat. The company is also looking to recruit more Omani nationals in support of the government’s initiative to provide more employment opportunities for locals.

“We extend our congratulations to the Danube Group on the successful opening of its new retail showroom in Salalah,” said Sheikh Al Rawas. “We are currently witnessing significant growth developments that include the awarding of numerous contracts and tender releases. Having a Danube Building Materials at the heart of all this economic activity assures us that these projects will be integrated with top of the line high quality building essentials to help complete the projects,” he added.

“These are exciting times for Oman’s construction industry, with the emergence of major projects worth over Dh30 billion over the next few months,” said Rizwan Sajan, Founder & Chairman, Danube Building Materials. “We are confident that the opening of our new B2B showroom will play a major part in this development by providing these projects with world class high quality building materials,” Sajan added.

The new Salalah branch is just one of the 15 new planned showrooms to be opened across the region as part of the company’s strategic move to mark a stronger market presence and also address the needs of our rapidly growing customer base here, he said, adding: “We are also looking towards hiring more Omani nationals as part of our support towards the government’s initiative to provide more employment opportunities to Omani locals.”

The new showroom is located in the heart of Salalah and measures 12,000 square feet. According to Danube officials, the opening demonstrates the company’s eagerness to play a major part in the current influx of construction projects in Oman. In fact, the Sultanate has already announced the development of key gateways to the country like the Dukham port, the Dukham International Airport and the Salalah Free Zone. Danube’s massive expansion initiative for the region involves the goal of opening 15 new showrooms over the next 2 years. The company has maintained a key presence in the country for 11 years and its wide experience and knowledge of the Oman market will add more value to its newly-opened showroom.

Leading company’s first showroom in Qatar & 29^th for the group to play key role in AED 367 billion worth of construction and development projects in preparation for FIFA World Cup 2022

From left – H.E.Sheikh Mohammed Bin Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani – Vice chairman, Al Faisal Holding.

H.E. Ebrahim A.H.Al Neama, Chairman, Dyarco.

Mr. Adel Sajan – Director Danube.

From left – Mr. Anis Sajan- Managing Director Danube Group.

Mr. Rizwan Sajan – Founder Chairman Danube Group.

H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, Vice Chairman, Al Faisal Holding.

H.E. Ebrahim A.H.Al Neama, Chairman, Dyarco.

Mr. U.Achu, General Manager, Dyarco.

Danube Building Materials, the leader in construction, building materials and shop fitting industries, opened its first showroom in Qatar yesterday (July 12, 2011) in association with Dyarco. The AED 50 million showroom was inaugurated by H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, Vice-Chairman, Al Faisal Holding and H.E. Ebrahim A.H. Al Neama, Chairman, Dyarco, in the presence of Danube officials led by Rizwan Sajan, Founder & Chairman, Danube Building Materials; Anis Sajan, Managing Director; Adel Sajan, Director, Danube Building Materials and other senior company officials. The opening, which marks the company’s first venture into Qatar, is the 29^th Danube Building Materials showroom in the Middle East and reflects the company’s strategy of strengthening its market presence in the region.

The newly opened ‘Business to Business’ (B2B) showroom, which measures at 100,000 square feet, comprises of a showroom and adjoining warehouse, conveniently located at the heart of Qatar’s Industrial Area. According to Danube senior officials, the recent announcement of Qatar being named as the host for the FIFA World Cup Games in 2022 has created an influx of construction and infrastructure projects amounting to over AED 367 billion over the next 12 years. Danube is looking to play a major role in this development by leveraging its wide portfolio of building materials and other construction essentials across these projects. The Qatar showroom will offer key products like wood, steel, sanitary hardware, ceiling, plywood and structural steel.

“We congratulate the Danube group on the occasion of the opening of their first retail and warehousing facility in Qatar,” said H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, Vice-Chairman, Al Faisal Holding. “The opening could not have been at a better time as the country is currently witnessing an increase in major construction projects. These projects largely demand a supplier who can provide them with top quality building materials, something that the Danube Building Materials retail units are widely known for. We wish them success and welcome them as an integral part in the country’s move to prepare for the FIFA World Cup games in 2022.”

