Trace Group

What Trace Group does

Trace Group EST is a UAE-based multi-sector industrial services platform founded in 1979 in Abu Dhabi by Fouad Oweis and operating as a sole proprietorship under UAE commercial law. The group operates across several divisions — Trace Transport (1979), Trace Trading (1983), Trace Services (1992), Trace Recovery Services, and Trace Chemicals — providing transportation, oilfield and specialty chemicals, construction chemicals, recovery services, and related industrial supplies primarily to oil & gas, construction, and power generation customers in the UAE and broader GCC/Middle East region. The platform combines wholly-owned operational divisions with strategic joint ventures (Negri International FZCO with Italian ball valve manufacturer Negri F.LLI, Envirocon Construction Chemicals formed in 2009, and the 2015 Trace Plastic Industries venture with an unnamed multinational plastic products manufacturer) plus an exclusive UAE agency for KEMIRA specialty chemicals, generating revenue through industrial supply contracts, distribution margins, logistics fees, and JV profit share.

The company is an approved supplier to ADNOC group companies and holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001 certifications, supporting qualification for major oil & gas and infrastructure tenders. Operations are anchored by a 63-vehicle transport fleet and a 32,000 sq m warehousing and logistics footprint in Abu Dhabi, with 185 staff supporting multi-division activity. Reported 2014 revenue was $19.5M with anticipated 2015 revenue of $21M, and management has historically targeted 10–15% annual growth. The business model is fundamentally traditional B2B industrial services with no disclosed digital platform, software layer, or AI component; growth is driven by JV formation, agency wins, and procurement qualification rather than technology differentiation.

Name

Trace Group

Legal name

Trace Group EST

Website

https://trace.ae

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Trace Group EST is a UAE-based multi-sector industrial services platform serving ADNOC, oil & gas, construction, and power customers across the GCC and Middle East through transportation, chemicals distribution, recovery services, and joint-venture product lines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Services and Trading

NAICS

Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246), Other Construction Material Merchant Wholesalers (423390)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Wholesale-Chemicals & Allied Products (5160), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084)

akta.pro primary industry

Chemical & Petrochemical Logistics (Bulk, ISO Tanks, Drums/IBCs) (TLAIAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Minerals & Chemicals (Non-Haz Bulk Powders) Transport (TLADAKAJ), Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Freight Brokerage (TLADAMAI)

Keywords

• Heavy transportation logistics
• Industrial trading services
• Specialty chemical supply
• Construction materials supply
• Oil and gas services

Headquarters

HQ city

Abu Dhabi

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Heavy Transportation Services: Land transport and contract logistics for oil & gas, government, and construction sectors including hazardous materials handling, clearance and forwarding, and marshalling services. Core revenue stream since 1979.
2. General Trading: Trading of mechanical products, piping, chemicals, laboratory products, instrumentation and process control, and general trading items through agency relationships with global companies.
3. Geotextile and Construction Materials Supply: Supply of land stability and reinforcement products including geotextile (fabric, woven & non-woven), geomembrane, geogrid, and retaining wall materials to construction sector.
4. Chemical Supply: Chemical supply including KEMIRA specialty chemicals as UAE agent, serving ADNOC group companies and construction industry with concrete admixtures and additives.
5. Vehicle Recovery Services: 24/7 car recovery and roadside assistance services for cars, vans, and trucks across UAE regions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Trace Group EST is a diversified Abu Dhabi-based industrial services conglomerate offering heavy transportation and contract logistics for oil & gas and government sectors, general trading of mechanical/piping/chemical/instrumentation products, geotextile and construction material supply, 24/7 vehicle recovery, specialty chemical supply (KEMIRA agency), and ball-valve manufacturing via joint ventures. The group serves enterprises across UAE and the wider GCC/Middle East region through wholly-owned divisions and joint venture interests.

