Al Aqili Furnishings (AAF), a leading flooring specialist and interior solutions firm, said it netted several projects worth millions of dirhams in 2009, including executive offices in the Burj Khalifa and Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

The portfolio of high profile projects including Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel and the groundbreaking Neocasa concept, has cemented the group’s expansion across the GCC and has set the mark for its 2010 goals and strategy, said a top official.

“Last year had its share of challenges but by intensifying our focus on contracts and projects, in addition to retail and wholesale, we were able to maintain a good sales base and come out of the year a stronger brand,” remarked Shahriar Khodjasteh, group marketing director, AAF.

The group secured several high-profile flooring projects in 2009, the most prominent being the Dh3 million ($816,727) project of the executive offices in the Burj Khalifa.

The project was subcontracted by interior finishing contractor fino International and utilised 20,000 sq ft of Shaw Contract Group’s sustainable Cradle-to-Cradle certified carpet tiles to floor four commercial floors including the office of the Ema’ar chairman and the ballroom of the Armani Hotel at Downtown Burj Khalifa by fino International.

Other notable wins included the Majlis and offices of the Yas Marina Circuit worth Dh4 million, the Dh2.8 million Royal Amwaj project on the Palm Jumeirah and the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs projects in Abu Dhabi which amounted to Dh2 million together, said Khodjasteh.

The company also sealed the Al Bustan Mixed Use Development project which consists of flooring of an area of 220,000 sq ft valued at Dh6.3 million and will go to work in May 2010.

According to Khodjasteh, the contracts division at AAF has just completed the full fit out and furnishing of the head office of Al Aqili Distribution in Dubai, a prestigious project worth Dh15 million and also sealed a similar job of the same value and scope of work for the headquarter of the Al Masa Real Estate Group in Jumeirah Lake Towers.

According to Khodjasteh, the company also won Dh60 million worth of on-going international projects mainly based in Qatar and Nigeria.

The group which has been a major player in the UAE since 1997 also continued its regional expansion, which started 4 years ago with the launch of its Kuwait operations. In 2009, the company launched its outlets and offices in the GCC states of Qatar and Bahrain, he noted.

The group, Khodjasteh said, also extended its support to major industry initiatives including sponsorship of the International Federation of Interior Design Congress as well as the Commercial Interior Design Awards for the 3rd consecutive year.

“Previous years opened doors into alternate markets and it gave us the opportunity to call attention to our green products and to join the global green movement. We are looking forward to continuing it next year and raising the momentum of the campaign as well as elevating the stature of our company and brands,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service