“Today’s opening demonstrates our long standing commitment towards opening key showrooms and warehousing facilities across strategic locations in the Middle East. We are excited to have opened our first retail unit in Qatar as the country is expected to experience a large influx of projects in preparation for the FIFA World Cup games in 2022,” said Rizwan Sajan, Chairman, Danube Building Materials. “We are eyeing to participate in this expected increased number of projects, which complements our goal to expand our client base in Qatar, during this period of important development and growth. Rest assured that we will continue to live up to our reputation as a key provider of world class high quality building materials to major projects in the region.”

Danube Buildmart names Uma Ghosh Deshpande as its brand ambassador

Strategic move gives the advantage of reaching out to a wider female consumer base and the opportunity to promote the Buildmart brand across the ME region

June 13, 2011

Danube buildmart has named renowned Dubai-based TV producer, presenter, entrepreneur and fashion designer, Uma Ghosh Deshpande as the new brand ambassador for its leading building and home materials retail chain. The new Buildmart brand ambassador is expected to tap into a wider female consumer base, promoting the company’s existing 25,000 product rich portfolios of home and interior products and accessories. The move is also part of the company’s series of strategic initiatives that are aimed at increasing more awareness of the Buildmart brand to further strengthen its market leadership in the Middle East region’s building and home materials segment. Danube Buildmart falls under the Danube Building materials umbrella which is a prominent leader in construction, building materials and shop fittings across the GCC region.Deshpande’s climb to success began in 2005 when she won the Gladrags Mrs. India Pageant. During her reign as Mrs. India Uma launched her own successful fashion label, ‘Pepper by Uma’. She then launched the Middle East region’s first ever luxury lifestyle fashion TV show called ‘High Life Dubai’ which has since evolved into being a premier lifestyle guide and trend setter for its millions of viewers across the Gulf region, North Africa, Pakistan and Nepal. The success and extreme popularity of the show has led to Uma Ghosh being named as one of the ‘Top five most influential Indian Women in the Gulf’ as well as ‘Best TV Presenter’ by leading UAE magazine, ‘Ahlan!’ She has also started her own production house, ‘Queen Bee Productions’.“I am very selective with the brands I endorse. I need to believe in the brand first before openly endorsing it to the public. Danube Buildmart and its complete line of home interiors and other accessories is definitely a brand that I can relate to and I am humbled to have been chosen as their new brand ambassador,” said Uma Ghosh Deshpande.Danube Buildmart stores have achieved a strong foundation for brand loyal consumers due to its reputation of providing customers with nothing less than high quality and world class products for both home and commercial use. To date; there are 27 global Danube retail facilities – 18 in the UAE; 3 in India; 2 in Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia respectively. The company also maintains key procurement offices in Canada and China.

“We are very excited to welcome Uma Ghosh Deshpande into the Danube family as our new brand ambassador. Her strong influence and popularity among female consumers in the Middle East region will surely play a key role in our continuing efforts to promote the Danube Buildmart chain of stores as a premier one-stop-shop for all your home and building material needs, “said Rizwan Sajan, Chairman, Danube Building Materials. Rizwan remains steadfast in his continuous commitment towards understanding new home design trends and providing his customers with high class quality products and materials.

Danube opens new AED 40 million warehousing facility in Jafza South

New 550,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art warehouse to complement company’s strategic initiatives to meet Middle East region’s increased demand for building materials

May 05, 2011

Danube Building Materials, a leader in construction, building materials and shop fitting industries, has announced today (05 May 2011) the opening of its new AED 40 million, state-of-the-art warehouse in Jafza South. The new warehousing facility, which stretches out to 550,000 square feet, is part of the leading company’s continuing efforts to meet the Middle East region’s increase in business. The inauguration ceremony of the new warehouse was led by Ibrahim Mohammed Al Janahi, Deputy CEO, Jafza and Chief Commercial Officer, who was also joined by Rizwan Sajan, Chairman, Danube Building Materials; Anis Sajan, Managing Director, Danube Building Materials; Adel Sajan, Director; Thamimul Hussain, Group General Manager, Danube Building Materials. Jafza Senior Officials and representatives from key partner companies of Danube were also present at the event.

Ibrahim Al Janahi on the occasion said:”We commend Danube for tapping into local opportunities in the building materials industry and for its ambitious development and growth over the years. The home-gown UAE Company has made strategic investments in Jafza that have helped it expand its market share nation-wide and region-wide. The company’s consistent growth in the retail space is a testimony of its robustness and strength and we are delighted to have played a role in enabling Danube’s growth. Jafza has a long-standing relationship with the company that dates back to over a decade and we look forward to facilitating the company’s business and helping it achieve its future ambitions.”

