Dubai, UAE, 10 February 2019: In an effort to comply with the UAE government’s sustainable development policies and reduce the overall environmental impact of projects, end-users, ranging from major corporations to small- and medium-scale developers, are purchasing paint products with low VOCs (volatile organic chemicals), said Samer Sayegh, Managing Director, National Paints. Sayegh reported that sales of the company’s water-based, low-level VOC paints is growing year-on-year, reflecting the robust demand for environment-friendly products and growing awareness regarding the importance of indoor environmental quality (IEQ). “Without a doubt, environment-friendly paint products, along with other factors, such as structure design, air ventilation, and natural light, positively contribute to the overall IEQ of buildings and their subsequent maintenance,” he said. “They have minimum health hazards given their low-VOC level, as well as anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. In the long run, tenants will benefit from such a preference shift to more sustainable products.”

Samer Sayegh, Managing Director, National Paints

Sayegh said that the company has been aware of the increasing domestic demand for such products. “Project managers, real estate developers, consultants, and contractors have now, in fact, been scrutinising the technical data sheets and certifications of paint products first, before finalising their purchase,” he said. Owing to customer preference, Sayegh said the company’s low-VOC, water-based coatings have already created a niche in the construction field across the GCC region, stressing that the company is a recipient of the Certificate of Product Conformity issued by the Dubai Central Laboratory Department (DCLD) of Dubai Municipality, to underscore that the products contain low-emitting materials, which, he said, makes it ideal for Green Building Evaluation System. “We are fully committed to heeding the UAE government’s call for the sale and use of paint materials with low-level VOCs in the construction of buildings and other structures throughout the country,” he added.

Providing an update on the company’s plans for 2019, Sayegh said that National Paints will open 20 new exclusive outlets in the United Arab Emirates, to add to its current 14 outlets. “We are looking at building our presence in different emirates in 2019, apart from Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, where our newly opened stores are located, to reach our target clients, who are based in different parts of the country,” he said. As for potential emerging markets in the GCC and wider Middle East, Sayegh said the company is confident about the growth potentials of Iraq, Syria and Yemen’s paint industries. “Once we see the economic situation of these countries becoming more stable, a likely increase in housing, construction and infrastructure activities will soon follow,” he said, adding that, apart from the United Arab Emirates, the company maintains a strong brand presence in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Egypt.

Hannah Jo Uy is Assistant Editor at Climate Control Middle East magazine. She may be contacted at hannah@cpi-industry.com.