Image: Asian Paints
Asian Paints, one of Asia’s construction solutions companies, has unveiled a breakthrough innovation for the regional building sector with the launch of CureAssure — the world’s first internal curing concrete additive. The patented solution is designed to eliminate the need for traditional external water curing, offering potential water savings of up to eight billion litres annually in the UAE. Developed with the region’s climate and sustainability priorities in mind, CureAssure sets a new benchmark in concrete performance, consistency, and environmental impact.
“With CureAssure, we’re not just launching a product; we’re redefining a foundational step in construction. This innovation reflects our commitment to sustainable solutions that work in the real world,” said Joseph Eapen, CEO of Asian Paints.
Curing is one of the most critical but often overlooked phases in concrete construction, influencing structural strength and durability. In the Middle East, this step is frequently compromised by extreme temperatures, labour constraints, and compressed project timelines. These site challenges often result in shrinkage cracks and reduced long-term performance.
Asian Paints’ CureAssure addresses these issues by introducing internal curing directly into the concrete mix. The additive enables hydration to occur from within, eliminating the need for external water or surface curing compounds. This approach reduces plastic shrinkage and cracking, ensures greater durability, and guarantees consistency across varying site conditions. It also aligns the performance of on-site concrete with laboratory-tested standards — a vital requirement for real-world reliability.
“Developing CureAssure meant rethinking curing from the inside out,” said Amit DasGupta, chief senior manager – Technology, AP Global. “Rather than treating symptoms on the surface, we focused on solving the root cause, by embedding water availability directly where it’s needed. The result is a more robust, reliable concrete structure, regardless of the environment it’s placed in.”
CureAssure has received approval from Dubai Municipality and validation from ICC-ES. Free of hazardous substances, it is compatible with all types of Portland cement, pozzolanic blends, and both water-reducing (WR) and set-retarding (SR) admixtures. The additive meets globally recognised standards including ACI 308 guidelines for internal curing, ACI 318 structural durability provisions, ASTM C494/C494M Type S, and EN 934-2 European admixture compatibility norms.
Aligned with the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, CureAssure’s elimination of external curing also removes the need for desalinated water in the construction process. Asian Paints estimates that the water saved annually could fill 3,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools, irrigate over 6,000 acres of desert farmland, or meet the monthly water needs of 450,000 households. The solution also contributes to low-carbon, zero-waste construction practices by reducing the need for water transport, on-site manpower, and curing-related emissions.
With over 80 years of expertise in coatings and construction materials, Asian Paints is among the top two paint companies in Asia and operates 26 manufacturing plants across 15 countries. The launch of CureAssure represents a strategic expansion of its regional footprint and underscores the company’s commitment to delivering smarter, safer, and more sustainable infrastructure solutions across the GCC.