The new facility is just one of the recent expansion initiatives that Danube has implemented to help keep up with the region’s increased demand for world class, high quality building materials. Expansion has also gone beyond the region with the opening of key retail facilities in India, which is one of the world’s fastest growing economies. The warehouse also has 10 Loading / Unloading bays with hydraulic dock levelers. Danube has incorporated a sophisticated and integrated Warehouse Management System (WMS), which deploys wireless hand-held scanners and the latest technology to support Intelligent Operations, used for real time update of data and inventory management.

“The opening of the new warehouse facility signals a good time to invest in strategic expansion efforts as costs are lowered as a result of the downturn. We acknowledge the constant support that we have received from Jafza and the UAE government, who have become strategic partners in our move towards driving in growth and development,” said Rizwan Sajan. “Danube remains committed in its efforts to expand through 2012, targeting the opening of 15 more branches. With our plans to create stronger market presence in Qatar, India, and KSA, the new warehouse in Jafza will act as a key back up facility to house and store all our products.”

Danube has also revealed its investment in a new manufacturing facility worth over AED 50 million and is spread out across 1.3 million square feet in Dubai Techno Park. The company carries the Quality Management Standard ISO 9001:2000 & EHS certification that assures customers of better access and faster turnaround of cargo due to the existence of its own trailer fleet. Products are delivered on time with improved accuracy from the use of the latest bar coding & RFID systems. The WMS utilized by Danube for its delivery operations offers full integrity of data while the presence of key wireless solutions in Danube’s various storage facilities ensures more efficiency and produces effective results like less cargo handling hassles and the availability of more flexible warehousing solutions.

“The region’s increased demand for business has allowed Danube’s operations to grow rapidly; equally spreading out across our 26 key locations and with the vision of setting up 15 more in the pipeline. This buzz in activity has generated a need for a large warehousing facility that can not only store and stock up on key building materials, but also ease up the pressure on our other warehouses in the country. The new warehouse in Jebel Ali maintains a strategic location that is central to the entire region. Aside from its proximity to major cities in the region, the easy procedures and wide cooperation that we have received from the Jebel Ali Customs and Government offices have resulted in the smooth entry and exit of Danube products,” concluded Anis Sajan.

Rizwan Sajan named ‘Businessman of the year’ at Ahlan! Masala Awards 2010

Chairman of Danube Building Materials lauded for effective leadership and pioneering efforts in construction building materials industry

December 18, 2010

Danube Building Materials, the leader in construction, building materials and shop fitting industries, has announced that its Chairman, Rizwan Sajan, has been named ‘Businessman of the year’ at this year’s edition of the Ahlan! Masala Awards 2010, which was held last night (December 17, 2010) at the Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai, UAE. Sajan was cited for his leadership in increasing the growth of the Danube Group into a AED 1 billion conglomerate – effectively driving in growth and increased revenues with the launch of the Danube BUILDMART chain despite the global financial crisis.

In securing the ‘Businessman of the year’ award, Sajan’s excellent leadership, dynamism in strategy, and ability to expand on the growth of Danube, both in terms of people and partnerships, were key factors in bagging the award. Within the last five years, Danube has registered exponential growth in revenues, which has exceeded AED 1 billion in 2009, an investment of AED 100 million in the expansion of the ‘Danube BUILDMART’ concept across the GCC, and the addition of 350 staff during the height of the recession. The company, which is known to provide world class construction building materials and interiors and exteriors products and services, recently inaugurated its AED 50 million ‘Danube BUILDMART’ in Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi, the largest of all showrooms opened by the company, and prior to that the opening of its AED 15 million store under the same banner in Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai.

“I am very humbled with this award and the confidence they have placed in me not only recognizes the hard work I have put into the company but also affirms the dedication of Danube’s employees in helping us achieve success and growth,” said Rizwan Sajan, Chairman, Danube Building Materials. “Having been also recognized recently in the MRM Business Awards and the Dubai Quality Awards demonstrates our continued commitment towards providing our customers with world class construction building materials, interiors and exteriors products and anything they will need to improve infrastructure and the aesthetic value it holds.”

