Guardian Glass and Zoujaj plan to expand their float glass capabilities in Saudi Arabia through their GulfGuard joint venture.
GulfGuard plans to develop a second float glass line and a second glass coater at its site in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia.
The sputter glass coater is expected to begin operations in 2027, followed by the float glass line in 2028.
An agreement was signed during a recent visit to Washington DC, USA by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud on November 19
The new float line is expected to enhance GulfGuard’s capacity to serve customers across Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East.
It is designed to produce standard clear float glass in thicknesses ranging from 4 to 12mm in jumbo dimensions (up to 6 metres in length), with the capability to manufacture Guardian UltraClear low-iron glass.
These larger dimensions aim to help customers improve production yield by enabling optimised cutting patterns.
The planned sputter coater will be capable of producing low-E and solar control glass, including Guardian SunGuard double and triple silver high-performance coatings, developed to balance energy efficiency and visual appeal in a broad range of building applications.
Architectural glass demand continues to increase across the Middle East, driven by rising urban development, the evolution of building standards, localisation initiatives, and the development of large-scale projects across the region.
Guus Boekhoudt, Global Executive Vice President, Guardian Glass said: "With this investment, GulfGuard is well positioned to help meet rising demand while strengthening the local supply chain and contributing to Saudi Arabia’s Local Content and Saudi Made programmes."
Omar Al Humaidan, Chairman of ZOUJAJ added: "The project reflects GulfGuard’s long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East region, sustaining Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals and beyond.”
Below: GulfGuard's plant in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia
