For UAE-based Rattan House, a leading manufacturer and exporter of synthetic rattan furniture in the Middle East, 2014 was a year of growth, according to a senior company official.

“The year was good, not just in terms of a steady client base, but also internally as we concentrated more on changes in manufacturing requirements,” said Ihab Al Sheikh, CEO, Rattan House Worldwide. “This year seems to be promising, with many exciting projects in the pipeline. We have already felt a shift in the number and quality of inquiries,” Al Sheikh said.

“It is a very exciting time for us as clients have become more savvy and selective. Developers, especially, and destination operators, such as Downtown Boulevard, Dubai Marina, The Walk and The Beach consider Rattan House to be their preferred supplier because we satisfy the quality standards they have set. Quality is a top priority, followed closely by individuality.”

Last year the company sealed a number of high-profile European manufacturing partnerships that will see new and innovative outdoor furniture solutions come into the UAE and the region as a whole.

“The growth in the hospitality and tourism sector in the UAE and the region has been the main driver behind the expansion of our product portfolio and the attraction of several unique European outdoor furniture brands to sign up with us,” Al Sheikh highlighted.

Rattan House has evolved from being a single rattan furniture manufacturer and supplier to a destination for both retail and contract clients who have various requirements and wish to explore options within the outdoor furniture category. Rattan House is now considered to be the source for complete outdoor furniture solutions, ranging from rattan furniture, its core product, to teak, metal and exposed aluminium, resin, textaline and fully upholstered outdoor furniture using special durable fabrics.

Al Sheikh: 2015 a promising year

Rattan House began in Jordan and today it is headquartered in Dubai. Its main markets are the GCC and Middle East, and it believes there is still some untapped potential in these regions especially for high-quality, unique, reasonably priced outdoor furniture.

“We also have a growing demand for outdoor furnishings in European countries such as France and Italy. Our products are perceived to be on a par in quality with those of big European brands, so we’re also concentrating our efforts there and towards East and West Africa, as well as some countries in Asia,” Al Sheikh noted.

Rattan House has a dedicated manufacturing facility in Semerang, Indonesia. “It was established in 2005 to meet the growing requirements of our market and for us to be able to better control the quality of our products. We continue to upgrade our equipment and encourage the development of our craftsmen’s skills to maintain the high standards we have set for our processes, products and services. At present our operations employ 500 staff at eight locations in the Middle East and Indonesia, with a purchase capacity of 3,500 pieces per month,” Al Shiekh said.
 
“A large part of our production is for export to retail and contract clients in the Middle East and the GCC. A portion of our production goes to countries neighbouring our factory in Indonesia, as well as a growing number of clients in the hospitality and food and beverages industries.”

The company recently opened its second Dubai showroom in Uptown Mirdif and more branches are in the pipeline, mainly in Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Kuwait, and Oman. There has been a growing demand from these markets, both retail and contract, and the company is keen on facing these demands head-on.

“The Ablaq Collection has been hugely successful, and a new collection is now being developed with our design partners, keeping in mind the feedback we have received from our loyal customers and the gaps that need to be met within the regional markets. We expect more partners coming onboard and more unique products to be introduced in the year 2015,” Al Sheikh concluded.