Al Faris’s expansion into the Saudi Arabian market has received a boost after its Jubail depot received a delivery of Liebherr mobile cranes, and it now has a fleet of more than 60 cranes. 17 more units are expected to arrive before March next year.
Well-known in the UAE, Al Faris has expanded into Saudi Arabia. The company specialises in precision lifts with extensive safety planning and has already won business in the Kingdom, particularly in the Eastern Province where a large number of industrial projects are underway.
The Jubail depot initially had only 31 cranes when it opened, a number now boosted to above 60. The company also has plans for a second depot in the Western region of Saudi Arabia.
Earlier this year, Al Faris revealed to PMV that it intends on spending $50m on cranes in 2013.
Al Faris’s rental’s arm has one of the largest fleets of mobile cranes in the Middle East, with more than 360 units, including All Terrain and Rough Terrain cranes.
The Saudi rental fleet now includes 29 x 50 – 100 t class; 18 x 100 – 160 t class; 12 x 200 – 250 t class; and 4 x 300 – 500 t class Liebherr mobile cranes.
Saudi market ‘saturated with lifting equipment’
Brian Green, Al Faris’s technical director, said that despite improving business Dubai, it was necessary to seek new business in order to continue growing.
“Saudi Arabia is a large market, but it does have considerable drawbacks due to slow governmental procedures and lack of infrastructure,” he said
“There is, however, plenty of work, and we are continuously striving to cope with the demand from the regular customers and hence, the new orders.”
Green said that the Saudi market presents a significantly different operating environment.
“The Saudi market is beginning to become saturated with lifting equipment, however new upcoming projects are cropping up in remote locations. Mobilization of equipment to such areas is becoming increasingly difficult due to Saudi laws and infrastructure limitations.
“It’s very different to the boom in Dubai where cranes were in demand by the construction sector and short contracts – virtually as ‘taxi’ cranes, in and out; often completing 2-3 jobs a day,” said Green.
