GulfGuard Breaks Ground in U.A.E.

His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and Dr. Khater Massaad, Advisor to The Crown Prince, attended the event along with Guardian officials, customers and suppliers.

“We continue to develop a strong customer base in the Gulf region and are pleased to expand capacity along with our partners,” said Russ Ebeid, president of Guardian’s glass group. “The new plant will enhance GulfGuard’s ability to meet the growing demands for flat glass in the region.”

Mr. Ebeid also praised the economic development recruitment efforts of the Crown Prince and the Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority.

Site preparation work for the manufacturing facility will begin immediately with production slated to begin in the second quarter of 2007. With an initial investment of approximately $115 million, Guardian RAK will produce 700 tons of glass per day that will be used in automotive and construction applications, including high-performance coated glass. The RAK facility will employ approximately 300 people and generate as many as 1,000 additional jobs in related supplier and logistics industries. Glass produced at the facility will be sold in the Gulf Region as well as exported throughout the world.

Ras Al Khaimah’s population is around 500,000 and it is the northern most Emirate of the U.A.E., located 75 miles (100 km) north of Dubai.

GulfGuard is a Saudi limited liability company, commercially registered in 1995 as a joint venture between Guardian Industries Corp., one of the largest float glass producers in the world; National Company for Glass Industries Ltd. and Al Zamil Group. It is Saudi Arabia’s premier manufacturer of float glass.