Qasr Al Watan, also known as the Palace of the Nation in Abu Dhabi, UAE is an exquisitely crafted tribute to Arabian heritage and artistry.

Its architecture and design echo the significance and function of traditional houses in the Gulf region, for instance, the arched colonnade which provides a respite from the harsh heat. The stunning and highly decorative interiors feature classical Islamic architectural motifs such as the arch, dome and ornate tile-work with interwoven patterns.

Built to host dignitaries and leaders, the presidential palace was constructed over a period of seven years from 2010 to 2017. With over one million square meters (10.7 million square feet) of intricate stonework and 22,000 cubic meters (776,922 cubic feet) of delicate decorative elements in the Mughal-era style, each piece was cut with high precision using waterjet cutting.

During the initial stages of the project, the country’s leading marble and stone company Mosart Marble and Mosaic International encountered various problems caused by both inconsistent supply and inferior quality of garnet abrasives. On top of poor cutting quality, there were frequent nozzle blockages and machine downtime and threatening production delays.

The search for high quality garnet abrasives and technical solutions has led the company to GMA.

“After an initial discussion with Mosart regarding their challenges and concerns, we conducted a trial using GMA ClassicCut™ 80 garnet and an appropriate focusing tube that can consistently deliver high quality cutting results,” GMA Middle East Manager- Waterjet Division Hemanshu Dawda said.

“I can see the quality difference in the cutting and finishing and there was hardly machine downtime during the trial,” Elias Khalil, a production personnel from Mosart said.

Delighted with the outcome, GMA was entrusted by Mosart Marble to supply garnet abrasive and waterjet cutting consumables for the entire project. In addition, the company is satisfied with the level of service and support by the GMA team.

“We were able to fulfill their project requirements and orders as and when required to keep their production running because we maintain a consistent supply of garnet abrasive stock and waterjet consumables at our warehouse in Dubai,” Hemanshu said.

With over one million square meters (10.7 million square feet) of intricate stonework and 22,000 cubic meters (776,922 cubic feet) of delicate decorative elements in the Mughal-era style, each piece was cut with high precision using waterjet cutting.

 By Stephanie Cheong, GMA Group