Case Study

Case Study

From Zero to SAR 215M+ Annualized Run-Rate: Abu Dhabi Industrial Supplies Goes Global D2C

Company

Fourth-generation industrial supplies conglomerate (Abu Dhabi)

Company

Fourth-generation industrial supplies conglomerate (Abu Dhabi)

Company

Fourth-generation industrial supplies conglomerate (Abu Dhabi)

Services

Global B2B+B2C Marketplace Strategy · Alibaba Global Launch · Amazon Business UAE/KSA · Own Multi-Language D2C Platform · Google Ads & LinkedIn Scaling · Inventory Financing Structure

Services

Global B2B+B2C Marketplace Strategy · Alibaba Global Launch · Amazon Business UAE/KSA · Own Multi-Language D2C Platform · Google Ads & LinkedIn Scaling · Inventory Financing Structure

Services

Global B2B+B2C Marketplace Strategy · Alibaba Global Launch · Amazon Business UAE/KSA · Own Multi-Language D2C Platform · Google Ads & LinkedIn Scaling · Inventory Financing Structure

Industry

Industrial Supplies · Safety Equipment · Global D2C/B2B

Industry

Industrial Supplies · Safety Equipment · Global D2C/B2B

Industry

Industrial Supplies · Safety Equipment · Global D2C/B2B

Year

2024 – ongoing

Year

2024 – ongoing

Year

2024 – ongoing

Classic GCC industrial family business: fat margins on government tenders, but zero consumer brand and zero recurring revenue. Next generation asked one question: “Can we sell directly to factories and contractors worldwide… and beat the Chinese on price + speed?”

Abu Dhabi-based Industrial & Safety Supplies Conglomerate (confidential)

42-year-old family-owned group supplying PPE, tools, and safety equipment to oil & gas, construction, and manufacturing across GCC. Traditional revenue SAR 180M+, 99 % B2B tenders. Name and identity withheld at client’s request.

«كنا نعيش على المناقصات الحكومية ٤٢ سنة. اليوم نشحن لـ٣٩ دولة بدون ما نسافر ولا ننتظر مناقصة. أزهر ما أعطانا موقع… أعطانا حرية وأرقاماً لم نكن نحلم بها.» — الجيل الرابع، مجموعة إ supplies صناعية، أبوظبي (الاسم والصورة محجوبان بناءً على طلب العميل) We lived on government tenders for 42 years. Today we ship to 39 countries without traveling or waiting for a single tender. Azhar didn’t give us a website… he gave us freedom and numbers we never dreamed of.” — Fourth generation, Abu Dhabi industrial supplies conglomerate

The challenge

• 99 % revenue from slow government & corporate tenders

• Chinese competitors eating margins

• No direct relationship with end users

• Succession risk: Gen-4 wanted freedom from tender chasing

Our Approach

(100 % remote after one Abu Dhabi dinner)

• Phase 1: Built own global brand + 5-language platform

• Phase 2: Launched 4,200 SKUs on Alibaba, Amazon Business, and own site

• Phase 3: Google & LinkedIn ads targeting 42 countries

• Phase 4: Currently adding own logistics arm in Jebel Ali

The challenge

• 99 % revenue from slow government & corporate tenders

• Chinese competitors eating margins

• No direct relationship with end users

• Succession risk: Gen-4 wanted freedom from tender chasing

Our Approach

(100 % remote after one Abu Dhabi dinner)

• Phase 1: Built own global brand + 5-language platform

• Phase 2: Launched 4,200 SKUs on Alibaba, Amazon Business, and own site

• Phase 3: Google & LinkedIn ads targeting 42 countries

• Phase 4: Currently adding own logistics arm in Jebel Ali

The challenge

• 99 % revenue from slow government & corporate tenders

• Chinese competitors eating margins

• No direct relationship with end users

• Succession risk: Gen-4 wanted freedom from tender chasing

Our Approach

(100 % remote after one Abu Dhabi dinner)

• Phase 1: Built own global brand + 5-language platform

• Phase 2: Launched 4,200 SKUs on Alibaba, Amazon Business, and own site

• Phase 3: Google & LinkedIn ads targeting 42 countries

• Phase 4: Currently adding own logistics arm in Jebel Ali

The Results (live numbers)

• First 15 months digital revenue: SAR 178M

• Current annualized run-rate: SAR 215M+

• 63 % gross margin (vs old 28–32 % on tenders)

• Selling to 39 countries, zero travel

• Gen-4 now runs the entire digital division profitably

Key takeaways

Industrial families don’t need to wait for the next tender. Alibaba + Amazon Business + own site = freedom and 3× margins.

The Results (live numbers)

• First 15 months digital revenue: SAR 178M

• Current annualized run-rate: SAR 215M+

• 63 % gross margin (vs old 28–32 % on tenders)

• Selling to 39 countries, zero travel

• Gen-4 now runs the entire digital division profitably

Key takeaways

Industrial families don’t need to wait for the next tender. Alibaba + Amazon Business + own site = freedom and 3× margins.

The Results (live numbers)

• First 15 months digital revenue: SAR 178M

• Current annualized run-rate: SAR 215M+

• 63 % gross margin (vs old 28–32 % on tenders)

• Selling to 39 countries, zero travel

• Gen-4 now runs the entire digital division profitably

Key takeaways

Industrial families don’t need to wait for the next tender. Alibaba + Amazon Business + own site = freedom and 3× margins.

More Cases

More Cases

More Cases

Curious for more? Explore additional case studies and see what’s possible for your business too

How a Riyadh Family Conglomerate Scaled from SAR 41M to SAR 92M in 18 Months

Market Research · Operations Optimization · Digital Revenue Streams · Growth Strategy · Family Governance Alignment

SAR 11.4M

New digital revenue (annualized run-rate from zero)

300%

Increase in inquiries via social & digital channels

كنا نعيش على التجارة التقليدية منذ عقود وكنا نخشى أن نفقد هويتنا لو دخلنا الديجيتا الأخ أزهر لم يأتِ بتقارير طويلة ولا عروض باوربوينت، جاء بحلول بسيطة بدأت تُظهر أرقاماً في الحساب البنكي خلال أسابيع فقط. اليوم لدينا قناة رقمية تحقق أكثر من مليون ريال شهرياً، والأبناء الذين كانوا يُفكرون في تقسيم الشركة أصبحوا الآن شركاء في الكيان الجديد. باختصار: أعطانا قفزة ١٨ سنة… في ١٨ شهراً فقط.» — رئيس مجلس إدارة مجموعة عائلية، الرياض (الاسم والصورة محجوبان بناءً على طلب العميل) “We lived on traditional wholesale for decades and feared losing our identity if we went digital. Azhar didn’t bring long reports or PowerPoint decks — he brought simple solutions that started showing numbers in the bank within weeks. Today we have a digital channel generating over SAR 1M monthly, and the cousins who were planning to split the company are now co-owners of the new entity. In short: he gave us an 18-year leap… in just 18 months.” — Chairman, Riyadh-based family conglomerate

Chairman, Riyadh-based family conglomerate

Third-generation family business leader

Keep Reading

© 2025 ETAG – Enterprise Transformation & Advisory Group

© 2025 ETAG – Enterprise Transformation & Advisory Group

© 2025 ETAG – Enterprise Transformation & Advisory Group