Product overview

Trace Group is a diversified conglomerate offering a portfolio of integrated services and products across multiple sectors. The company operates five core divisions: Trace Transport (heavy transportation and logistics), Trace Trading (general trading of mechanical, chemical, and instrumentation products), Trace Services (geotextile and reinforcement products), Trace Recovery Services (24/7 vehicle recovery), and Trace Chemicals (chemical supply with Kemira agency). Supporting divisions include Envirocon Construction Chemicals (concrete admixtures), Trace Plastic Industries (industrial plastic products), and Negri International FZCO (ball valves for oil & gas). The group primarily serves oil & gas, petrochemical, construction, power, water, and municipal sectors across the UAE and wider Middle East.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trace Transport Heavy transportation and contract logistics services serving oil and gas companies, government sectors, municipalities, and water/electricity authorities in the UAE. Offers land transport, storage and warehousing, materials and hazardous goods handling, clearance and forwarding, and marshalling and logistics.
• Trace Trading General trading services providing mechanical and piping products, chemicals and water desalination equipment, instrument and process control products, and specialized equipment. Services oil & gas sector and various sectors across the UAE.
• Trace Services Supply of land stability and reinforcement products including geotextile (fabric, woven and non-woven), geomembrane, geogrid, and retaining wall materials for civil construction and road contracting sectors.
• Trace Recovery Services 24/7 car recovery and vehicle breakdown recovery service with roadside assistance across the UAE. Fleet includes vehicles suitable for cars, vans, and trucks.
• Trace Chemicals Chemical supply services and proud agents of KEMIRA specialty chemicals in UAE. One of the fastest growing chemical suppliers and approved supplier within ADNOC group companies.
• Negri International FZCO (Ball Valve Manufacturing Joint Venture) Joint venture between Trace and NEGRI F.LLI (Italian manufacturer) producing ball valves for oil & gas, power, and petrochemical industries. Product line includes split body ball valves, top entry ball valves, fully welded ball valves, twin ball double block and bleed, and special constructions (metal seated, cryogenic, subsea, 3-way).
• Envirocon Construction Chemicals Joint venture between Trace and Envirocon International offering concrete admixtures, cementicious additives, and masonry products designed to strengthen, protect, and extend the eco lifecycle of structures.
• Storage and Warehousing Facilities Warehouse facility with 32,000 sq. meters of space allocation in Marfa. Provides project management, transport contracting, and distribution services for oil field projects and power generating projects in UAE.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average 10-15% yearly growth rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Envirocon InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Joint venture formed in 2009 between Trace and Envirocon International to meet local demand in construction industry. Joint venture operates as Envirocon Construction Chemicals, providing concrete admixtures, cementicious additives, and masonry products designed to strengthen, protect and assist the eco life cycle of structures.
• Negri F.LLIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture established as Negri International FZCO with Italian manufacturer Negri F.LLI for production of ball valves for oil & gas, power and petrochemical industries. Combines Italian technology with regional presence. Product range includes Split Body Ball Valves, Top Entry Ball Valves, Fully Welded Ball Valves, Twin Ball Double Block and Bleed, and special constructions (Metal Seated, Cryogenic, Subsea, 3-Way). Planning to establish facility in Abu Dhabi for regional service.
• KEMIRAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive agent for KEMIRA specialty chemicals in UAE. KEMIRA is a global chemical company. Trace Chemicals supplies specialty chemicals to ADNOC group companies and construction industry.
• Leading Multinational Plastic Products ManufacturerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture with leading multinational plastic products manufacturer for Trace Plastic Industries project. Planned production of industrial grade plastic products including pallets and hard plastic boxes for UAE market.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RSA Global: Dubai-based contract logistics and supply chain company operating warehousing and distribution for industrial clients, comparable in scale and regional industrial-services orientation to Trace Group.
• GAC Group: UAE-headquartered global shipping, logistics, and marine services group with longstanding Gulf oil & gas and freight forwarding exposure, directly comparable to Trace's transport and trading functions.
• Tristar Group: UAE-headquartered integrated energy logistics and transportation company serving oil & gas majors across the Middle East, with fleet operations, fuel transport, and warehousing closely mirroring Trace Transport's core offering.
• Al Jaber Group: UAE-based diversified conglomerate with heavy transportation, construction, trading, and industrial services divisions; closely comparable in scope, regional focus, and conglomerate structure to Trace Group.
• Haji Hassan Group: Bahrain-based diversified industrial conglomerate operating in construction materials, building products, and industrial services across the GCC; structurally similar multi-vertical industrial platform as Trace Group.

Broad incumbents

• Aramex: UAE-founded regional logistics and courier company with diversified freight and supply chain services; overlaps with Trace on regional logistics and B2B distribution but operates at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Agility: Kuwait-headquartered global logistics and supply chain company with significant GCC operations, offering freight, contract logistics, and industrial parks at a much larger scale than Trace.
• DHL Supply Chain MENA: Global contract logistics leader with significant Gulf operations in warehousing, transport, and industrial supply chain services, competing against Trace for large enterprise contracts in the region.

Regional players

• Galfar Engineering & Contracting: Oman-headquartered engineering, procurement, and construction contractor serving oil & gas, infrastructure, and utilities clients in the GCC; comparable customer set to Trace's construction and oil & gas verticals.
• Emirates Logistics LLC: UAE-based freight and logistics provider with government and industrial clients in the Gulf, comparable to Trace Transport in regional logistics scope though with different end-market mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tracegroup

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Trace Group