Dubai-based Ducon Industries’ Mohammed Al Farhan may have lost his ability to haggle during his extended stint in the United Kingdom, but he took a lot away from his experience of living in the country.
And for someone whose doctorate was in block factory management, this inevitably brought him into contact with British builders’ merchants – distributors of common lines of building materials including blocks, paving, sand and cement, sold either directly to building companies or to individual tradesmen.
Although there clearly are already successful builders’ merchants in the region (Rizwan Sajan’s Danube Group being among the most high-profile examples), Mr Al Farhan thinks there is room for more, with many contractors still dealing directly with individual manufacturers.
“I think builders’ merchants are something that has to come into this market.
“Many of the things we learnt in the UK, we come back here and we don’t find it. So we say, ‘OK, the market is moving in this direction.’ It’s like looking into the future.”
His firm has set up a programme, Ducon Authorised Dealerships, where it will work directly with individuals who want to set up franchised dealerships, offering them a standard contract, providing marketing support, sorting invoices and arranging delivery.
“We’re just trying to push further ahead,” he says. “We will work together with them, empower them, give them brand credibility and allow them to grow their own merchants.”
Currently, Ducon is providing its dealers with blocks, cement and a substantial range of paving, but Mr Al Farhan is keen to extend the product ranges offered in the future.
He says Ducon is currently working with 14 merchants – all of whom are “homegrown” businesses.
“Many of them did not exist when we started and I think in a few years they will become substantial businesses on their own.”
According the UK’s Builders’ Merchants Federation, a trade association, British builders merchants’ sales increased by 5.2 per cent year-on-year in 2016, to £5.44 billion (Dh24.41bn).
Sales increased by 5.5 per cent in the final quarter as warmer, drier British weather than the previous year allowed for more landscaping and external building work to be completed.
While Ducon says it is in a good place at the moment regarding its own performance, the UAE weather is unlikely to produce such sales variables.
mfahy@thenational.ae
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'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Liverpool v Manchester United - 3.30pm
Burnley v West Ham United - 6pm
Crystal Palace v Chelsea - 6pm
Manchester City v Stoke City - 6pm
Swansea City v Huddersfield Town - 6pm
Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth - 6pm
Watford v Arsenal - 8.30pm
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Everton - 4.30pm
Southampton v Newcastle United - 7pm
Monday
Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion - 11pm
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
THE 12 BREAKAWAY CLUBS
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Fixture: Liechtenstein v Italy, Tuesday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match is shown on BeIN Sports
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