Bollywood’s top celebrities graced the evening’s affair with no less than living legend Amitabh Bacchan leading the list; followed by Hrithik Roshan, Karan Johar, Manish Maihotra, and Riya Sen. Also present during the awards were the honorable panel of judges headed by eminent personalities in Dubai including: Rekha Tourani, Falguni Mehta, Imran Choudhary, Raju Shroff, and K Rajaram. Sponsors for the event included Petrochem (Headline Sponsor), Audi Middle East, Exclusive Yachts, World Gold Council, Sukar.com, Supermax, Shoemart, Splash, Alkozay Tea, Dubai Outlet Mall, Prestige and Philips.Media Sponsors included Cool 94.7 FM, Khaleej Times and Zee Network.

13 April 2011, 9:28 PM

DUBAI — Danube Building Materials — a leader in construction, building materials and shop fitting industries — has inaugurated a Dh50 million showroom in Saudi Arabia.

The Dubai-based firm also plans eight more outlets by the end of 2012 worth over Dh200 million, its top official said on Tuesday.

“We see strong demand for building materials in Saudi Arabia so Danube will continue its investment and our target is total 10 showrooms [in Saudi Arabia] by the end of next year. Total investment in the Kingdom is expected to cross Dh300 million,” Danube Group Chairman Rizwan Sajan told Khaleej Times.

The company now has a total of over 26 global retail facilities — 17 in the UAE, three in India, two in Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

The company has also invested Dh50 million in a new manufacturing plant in Dubai. The new facility, which is spread over 1.3 million square feet in Dubai TechnoPark will open in mid-2011.

Ahmad Hamza Awadh, Director, Jeddah Municipality, led the opening of the new integrated showroom and warehouse facility. Located in the heart of the Jeddah Industrial Area, the new showroom is part of Danube’s strategic move towards creating a strong market presence in the Middle East construction industry and meeting its goal of achieving $1 billion in revenue by the year 2015, the company said in a statement.

“Opening our new KSA showroom proves to be strategic and reflects perfect timing as recent reports have shown that Saudi Arabia currently has a 38 per cent share of the total construction projects in the region and has over $624 billion in current and planned projects, “ Sajan said.

“The strategic location of the new facility combined with our comprehensive product portfolio of essential building materials gives us the opportunity to reach out to new target customers. The move is also part of our continuing efforts to consolidate our presence in the Middle East region’s thriving construction industry,” Sajan said. Danube’s new showroom measures in at 5,000 square feet while the warehouse, which is also the company’s first completely covered storage facility, measures in at 150,000 square feet. Danube’s move to open new showrooms across the region follows the impressive 25 per cent rise in its revenues in 2010. With the healthy show of activity across various construction projects in the region, the company is expecting to post in similar growth for 2011 and increasing its revenues to Dh1.6 billion.

“Danube remains steadfast in its key efforts to become a major part of the development and progress that the region is currently experiencing. The opening of new showrooms across the region is not only part of our move to reach a target revenue of about $1 billion by the year 2015 but also reflects our long term commitment to leverage our world class high quality building materials across the various construction and development projects in the region,” Sajan said.

DUBAI – Danube Buildmart has marked its leadership in the Middle East region’s home interiors retail segment with a 46 per cent growth recorded in 2010 — continuing with a year-on-year growth that has prompted it expect a 30 to 40 per cent increase before the end of 2011.

The company has also revealed that it is eyeing the opening of more than seven new outlets. Danube, which started as a building materials supplier 17 years ago has found success in its introduction of a one-stop-shop concept called Danube Buildmart, opening a series of retail-based outlets. Following the announcement of its recent 2010 growth report, the company has also revealed that they have added 10,000 new products into the current Buildmart portfolio.

“Our recent performance reports show that Danube Buildmart has posted a 46 per cent growth in 2010 — a testament to the growing confidence and trust that consumers have placed in us,” Chairman Rizwan Sajan said.

