Yanbu Cement has 20% of the market share.

The cement industry is growing fast in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). In Saudi Arabia alone, by 2007, production capacity is expected to increase by 63.3%. However, Saud Saleh Islam, Director General of Yanbu Cement, believes that it would be foolhardy to expand the cement sector beyond measure. “There is currently a shortage of one million tons of cement on the west coast, but I believe that existing companies can satisfy that,” he says. In fact, Yanbu Cement no longer exports because domestic demand is so strong.

SAUD SALEH ISLAM Director General of Yanbu Cement

The firm was established in 1976 and has since grown to be one of the kingdom’s top 50 companies, retaining 20% of the market share in cement and posting 13% growth last year.

Dr. Islam is a vehement believer in the importance of human resources: “Quality is essential and to produce quality you need quality people. It is impossible to do well without a good team,” he concludes.