SULB is a major steel producer using the Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) process and a wholly owned subsidiary of Foulath Holding. Its twin plants are centrally located in the Arabian Gulf, with excellent sea and road connectivity to the Middle East, South Asia, the Far East, and Europe.
“A Fully Integrated Subsidiary of Foulath Holding”
As part of Foulath Holding, SULB benefits from strong industrial expertise and a well established regional and international network, underpinning its operational strength and market potential. The company operates technologically advanced industrial systems, enabling efficient and high-quality production.
In addition, SULB enjoys access to reliable supplies of raw materials and gas-fuelled energy. Its operations are sustainable, quality-driven, safe, and dependable. It is a sister company to Bahrain Steel, a leading producer of high-quality iron ore pellets, supplying the global steel industry with sustainable solutions while driving economic growth in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Its close proximity ensures a consistent and reliable supply of premium iron ore pellets.
SULB is a specialised, fully integrated producer of structural steel sections. Operating an integrated steel plant in Bahrain and a light and medium section rolling mill in Saudi Arabia, SULB stands at the core of the region’s steel industry. The company offers a comprehensive product portfolio that includes DRI, billets, blooms, and light, medium, and heavy structural steel sections. With a strong regional footprint and global reach, SULB serves international markets while meeting a significant share of structural steel demand across GCC countries.
Our Mission
To help build great things
Our Vision
To lead the steel industry towards sustainability, so we can build a world where people and planet can thrive.
Our Value Proposition
To deliver an extensive range of sections, with best-in-class quality and service, at competitive prices
Our Core
Values
Care
- Prioritize safety and well-being
- Always thrive for sustainability
- Support the growth and development of our communities
Collaboration
- Be open-hearted and open-minded
- Invite thoughts and ideas from everyone
- Forge valuable relationships
Respect
- Treat everyone as we want to be treated.
Limitless Thinking
- Aspire to always improve
- Learn and be inspired
- Find a way
Personal Empowerment
- Own the action – and the outcome
- Try new things – and accept failure
- Do more with less
Sulb ownership
100%
100%
SULB is a wholly owned subsidiary of Foulath Holding, a Bahrain-based industrial group with a strong presence across the regional steel value chain. Foulath is backed by a consortium of reputable GCC partners, including Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC), Qatar Steel, Gulf Cable and Electrical Industries Company, National Industries Group Holding, and Kuwait Foundry Company. This strong shareholder base reinforces Foulath’s position as a key industrial player in the GCC and underpins SULB’s operational strength and long term growth.
“At all times, we preserve sustainability in our business as a good neighbour to the communities we serve”
SULB in Bahrain was formed as a venture in 2009 and began production of heavy structural steel sections in 2012. It is a fully integrated steel producer from the DRI process to the sale of finished products. SULB in Saudi Arabia was a pre-existing rolling mill producing light and medium sections, known as UGS, when it was acquired in 2011. Together they provide a complete solution for most construction requirements for our valued clients in the Middle East and increasingly internationally.
The vision of the founders, has been to create an industrial facility in a critical market and a central geographic location to stimulate the downstream development of manufacturing, fabricating, construction and public/private economic diversification. SULB has quickly proven its capabilities in this regard.
Faisal Al Roomi
Chairman
It has a strong, well-qualified and supportive workforce at both its Saudi and Bahrain plants. SULB has a commitment to employ local nationals and equip them with advanced engineering, business and managerial skills. Workers and management sit together on advisory committees to plan improvements in workplace conditions and operational processes.
As part of this, SULB implements strict health and safety programmes, which ensures the well-being of its employees at their places of work and the long-term viability of its operations.
The company is also renowned for its uncompromising commitment to rigorous measures to protect the environment. The DRI (Direct Reduction) process and the acquisition of the most advanced technologies allows for the maintenance of control over emissions and the reuse and recycling of energy and water. At all times, we preserve sustainability in our business as a good neighbour to the communities we serve.
Faisal Al Roomi
Chairman
“SULB operates some of the most advanced technologies in use by the steel industry anywhere in the world”
SULB operates some of the most advanced technologies in use by the steel industry anywhere in the world. This enables the company to offer a unique value proposition: the delivery of an extensive range of sections with superior quality, outstanding reliability and highly competitive prices.
SULB utilises leading-edge technologies. The DRI plant was developed by Midrex Technologies and Kobe Steel; the Melt Shop was designed by SMS Concast, and the Heavy Machines & light section rolling mills were developed by SMS Meer as technology supplier.
Dilip George
GROUP CEO
This means that the twin plants are able to serve customers with a comprehensive range of product sizes from a range of angles,
channels, flat bars and beams from 40mm angles to 914mm, at the same time meeting all international specifications – JIS, ASTM International, European, Korean and British standards, SASO and ISO international standards. SULB supplies products with precise dimensional tolerance, high quality surface finish and phased delivery options to stockists and end-users worldwide. It is a flexible, high quality producer that listens to its customers and meets market demands.
SULB is still a relatively recent addition to the industrial base of the GCC region and continually operates above its design capacities, currently at an average of 110% above rated levels.
Dilip George
GROUP CEO
Board of Directors
Faisal al-roomi
chairman
Ahmed Sabt Kalifa
Vice Chairman
Bader Al Hamad
Director
history
The founders of the original iron ore pelletising plant, now named Bahrain Steel, sought to form a primary industry in the Gulf, from which to generate a whole downstream capability in the iron and steel sectors to meet local demand with local products. The plant was founded in 1984 and production started in 1989, with a second pelletising plant opened in 2010. The name was changed to Bahrain Steel in 2013.
The decision was taken in 2009 to form SULB, as a steel production facility immediately adjacent to Bahrain Steel to take a proportion of its iron ore pellets and to create steel through the Direct Reduction (DRI) process, a Melt Shop and heavy and medium rolling mill. Production commenced in 2012.
SULB Saudi became a sister company in 2011 and together with SULB Bahrain has supplied a full range to meet customer demand.
2009
A joint venture with Yamato Kogyo established SULB, enhancing Foulath’s steel industry presence.
2011
SULB acquired United Gulf Steel, creating SULB Saudi Arabia and expanding its regional footprint.
2012
SULB Bahrain began production at its Melt Shop and Heavy Section Mill.
2021
Inaugration of SULB Bahrain wharf
2022
SULB achieved 1 million tonnes in combined sales.
2026
Foulath Holding acquired full ownership of SULB.
Why Choose SULB?
Certification
- SULB Bahrain and KSA each hold ISO 9001, Quality Management, ISO 45001, Occupational Health & Safety Management and ISO 14001, Environment Management Accredited Certificates issued by ‘FAHSS’
- In addition, both mills hold various product certifications relevant to the section types and sizes manufactured at each mill.
Quality
- Across-the-fence delivery of raw material from Bahrain Steel
- State-of-the-art Melt Shop and Heavy Section Rolling Mills
- Manufacturing capability and flexibility
- In-house labs – experienced QC team
- Integrated process flow
Logistics
- Well-equipped to cater to the entire GCC market
- SULB Bahrain enjoys close proximity to King Khalifa bin Salman Port to ship to world markets
- SULB Saudi is located in the Industrial City of Jubail, the heart of steel fabrication
