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Saudi Arabia

Omar Ayoub, president of Dow Saudi Arabia and product director for Dow Coatings Materials and Acrylics (EMEAI), talks to The Energy Year about how the company is utilising its R&D platforms to bring innovative technology to Saudi Arabia and collaborations to enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities. Dow is a materials science company that serves markets such as packaging, infrastructure and mobility.

What are some of Dow’s partnerships and joint ventures in Saudi Arabia’s petrochemicals sector?
Dow has a long-standing presence in Saudi Arabia, initiating operations in 1976 through a distribution partnership with Juffali. Dow Saudi Arabia was established in 2007 as Dow’s first wholly owned entity in the country.
In 2011, we formed the Sadara Chemical Company with Saudi Aramco, and the scale of that project underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to developing its downstream industries. Sadara is a first-of-its-kind complex and the largest to be built in a single phase. The multibillion-dollar facility consists of 26 manufacturing plants, with an annual production capacity of more than 3 million tonnes per year of value-adding chemicals and plastics.
We are a founding member of the KAUST Industry Collaboration Program, which helps transform research into practical applications. Dow supports the university’s vision to drive economic development by investing in R&D with strategic relevance to the Saudi industries. The Dow Middle East Innovation Center (MEIC) at KAUST develops innovative, science-based solutions for modern-day challenges in the energy, energy efficiency, water treatment and building and infrastructure sectors.

Can you comment on your efforts to localise the production of chemicals for construction to support Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing infrastructure sector?
Saudi Arabia is brimming with construction activity. Cranes dominate the landscape in many cities, and most materials required for construction, aside from cement, sand and gravel, need to be imported. This is where Dow steps in. We have collaborated with Sika, the world leader in construction chemicals, to localise a portion of their production, including their third generation of concrete superplasticisers, without capital investment. Saudi Arabia is expected to consume a significant amount of these superplasticisers. To support the ongoing boom, the country requires world-class production capacity for construction chemicals.

How is Dow contributing to recycling efforts in Saudi Arabia?
At Dow, we are committed to maximising resource efficiency in Saudi Arabia. We are developing a recycling process in collaboration with a national institution focused on recycling and waste management. As cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah move forward with the demolition of older buildings, this institution is tasked with managing the disposal of approximately 300 truckloads of construction waste daily.
To transform this challenge into an opportunity, we are working with local partners in the value chain, as well as Sika and KAUST, to reprocess concrete waste into new products. Our process involves using construction waste, green cement and specific chemicals that enhance the performance of the recycled materials, ensuring they meet the standards of prime materials.
The new formulation uses recycled construction waste in dry mix products such as tile adhesives, reducing the carbon footprint of such products by around 15%. It also conserves mineral resources by replacing white silica with standard brown dune sand, all with a marginal impact on cost.

How does Dow ensure that technologies localised in Saudi Arabia meet global standards?
Localising technology and establishing Saudi Arabia as a centre of excellence carries significant responsibilities. To ensure that localised technologies meet global standards and benchmarks, Dow adheres to stringent specifications. We have partnered with the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organisation, and our team works closely with them to test products and ensure they meet domestic and international standards. This collaborative approach guarantees that our localised technologies are of the highest quality and reliability.

Does Dow’s presence in Saudi Arabia bring opportunities for growth in the Middle East and Africa?
There are substantial growth opportunities. Saudi Arabia’s strategic location offers advantages as a technology and manufacturing hub which make it an ideal centre for excellence in oil, gas and water technologies. This proximity to regional markets makes Saudi Arabia a key element in Dow’s growth initiatives.
Our goal is to elevate our presence in the Middle East and Africa beyond commercial activities by incorporating R&D and TS&D [technical services and development] support. MEIC supports this goal. Additionally, KAUST, with its remarkable talent pool and innovation capabilities, will play a critical role by offering access to Dow’s technology alongside its core R&D, fostering a collaborative environment for innovation.
While we are not building new facilities, we are expanding our focus at KAUST beyond oil and gas and water technologies to include construction, coatings, plastics and material recyclability. This expansion underscores our commitment to driving growth and innovation in the region.

Has Dow received any awards or recognitions as an employer in Saudi Arabia?
Dow has been consistently recognised as a great workplace globally and in Saudi Arabia. Dow was included in Great Place to Work’s World’s Best Workplaces 2024 and recognised by Fortune for the second consecutive year. This recognition reflects Dow Saudi Arabia’s dedication to creating an exceptional workplace, which aligns with Vision 2030 goals to empower talent and promote professional growth.
At Dow, we believe that our people are our greatest asset. This recognition highlights our commitment to creating an outstanding workplace environment where employees feel valued, empowered and motivated. We foster a culture of trust, transparency and inclusivity, ensuring that every team member has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to the company’s success. Dow’s efforts in Saudi Arabia are part of our global commitment to nurturing a supportive and dynamic workplace that prioritises the well-being and development of our employees.

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