‘All indicators point to growth in the rental industry in Saudi Arabia as contractors and end users shift from a CAPEX to OPEX model’: Khaled Kamal, EJAR
Machinery Rental Alternatives (EJAR), a fully owned subsidiary of the Jeddah-based Zahid Group, provides equipment rental solutions to a wide range of sectors that includes but not limited to construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, power and utilities, mining, building operations and maintenance, and events. Originally established as a division of Zahid Tractor’s Construction Machinery Division, EJAR was spun off as an independent entity in 2015. Since then, the company has positioned itself as a one-stop-shop for the rental and sales (new and used) of power and light machinery in Saudi Arabia.
EJAR boasts a fleet of over 2,000 machines – a diverse inventory of earthmoving, material handling, compaction, power generation, lifting, access, and welding equipment – available for short-term and long-term rental through six branches and nine depots. Khaled Kamal, general manager, EJAR, elaborates on the company’s unique selling proposition. “EJAR has the advantage of being a subsidiary of the Zahid Group, and represents leading international brands such as Caterpillar, JLG, Bauer, Doosan, Paclite, Miller and Terex in every category. EJAR banks on its own reputation and that of the Zahid Group in sourcing equipment, technical support, training, and availability of parts. EJAR is able to provide the right mix of rental, new or used equipment with the promise of on-time delivery, high efficiency, ongoing support and low operating costs,” says Khaled. The top markets for equipment rental in Saudi Arabia are the construction and oil and gas industries where EJAR is a market leader. The company is also expanding its presence in the rapidly booming entertainment and events industries. During the last six months, EJAR supplied a variety of equipment for all of the Kingdom’s most prominent events that included: 216 equipment to different subcontractors of the Riyadh Season entertainment festival 2021; 9 generators to the Riyadh Tours International Show Jumping Championship 2021; 14 generators to the Riyadh Car Show exhibition 2021; 36 generators to the Saudi International Motor Festival 2022; 12 forklifts, 8 light towers, 4 MEWPs and 1 telehandler to the Formula E Diriyah E-Prix 2022; and 60 forklifts, 54 light towers, 5 MEWPs, 3 telehandlers, 3 flatbed trucks, and 6 hand pallets to the most prestigious racing event in the Kingdom.
The versatility of EJAR’s fleet makes it possible to cater to several projects, simultaneously. EJAR’s Rental Used New (RUN) business model enables the company to operate both as an equipment distributor and rental supplier as per the procurement needs of its customers.
As the operator of the Cat Rental Store in Saudi Arabia, EJAR offers customers the full range of Caterpillar’s light and compact machines that include skid-steer loaders, forklifts, warehouse equipment, tele-handlers, small wheel loaders, backhoe loaders, compactors, and mini excavators. Other brands in the Cat Rental Store include Bauer, JLG, Doosan, Terex, Allmand, Konecranes, Brendon Powerwashers, Miller, Thwaites, Comet, Belle, Pioneer Pump, Paclite, BeachTech, BSP Tex, and Hobart.
The EJAR Cat Rental Store offers choice for every application and budget, such as diesel generators ranging from 20 kVA up to 1250 kVA; air compressors ranging from 185 CFM to 1600 CFM; diesel and electric mobile elevating work platforms ranging from 8 ft to 185 ft; and welding equipment ranging from 20 amp to 590 amp. Large machines in the rental fleet include the Bauer BG 26 and BG 33 rotary drilling rigs. As the official dealer of brands such as Bauer and Dulevo Fayat in Saudi Arabia, EJAR also offers purchase options for new and used equipment. To ensure the maximum uptime, EJAR maintains a young fleet that has an average age of three years. The upkeep of the machines is reinforced by round-the-clock customer service and the availability of 90 technicians and 60 service trucks. EJAR has received several accolades in recognition of its rental service excellence, such as Caterpillar’s Gold Certificate for three consecutive years (2019–2021) and Bauer’s Service Partner certificate. “Our fleet replacement programme is structured to retain only the best functioning equipment. All indicators point to growth in the rental industry as contractors and end users shift from a CAPEX to OPEX model. Therefore, we continue to invest i
n new equipment and maintain a dedicated team of engineers, technicians, and sales staff to ensure fast response and offer customized solutions. This has reinforced confidence among customers that that we’ll always have the resources to meet their needs,” concludes Khaled Kamal.
Machinery Rental Alternatives (EJAR) is featured as a rental market leader in the PMV Rental Power List 2022.