In 2024, China's steel exports to the Middle East region saw a significant increase, especially to the United Arab Emirates. In 2024, China exported 5.48 million tons of steel to the United Arab Emirates, an increase of 46.1% compared to 3.78 million tons in 2023. The growth rate of exports was the second highest among China's steel-exporting countries globally. The United Arab Emirates became China's third-largest destination for steel exports. From January to April 2025, China exported 1.958 million tons of steel to the United Arab Emirates, a 13% increase compared to the previous year. The United Arab Emirates continued to show strong demand for Chinese steel. 1. The demand for steel in the United Arab Emirates is strong.
The largest steel and building materials enterprise in the United Arab Emirates, Emsteel Group, is optimistic about the steel market in 2025. According to "Arabian Gulf Business Insight", the CEO of Emsteel Group, Syed Gummal Al Reemisi, stated that thanks to the billions of dollars of infrastructure and real estate projects in the United Arab Emirates, the steel demand is expected to increase by 10% in 2025. These projects include the $35 billion expansion of Dubai Machtum International Airport, the extension of the Dubai metro, and the newly announced Disney theme park on Abu Dhabi Island. To meet the surging demand, the subsidiary of Emsteel, Emirates Steel, has increased its monthly production of reinforcing bars from 260,000 tons to 400,000 tons, an increase of over 50%. The Chief Commercial Officer, Michael Lyon, pointed out that the Machtum Airport expansion project alone requires nearly 2 million tons of reinforcing bars, and the metro extension line requires 350,000 tons. In 2024, the demand for steel in the United Arab Emirates has increased by 20%, showing strong market momentum. It is expected that the steel demand will increase by 10% in 2025.
II. Core Steel Enterprises in the UAE本土
Emirates Steel Arkan (ESA): The largest listed steel enterprise in the UAE, mainly engaged in construction steel products (rebar, profiles, etc.), with an annual production capacity exceeding 3 million tons. In recent years, due to the impact of low-priced Chinese steel, ESA is negotiating with the government to implement import restrictions to protect the local market. Its business covers steel smelting, building material production, and clean energy cooperation. In 2024, it will collaborate with the UAE's clean energy giant Masdar to launch a pilot project for green hydrogen steel production, promoting low-carbon steelmaking technology.
The largest steel recycling company in the United Arab Emirates, Arab Gulf Steel Industry Company (referred to as "AGIS"), is a company specializing in steel recycling. Its annual production capacity reaches 600,000 tons of steel bars, and the steel waste it uses is 100% sourced from within the country.
Dana Steel: Specializing in the production of flat materials, in 2025, it announced an investment of 300 million dirhams (approximately 82 million US dollars) to build a new factory in Saudi Arabia. It plans to start production in the middle of 2025 and further expand its market share in the Middle East. The Dana Group is installing a 400,000-ton-per-year cold rolling line in the Dubai Industrial City, aiming to ensure the supply of raw materials for its coated steel production. This will increase the cold rolled coil production capacity of the United Arab Emirates from the current 660,000 tons per year to 1060,000 tons per year.
The Al Gharbia Steel Pipe Company, located in a factory in the KIZAD (Abu Dhabi Khalifa Industrial Zone), plans to increase its production capacity by 160,000 tons per year, expanding its welded pipe production capacity to 400,000 tons per year. Al Gharbia Steel Pipe Company has a 240,000-ton-per-year straight seam submerged arc welded pipe rolling mill with a maximum wall thickness of 45 millimeters, and the steel grade has been upgraded to X80, mainly used for offshore pipelines and onshore projects. Ajmal Steel Pipe Industry Company plans to increase its production capacity to 1.25 million tons per year, thanks to the addition of a 900,000-ton-per-year production line. This production line mainly produces API steel pipes with diameters ranging from 0.5 to 20 inches. Currently, the company has signed a strategic agreement with the Abu Dhabi Khalifa Economic Zone (KEZAD), and a large steel pipe factory will be constructed in the future.
III. Well-known Steel Suppliers in the United Arab Emirates and Their Characteristics
Domestic leading enterprise: Emirates Steel (the largest local steel producer in the UAE), with an output capacity accounting for approximately 60% of the national total and being a leading comprehensive steel enterprise in the Middle East. It covers hot-rolled coils, cold-rolled coils, galvanized sheets, rebar, wire rods, profiles (I-beams, H-beams), etc., and also provides steel processing services (cutting, shaping). It adopts advanced blast furnace - converter process, complying with international standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Some of its products have passed certifications from ASTM and EN standards. It has deeply participated in landmark projects such as the Dubai Burj Khalifa, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the venues of the Dubai Expo, as well as local infrastructure projects (roads, ports, residential areas). Its advantage lies in strong local service capabilities, with a logistics network covering major ports in the UAE (Jebel Ali Port, Abu Dhabi Khalifa Port), and supporting regional exports (to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, etc.).
The Al Ghurair Group (one of the oldest industrial groups in the UAE), whose business covers steel, aluminum, cement, food, etc. Its subsidiary, Al Ghurair Iron & Steel, mainly produces steel for construction such as rebar, wire rods, and round steel, and also engages in steel trading and distribution. Leveraging the group's resources, it provides integrated services of "production + trade + logistics", and is particularly flexible in responding to small and medium-sized construction projects.
International steel giants in the UAE: ArcelorMittal UAE: The world's largest steel company, ArcelorMittal, has a joint venture plant in Abu Dhabi (cooperating with the Abu Dhabi sovereign fund), mainly producing high-end sheet products (such as steel for automobiles and appliances), with strict technical standards, suitable for industrial customers with high quality requirements. Steel UAE: Through cooperation with local enterprises, it provides hot-rolled coil and cold-rolled coil products, focusing on exporting to the Middle East and African markets, with strong price competitiveness.
4. China exports steel structures to the United Arab Emirates
The steel products exported from China to the United Arab Emirates are mainly focused on construction steel (accounting for over 70%). The main types include: rebar, which accounts for 40% - 50% of the export volume, and is mainly used in real estate and infrastructure projects (such as residential buildings and bridges). Wire rods account for 20% - 25%, and are used for steel processing and small components. Plates (hot-rolled coil plates, galvanized plates): account for 15% - 20%, and are used in industrial buildings and stadium steel structures.
In recent years, as the United Arab Emirates has shifted towards high-end manufacturing (such as aviation, new energy), the export proportion of industrial steel (such as cold-rolled coils, stainless steel pipes) has increased from 10% in 2014 to 25% in 2023. It is mainly supplied to the refining projects of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and the high-end manufacturing industries in Dubai.
China United Steel has recently launched the "UAE Steel Market Demand Report 2025" by pooling research resources from multiple parties. This report focuses on four main themes: the economic development situation of the UAE, the current state of the UAE's steel industry, the demand for major steel industries in the UAE, and the analysis of steel imports in the UAE. It summarizes and analyzes the characteristics and trends of the UAE's steel market development, introduces the development status of major steel enterprises, deeply interprets the trading rules of the UAE's steel market, and provides information support for assessing the demand for steel in the UAE.
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