“The growth has also allowed us the foresight to look forward to another great year.”

abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com

12 March 2011

31 October 2010
Chairman Rizwan Sajan accepts award in recognition of company’s ‘excellence model’

H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, has awarded the prestigious Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MRM) Business Award to Danube Building Materials, the leader in construction, building materials and shop fitting industries, at a ceremony organized by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce (DCC) held today (October 31, 2010) at the Madinat Jumeirah Hotel in Dubai. The MRM Business award in the ‘Freezone for Re-Export category, which was received by Danube Chairman Rizwan Sajan and Managing Director Anis Sajan, complements the company’s ‘excellence model’ and its outstanding business performance; strategic programs, initiatives and achievements, which were the main criteria used in judging this year’s awards. Danube Building Materials is the only building materials trading company to be awarded in this year’s edition of the MRM awards.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minster of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai, the MRM Business Award was established in 2005 to recognize, showcase, and celebrate the success of organizations that have contributed to UAE economic development. Participating companies and organizations stand to gain key benefits and advantages that include; an organizational learning experience via self analysis and comparing performance against better business practice modules; an independent assessment of strengths and weaknesses; recognition of excellence in the workforce; promotion of healthy competition that can lead to an increase in production and efficiencies and an opportunity to compare their own practices and strategic initiatives with the best companies in the sector.

“We are very humbled to receive this award, which affirms our strong commitment towards the promotion and adoption of best practices and high standards in the Middle East Region,” said Rizwan Sajan, Chairman, Danube. “We are inspired by the confidence vested in us by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and will aim to return this gesture by supporting his call to promote a culture of excellence in the UAE and the rest of the region. Danube remains steadfast in its efforts to secure further growth in terms of our manufacturing capabilities and expand our retail presence in the region amidst our plans to launch 10 new Buildmart branches this year.”

The MRM Business Award recognizes best performing business organizations by focusing on three main performance indicators: output, outcome, and impact. The criteria for assessing the applications for the Award focus specifically on the factors that lead to outstanding business performance. The award aims to share and promote best business practices by indentifying the elements of success of the winners. Danube joins a list of leading organizations who have won the MRM awards including leading multinational companies and enterprises within the private sector.

Anis Sajan, Managing Director, Danube, said, “Danube is totally committed to uphold the integrity of the MRM Business Awards by constantly ensuring that we meet the requirements set by this prestigious award. The whole Danube family thanks His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for the recognition. This award is equally momentous given that we were also awarded at the ‘Dubai Quality Appreciation Programme’ (DQAP) Awards. Rest assured Danube is looking forward to undertaking further initiatives to enhance our processes and the value we provide to our customers, which would hopefully merit more recognition in the future.”

29 October 2010

DUBAI — Danube Building Materials, the leader in construction, building materials and shop fitting industries, opened its Dh10 million ‘Danube Buildmart’ showroom in Bahrain Mall on Thursday, thereby marking its second retail facility in the country.

The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Dr Hassan A. Fakhro graced the opening ceremony, along with Rizwan Sajan, Chairman, Danube Building Materials, Anis Sajan, Managing Director, Danube Building Materials and other top company officials.

The company further revealed that its expansion effort in Bahrain is in line with plans to consolidate its market presence in the potential-laden regional market.

Spanning 6,000 square feet, the new store will extend the total retail area offered by Danube to Bahrain-based customers when it opened its inaugural showroom in the Salmabad area in March 2009.

Designed to cater to individual homeowners and designers, ‘Danube Buildmart’ in Bahrain Mall will offer a wide range of products such as chandeliers, wall paper collections, curtains, carpets, luxury sanitary ware, Venetian blinds, wooden flooring, garden accessories, home décor and soft furnishings from international and regional vendors.

The inauguration in Bahrain Mall follows the recent launch of an Dh50 million store under the same banner in Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi.

“Danube’s expansion effort in Bahrain underlines the growing opportunities in the local construction sector, and we are pleased to welcome this excellent new establishment, which can offer a host of benefits for customers,” said Dr Hassan A. Fakhro.

“The continuous growth of their business across the region serves as an important indicator of the region’s resilience amidst the challenges of the current market.

On behalf of the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Danube Building Materials for the inauguration of their second ‘Danube Buildmart’ store in the Bahrain.”

In addition to the latest Danube Buildmart in Bahrain, there are a total of 23 global Danube retail facilities – 16 in the UAE, one in Saudi Arabia, two each in Bahrain, Oman and India, in addition to procurement offices in China and Canada.

Since the company diversified into a one-stop shop concept called ‘Danube Buildmart’, it has revealed that it is looking at an initial public offering (IPO) listing in Saudi Arabia or the UAE within the next five years.

“Bahrain is an important market that we seek to fully penetrate, and the opening of our new branch is a significant achievement in our aims to further grow our domestic market share.

