SAUDI-based Raghadan, which has supplied its trendy decorative paints to numerous projects in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Arab world, continues to expand its offerings in response to the market demand for innovative finishes.

The company is considered to be the largest Arab paint company with a presence throughout the region for the past 35 years, and has catered to the paint requirements of luxury and institutional projects including royal palaces, private prestigious villas and palaces, hotels and hospitals, and major public sector developments.
Since it was established in 1974, the paints major has been serving customers with the latest creative decorative paints styles and techniques in coordination with Colorificio San Marco of Italy, which is the most creative paint company for special and marble effect paints in Europe, says Dr Hisham Ali, sales and marketing director.
“Raghadan is a pioneer in creating and introducing the latest trends and techniques in decorative paints and innovative concepts offering complete environment-friendly solutions for stylish wall interior décor,” he says.
San Marco’s new special decorative range includes products that have been designed specifically for interior applications. These include Cadoro, Grassello di Calse, Perlaceo, Decori Classici, and Stucco Veneziano.
Highlighting the attributes of these products, Dr Ali says: “Cadoro is a decorative finish with a special iridescent effect, characterised by a silky and soft-to-the-touch look. It is ideal for creating classical and modern settings. The décor style can be in iridescent lime effect.
“Grasello di Calse, based on air-hardening lime, provides a high-quality decorative gloss finish in soft shades that vary depending on the application technique. Giving a classical period look to an interior, the finish can be in iridescent lime, two-colour, and salt and pepper effects.
“Perlaceo is a siloxane decorative finish coat with a pearly effect. It creates particular and refined chromatic effects when light is shone on it.
“Decori Classici, meanwhile, is a highly-decorative finish with a multi-shade effect. It recreates the sophisticated and unique settings that are typical of Renaissance era buildings.
“Another coating that echoes ancient European styles is Stucco Veneziano, a synthetic glossy decorative coating that creates typical stuccos of ancient Venetian buildings. Apart from flat surfaces, Stucco Veneziano can also be applied to special architectural elements, such as mouldings and columns. The décor style can be in Venetian marble and trowelled effects.”
Other recently-introduced interior finishes include Marco Polo, a decorative finish with a metallic effect, and Riflessi, a decorative finish with an iridescent effect. Marco Polo, when used on ‘rough’ surfaces, takes on the incidental lighting to create bright chromatic impression and is available in scuffed, machined and wave décor styles. Riflessi offers various decorative styles with semi-transparent, glossy, iridescent and mother-of-pearl effects. The product, which can be applied on walls, plasterboard and wood, can be in used to create a trowelled, brushed, padding or sponge effect.
The latest collection of paints and coatings also includes systems that are suitable for both exteriors and interiors. These include:
• Velature, a siloxane decorative and protective treatment with an antique effect for both exteriors and interiors. It creates a decorative finish characterised by soft and muted hues. With excellent breathability and good water repellency, it is used to create weatherproof exterior finishes. The décor style can be in antique marble or transparent marble effect;
• Marmorino Classico, an interior-exterior coating with a mineral binder base. It is recommended as a high-quality finish on buildings of historic importance and is available in transparent marble or salt and pepper effects;
• Marmo Antico, an interior-exterior mineral coating with a travertine marble effect. “With excellent breathability, Marmo Antico is used to obtain a finish with a porous and scuffed effect that resembles travertine rock,” says Dr Ali. “This decorative finish, characterised by many shades, provides a chromatic weaving effect and is available as an antique marble effect.”
Raghadan has four paint factories and six paint companies in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Sudan, Libya and Britain. It also has 15 branches, 20 agents, and more than 500 authorised distributors in the Arab world.
“We aim to serve customers wherever they are and meet their demands for paints while ensuring their full satisfaction in terms of quality, competitive pricing and service,” he says.
The company provides the full complement of services in the paints business – manufacturing, supply and application; import and export; sale and distribution; design and supervision.