AlMoosa Doors stands as a formidable example of a thriving business empire that originated from the vision of a single family member. Founded in 1984 by ABDULAZIZ ALMOOSA, what began as a small family business focusing on curtains, wallpaper, and cladding has evolved into a major group with interests in doors and windows, healthcare, and education.
This success can be attributed to the pioneering spirit of its founder and the group’s commitment to innovation and social responsibility, and it all began in a small fit-out shop in Al-Asha.
“It was 40 years ago that Abdulaziz began operating from his small shop,” explains AlMoosa Doors Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Yousef AlMoosa. “Married with two young children, at this time he was also building his first house. Of course, there were no real estate developers around back then, so he acquired a piece of land, employed an architect, and project managed the entire process from start to finish.”
This was much more of a challenge than it would be in this day and age, with no internet and very few exhibitions for building materials. However, Abdulaziz had an entrepreneurial mindset and was curious about new technologies and building materials, seeking creative solutions to problems, and was not afraid to challenge traditional methods. This quest for knowledge led him to subscribe to a construction related magazine, with Yousef AlMoosa continuing: “Abdulaziz was skilled at making the most of available resources. Whether it was financial capital, human capital, or time, he prioritized efficiency and was adept at finding imaginative solutions to challenges.
“Naturally, because of this, he was good at spotting gaps in the market, unmet needs, or areas for improvement, viewing these as potential business opportunities. Indeed, one of those areas for improvement led to a huge business opportunity because, while going through a construction related magazine, Abdulaziz discovered an Australian company, Glidrol Doors, that manufactured remotely controlled automatic residential garage doors. This technology was not new back then, but it didn’t exist in Saudi Arabia, except in airports, some royal palaces, and military facilities. But for someone who didn’t like the idea of getting out of his car every time he returned home, this was an opportunity too good to miss!”
Abdulaziz had an entrepreneurial mindset and was curious about new technologies and building materials
Innovative Automation for Modern Lifestyles
manufacturer and soon arranged to ship an entire door from Australia to his new home in Al-Ahsa, and, as Yousef AlMoosa points out, “It’s still operating perfectly today.”
This new automatic garage door became not only the talk of the neighbourhood but of the entire city. “It was like rocket science! Everyone was asking what it was, how much it cost, and who manufactured it. The big question he was asked, though, was why he didn’t stock it in his shop. So he began to research this opportunity, again communicating with Glidrol Doors, explaining that there was demand in Saudi Arabia and that he would be interested in importing stock to satisfy that demand.”
Consequently, in 1986, Abdulaziz signed an official agreement to be a distributor and transfer the know-how to Saudi Arabia. That was the beginning of a fascinating and productive journey, initially offering just one product to an eager marketplace. Fast-forward to AlMoosa Doors today, and that single product has grown into an entire portfolio, including a broad array of doors, parking poles, and window shutters. Moreover, the company now boasts a 20,000m2 manufacturing facility that produces more than 60,000 doors annually. There are also 52 branches of the company located throughout the length and breadth of the Kingdom, each incorporating a point-of-sale, distribution hub, and sometimes a warehouse to help distribute right the way through a specific area. And if all that were not enough, more than 75% of the components are now manufactured locally (it used to be 100% shipped in from Australia), and AlMoosa Doors employs over 750 personnel, 28% of whom are Saudi nationals.
This new automatic garage door became not only the talk of the neighborhood but of the entire city
Special Purpose Doors: Safety, Efficiency, and Beyond
Entrepreneurial thinking is, of course, fueled by a deep passion for a business idea or venture, and the founder’s entrepreneurial zeal now permeates the entire group, with a combination of creativity, risk-taking, adaptability, and a relentless drive to turn opportunities into successful ventures, ensuring ongoing evolution and growth. This includes moving into the ‘special purpose’ door market, with products being engineered to meet specific requirements, standards, or regulations based on the environment, industry, or application in which they will be installed.
“In Saudi Arabia, there is a huge demand for special-purpose doors, from blast-resistant doors, common in industrial settings and military facilities, through to bullet-resistant doors, employed in high-security locations such as banks, government buildings, or police stations,” Yousef AlMoosa explains. “Involvement in this specialist sector began when we became a distributor for a leading player in the industry in the Middle East, which was quickly followed by the signing of a license production agreement to manufacture products in our Al-Asha facility. Today, the whole portfolio, with regard to engineering and manufacturing quality, has been transferred to us. It’s been a long journey, but it’s been a good journey and well worth all of the effort we put into it.”
Innovative Eco-Friendly Products and Services
Looking to the future, there is still plenty of room for further growth and expansion, particularly with all of the giga-projects, which are being rolled out at quite a pace. Naturally, competition is fierce, with companies from all over the world wanting to be involved in the Kingdom’s ambitious growth plans. Nevertheless, AlMoosa Doors has experience, expertise, and knowledge of the local market in its favor, including in the area of sustainability, which is so important to developers in Saudi Arabia today.
\AlMoosa Doors has demonstrated a commitment to environmental responsibility through various sustainable practices and initiatives. It prioritizes the use of sustainable materials in its manufacturing processes and places a strong emphasis on energy efficiency in its manufacturing operations.
This approach and philosophy go a long way toward explaining why it has successfully completed many LEED projects for a broad range of blue-chip clients. By integrating sustainable practices into its operations, AlMoosa Doors exemplifies a manufacturing company that is not only focused on producing high-quality products but also on minimizing its environmental footprint.
AlMoosa Doors has demonstrated a commitment to environmental responsibility through various sustainable practices and initiatives
Exploring Lucrative Ventures and Strategic Business Opportunities
There are challenges at the current time, such as unstable prices for raw materials, logistics, instability in the Red Sea, and the post-Covid shipping crises, but AlMoosa Doors is navigating them by being ever more efficient and innovative.
However, the opportunities are out there and will continue to grow. Efficiency, a critical driver of success for companies, is the key to influencing financial performance, competitiveness, customer satisfaction, and the overall ability to adapt and thrive in a dynamic business environment. By focusing on efficiency, AlMoosa Doors will continue to build a foundation for long-term success and resilience.
Al Moosa Doors