In addition to being the latest success in our AED 200 million expansion plan for our ‘Danube Buildmart’ retail complex chain, this new facility complements projections of strong growth for Bahrain’s construction and infrastructure development market in the coming years.

The Bahrain Mall management and the local government played a major role in the completion of this new venture, and we would like to thank them, as well as our loyal customers for their continued support,” concluded Rizwan Sajan

New store marks biggest ‘BUILDMART’ showroom within a mall

October 10, 2010

H. E. Khalfan Saeed Al Kaabi, First Vice Chairman, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, inaugurated today (10.10.10), the AED 50 million ‘Danube BUILDMART’ in Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi – the largest of all showrooms opened by Danube Building Materials, the leader in construction, building materials and shop fitting industries, within a mall.  Spanning a total area of 35,000 sq. ft., the company’s latest retail facility is located near the main entrance, and houses its entire product range in a convenient yet elegant setting. H. E. M.K Lokesh, Ambassador of India to the UAE, was also present at the event, along with Danube Building Materials Chairman Rizwan Sajan, Managing Director Anis Sajan, Dr. B. R. Shetty, Managing Director and CEO, NMC, and senior officials from Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA).

With aims to cater to individual homeowners and designers, the store offers a wide range of products such as chandeliers, wall paper collections, curtains, carpets, luxury sanitary ware, Venetian blinds, wooden flooring, garden accessories, home décor and soft furnishings from international and regional vendors. The ‘Danube BUILDMART’ outlet in Dalma Mall, which marks the company’s 10^th store in the UAE and 4^th inside a shopping mall, will also have a ‘Design Centre’, where customers can take floor plans of their houses and take expert advice, excellent service, design assistance and inspiration from consultants.

“I would like to congratulate Danube Building Materials for their continued success, which is highlighted by the inauguration of their 10^th Danube BUILDMART store in the UAE”, said H. E. Khalfan Saeed Al Kaabi, “Truly, this is a tremendous event that signifies this company’s excellent growth and strong determination to address the demand of regional customers. On behalf of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I wish them all the best in their continued growth and expansion in the UAE and across the region.”

At present, there are a total of 22 global Danube retail facilities – 16 in the UAE, two in Oman, one each in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and two in India, in addition to procurement offices in China and Canada. In addition, the company has diversified into a one-stop shop concept called ‘Danube BUILDMART’, and has announced that it is looking at an initial public offering (IPO) listing in Saudi Arabia or the UAE within the next 5 years. The inauguration of ‘Danube BUILDMART’ in Dalma Mall follows the recent launch of an AED 15 million store under the same banner in Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai.

Speaking at the inauguration, Rizwan Sajan, “We have taken yet another step towards the completion of our AED 200 million expansion plan for our ‘Danube BUILDMART’ retail complex chain, and we are very proud of the fast-paced development we are seeing, which we commemorate today through this inauguration ceremony. Abu Dhabi is a key market for us, and our extended presence in the capital though this new retail facility will certainly broaden our customer base in this thriving economy. We would like to thank the Abu Dhabi Government and the management of Dalma Mall for the strong support, and we invite everyone to come and visit our latest ‘Danube BUILDMART’ store.”

DUBAI – Danube Building Materials announced on Monday its plan to expand operations to Africa and strengthen its presence in the Middle East through dealer and franchise networks.

The new forays, part of its Dh200-million expansion drive unveiled recently, comes on the heels of the opening of the first Danube Buildmart branch in India, which is also its 22^nd global store.

“With the global economy entering the recovery phase and investors starting to regain confidence in the regional market as a result of massive government actions to revive the construction and real estate industries, we are expecting the demand for building materials in the Middle East and Africa to witness a significant increase this year,” said Rizwan Sajan, chairman, Danube Building Materials.

The company will also be expanding to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman, as well as in China, where it currently has one of its major manufacturing plants.

“We have made massive investments towards additional manufacturing hubs to boost our production and sufficiently address the expected rise in demand, and now our focus is to establish highly convenient ‘Danube BUILDMART’ stores in the most strategic locations within our target regions,” said Sajan.

Danube Buildmart offers a wide range of products from reputed vendors and provides expert product and design advice. Today, there are a total of nine Buildmart stores in operation, which the company hopes to take to 16 by 2010. Including other stores, Danube has a total of 22 global retail facilities —16 in the UAE, two in Oman, one each in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and two in India. The company has also invested Dh50 million in a new 1.3 million square feet manufacturing facility in TechnoPark, which will be functional by early 2011.

