A significant decision taken last year by Dubai to allow international contractors without local contacts to bid for major projects, has triggered a wave of investors into the emirate. Among the international majors vying for a slice of the lucrative Dubai construction projects, is Portugal.

Given the continued growth and rapid expansion of the construction industry both in the UAE and the Gulf, Portugal has been going from strength to strength, expanding its activities in the UAE and the region as it rides on the sheer standard of its world-class premium products.
The Portuguese are returning once again to further tap the market and optimism is running high. Over 26 Portuguese companies are participating under the theme of “Portuguese Building Material, Building Your World”.
“The increased number of companies that have turned up at this Big 5 compared with last year’s show is in direct response to the growing demand in the UAE and GCC for quality Portuguese building materials, such as stone, tiles and ceramics. This in turn has attracted even the new innovative sectors such as cork flooring, metal roofing and waste management technologies to be present here,” says Dr Carlos Carvalho Costa, director of the Dubai-based Portuguese Trade Centre.
The fact that Portuguese products and services are in such demand throughout the Middle East is testimony to the quality and diversity of its products, as well as the Moorish influence,” says Dr Costa.
“The cultural art form of hand-painted tiles dates back to the Arabic influence of the Moors, who dominated the Iberian Peninsula in 711. The designs and concepts have evolved now into a contemporary form, but still retain their traditional appeal. Terracotta shingles used on rooftops, along with the predominance of domes and arches is yet another reflection of the Arabic influence on Portugal’s architecture,” he adds.
The marble and stone industry is one of the oldest in Portugal which has a huge quarrying industry which, over time, has taken root in the Alentejo, Fátima and Pero Pinheiro regions, producing marble, granite and sandstone. The existence in Portugal of large reserves of stone that can be industrially crafted has spurred Portuguese entrepreneurs to develop the marble and stone industry, increasing its technical and economic potentialities,” he says.
“Portugal’s marble, which due to its beige hues, has become much sought after in the local market,” he adds.
Popular lines include the Moca Crème, Moleanos and Rosal, amongst other colours and types such as the famous Rosa Aurora. Today, top architects, renowned artists and creative designers use Portuguese marble with different finishes, to create a variety of interior and exterior finishes.
Yet another sector where it has caught the eye of players in the construction industry is Portuguese cork, which is known worldwide. Portugal is the world’s largest exporter of cork products.
“In Portugal 1,100 cork manufacturing facilities employ 15,000 people. Since Portugal’s climate is ideal for producing cork, the raw material is readily available and hence the cork industry has grown steadily. Its growth has enabled Portugal to rank high in external trade when it comes to placing cork products abroad,” says Dr Costa.
Cork, a 100 per cent natural product, is environmentally-friendly and can be used to create stylish, original flooring by combining traditional methods with the latest manufacturing technology. It can also be used for acoustic and thermal insulation solutions in walls (externally or in air cavities), or on flat roof or pitched roofs or floating slab, he explains.
Turning to metal roofing he says: “One of the most innovative technologies used in industrial metal roofing is the Skinzip system, which provides self-supporting roofing that are mainly used in large industrial warehouses and airports.”
Portugal offers one of the best solutions in the designing of waste containers technology, Dr Costa continues. “Companies in Portugal anticipate future needs for industrial and residential waste management solutions which are environment friendly.”
Traditionally Portugal’s major export markets are France, Spain, Germany, the UK, the US and Angola, but companies are now looking at the potential of the markets in the Middle East.
“With the boom in the Middle East construction industry set to continue for many years to come, we are confident that Portuguese building materials will play an increasingly important role in that development,” he continues.