Danube has also launched a Dh 15million Buildmart in Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai. “Staying true to our commitment to being the pioneer in the industry, we are taking major strides to acquire major market share thought the MENA region in the next five years. We believe that this is the perfect time to expand to be able to place ourselves in a strategic position to fully leverage the opportunities once the market fully recovers,” said Sajan.

Rizwan Sajan, chairman, Danube Building Materials, and Adel Sajan, director, Danube Buildmart, at the opening of a Buildmart branch in Mumbai last Friday. Danube Building Materials, retailer of construction, building materials and shop-fitting industries, said yesterday it opened its first Danube Buildmart branch at the Oberoi Mall in Mumbai, India, on June 25.

The Dh10 million, 6,000 square foot retail facility is the company’s 20th global store.At present, there are nine Danube Buildmart branches in operation, as a result of the company’s Dh200 million expansion plan to grow its flagship retail brand to a total of 16 branches by the end of 2010.Present during the event were Rizwan Sajan, chairman; Anis Sajan, managing director, both of Danube Building Materials; Adel Sajan, director, Danube Buildmart, and other senior officials.Danube said it will be bringing its products to the Indian market, including its high-end sanitaryware, chandeliers, wallpapers, parquet flooring, curtains, carpets, ceramic floor, wall tiles, home decor and many lifestyle products.In addition, free in-house home interior designing consultancy services will be made available for customers in the new branch.

The opening of the new Buildmart branch complements recent reports that India’s economy is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent from 2010 to 2011 and by eight per cent the following year.”We are very excited with the opening of our Buildmart branch, which not only represents our initial foray into India but also poses excellent opportunities given the Indian economy’s rapid growth and strong consumer market,” said Rizwan Sajan.”This milestone underlines the success of our massive expansion plan, and sets a precedent to our future investments in other progressive markets across the globe.”After the launch, we will be undertaking steps to entrench our presence further into other GCC construction hotspots, including Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman.”In addition to the new facility in India, there are 15 other Danube retail facilities in the UAE, plus two in Oman, one each in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and the company has procurement offices in China and Canada.It has also invested Dh50 million in a new 1.3 million square foot manufacturing facility in TechnoPark.which will be functional by early 2011.

Dubai quality awards H. H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of of Dubai, presented the certificate for the ‘Dubai Quality Appreciation Programme’ (DQAP) to Danube Building Materials, on April 07, 2010, at the Grand Hyatt Dubai. The company’s Chairman, Rizwan Sajan & Anis Sajan – Managing Director has received the award, which recognizes Danube’s ‘excellence model’, which covers the organization’s activities as well as its achievements, and is the criteria by which the awardees are judged upon. It is also marks a new record for Danube of being the first building materials company in the Middle East to get this prestigious award.

Securing the DQAP certification for the first time, Danube credits its excellent leadership, dynamism in strategy, growth in terms of people and partnerships, as well as it expanding resources for bagging the award. Within the last five years, Danube has registered exponential growth in revenues, which has exceeded AED 1 billion in 2009, an investment of AED 100 million in the expansion of the ‘Danube BUILDMART’ concept across the GCC, and the addition of 350 staff during the height of the recession.

Dubai Quality Award Certificate

H.E. Majeed bin Mohsen Al Alawi, Minister of Labour of Bahrain, inaugurated ‘BUILDMART’ – an AED 50 million state-of-the-art retail complex, located in Salmabad, which offers over 15,000 different products. The first-of-its-kind customer-friendly retail complex has been set-up to cater to a diverse target audience including interior designers, consultants and homeowners in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, all the products in the retail complex are installed as a live home set-up, thereby allowing customers a more convenient way to shop for building materials, fixtures and other household items.

Spanning a total of 300,000 sq. ft., ‘BUILDMART’ offers individual shoppers with the benefit of shopping in a single location that houses the widest range of products they might require. Comprised of a 50,000 sq. ft. covered warehouse and a 25,000 sq. ft. showroom, the retail complex features building materials that cater to every budget and make a host of design options possible. Products offered are classified under 20 sections, including kitchens, bathrooms, tiles, shower rooms, jacuzzis, flooring for ceramic and wood, ceilings, doors, wallpapers, designed glasses, marble, granite, wall panelling, different finishes of laminates, veneers, mouldings, paints and luxury paints. In addition, the complex also features a ‘Design Centre’, where customers can get expert advice on the best products and other design-related inquires.

Mazen Bin Mohammad Batterjee inaugurates AED 55 million ‘Danube BUILDMART’ retail complex in Jeddah

200,000 sq. ft. retail complex to cater to interior designers, contractors and homeowners 

July 09, 2009

Mazen Bin Mohammad Batterjee, Vice President – Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, inaugurated yesterday (July 08, 2009) ‘Danube BUILDMART’, an AED 55 million retail complex in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which will carry the high quality products of Danube Building Materials, the leader in construction, building materials and shop fitting industries. Strategically located in Makkah (Madina) Highway in Sulemaniya area, the customer-friendly retail complex is a first-of-its-kind facility that caters to interior designers, contractors and homeowners, which also marks Danube’s largest expansion initiative into the Kingdom. Also present at the ceremony were H. E. Sayeed Ahmed Baba, Consul General of India in Jeddah; and Rizwan Sajan, Chairman, Danube Building Materials, in addition to other senior company officials, dignitaries and representatives from leading construction majors in Saudi.

The 200,000 sq. feet facility, which also includes a 30,000 sq. feet warehouse, is part of the ‘BUILDMART’ chain of retail complexes, which was initially launched in the UAE and Bahrain.  It offers an unparalleled range of over 15,000 products within twenty four different sections – from chandeliers, Venetian blinds, light fittings, kitchens, bathroom, tiles, shower rooms, jacuzzis, to flooring for ceramic and wood, ceilings, doors, wallpapers, designed glasses, marble, wall panelling and different finishes of laminates, which are displayed in an actual home setting for an easy and convenient shopping experience. With the growing demand from both end-users, suppliers and contractors, Danube has also announced plans to further expand its presence in the Kingdom through two new dedicated factories for gypsum ceiling tiles and melamine pressing units. 

“Driven by our numerous successes in the rest of the GCC, we are confident that our stronger presence in the Kingdom will provide a significant boost to the local building materials market,” said Rizwan Sajan. “The growth potential for us in this market is remarkably high given the non-stop construction of large-scale projects across the country, thereby propelling the demand for high quality construction materials. This new retail complex is our response to this demand, which is also matched by the standard excellent service we provide to our customers across the region.” 

Danube is working towards playing a role in the construction of six mega-economic cities across the Kingdom, which will rise near the areas of Tabouk, Medinah, Rabigh, Jazan and the Eastern Province. In addition, the company is also expanding its clout in the Kingdom, with aims of becoming one of the partners supporting the Saudi Government’s 8^th Development Plan, which involves the construction of 2 million residential units that will solve the current housing shortage amidst the leading economy’s growing population.

 “Our desire to truly penetrate the Saudi market and capitalise on its extensive construction activities is matched by our commitment to comply with the Saudi Governments’ regulations pertaining to the supply of construction materials to its most important projects. We have high expectations in our foray to strengthen our presence in this market, as part of our strategy to establish ‘Danube BUILDMART’ as the premier building materials brand throughout the region,” concluded Sajan

October 23, 2009

H. E. Eng. Hamad Buamim, Director General, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, inaugurated (Thursday, 22^nd October) the AED 10 million ‘Danube BUILDMART’ in Dubai Festival City, which marks Danube Home Interior’s first retail showroom to be based within a mall. This latest venture will cater to individual homeowners and designers, and is part of the construction, building materials and shop fitting industries leader’s AED 50 million expansion plan for its retail complex chain, which also involves the opening of additional branches in Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai and Bawadi Mall in Al Ain by the end of 2009. Mr. Hassan Al Hashemi, Director, External Relations, Dubai Chamber, was also present at the event along with Danube officials.

Spanning an area of 4,500 sq. feet, ‘Danube BUILDMART’ in Festival City offers products from a host of reputed international and regional vendors under a single roof, including chandeliers, wall paper collections, luxury sanitary ware, Venetian blinds, wooden flooring, home decor among others. The store also has a ‘Design Centre’, where customers can take floor plans of their houses and benefit from expert advice from consultants on which products suit their needs, as well as from consultation and after sales services dispensed by Danube’s interior design experts. Furthermore, all products in the retail complex are installed in an actual home set-up, thereby allowing customers to enjoy a more personalised shopping experience with excellent service and complimentary design assistance.