IMARC Group, a leading global market research and management consulting firm, has published its latest market intelligence report on the UAE Steel Market. The UAE steel market size reached USD 4,851.2 Million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 6,412.1 Million by 2034, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.05% during 2026-2034. Growth is being driven by rapid urbanization, large-scale infrastructure projects, government-led development initiatives, rising demand for sustainable construction materials and green steel, and technological advancements such as automation, smart fabrication and energy-efficient processes.
Steel is the skeleton of the UAE’s skylines, airports, railways, ports and industrial zones, and the sector is moving from volume-led production toward lower-carbon, higher-strength and digitally enabled products. Domestic producers led by EMSTEEL supply rebar, wire rod, structural sections and plates to a construction pipeline that is supported by national industrial strategies such as Operation 300bn and the Make it in the Emirates program, while import duties on rebar and wire rod protect local mills from low-priced imports. At the same time, scrap availability is supporting electric arc furnace production, green hydrogen pilots are showing a route to low-carbon steel, and prefabrication, robotic fabrication and digital modeling are speeding up project delivery. Producers have also shown resilience through a volatile 2026, with EMSTEEL reporting a sharp rise in second-quarter profit while keeping prices stable to support supply continuity. Combined with growing export potential to eco-conscious markets, these forces are shaping a steady, long-term growth path across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the other emirates.
UAE Steel Market at a Glance:
- Market Size (2025): USD 4,851.2 Million
- Market Forecast (2034): USD 6,412.1 Million
- Growth Rate (2026-2034): CAGR of 3.05%
- Base Year: 2025 | Historical Period: 2020-2025 | Forecast Period: 2026-2034
How AI is Reshaping the Future of the UAE Steel Market
- EMSTEEL and the Factory Forward UAE Initiative: In September 2026, EMSTEEL Group announced that it is aligning its digital transformation strategy with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology’s Factory Forward UAE initiative, positioning data, automation and advanced technologies at the core of its next phase of industrial development.
- Industry 4.0 Upgrades at EMSTEEL: According to Mordor Intelligence, EMSTEEL has directed USD 204 million toward Industry 4.0 upgrades, including robotic beam welding lines, AI-enabled defect detection and digital twin platforms that it says cut rework by 20%, supporting the quality and productivity gains the report associates with robotic fabrication and smart machining.
- Digital Product Data for Green Steel: EMSTEEL launched its True:Green brand in September 2025, with products accompanied by Environmental Product Declarations and access to digital tools, while its ES600 high-strength rebar, launched in the second quarter of 2026, can cut steel consumption in construction projects by 18% to 24%, showing how material science and digital data are being combined.
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UAE Steel Market Trends and Drivers:
Demand for steel across the UAE is being underpinned by a strong construction and infrastructure pipeline. According to EMSTEEL’s investor presentation, GCC steel demand rose 11% in 2024 with the UAE leading at 20%, and project awards of USD 54 billion in the UAE in the first nine months of 2025 were expected to support steel consumption in future periods. The momentum carried into 2026, when EMSTEEL reported second-quarter net profit up 157% year on year to AED 262 million on higher steel and cement prices, cost controls and continued demand from the construction market.
The market’s structural differentiator is the shift toward green and low-carbon steel. EMSTEEL has reported 84% clean electricity use and a 45% lower carbon intensity than the global average, and in October 2024 it launched with Masdar the UAE’s first green steel pilot using green hydrogen to extract iron from iron ore, an initiative that supports the national net-zero by 2050 strategy and the National Green Certificates Program. Green steel not only aligns with national targets but also strengthens competitiveness in global markets that increasingly demand low-carbon materials.
A third driver is scrap recycling and technological innovation. Producers are using scrap metal as a primary raw material, with electric arc furnace technology supporting a circular economy, while robotic fabrication, smart machining, digital modeling and off-site modular construction are improving precision, lowering costs and speeding up project turnaround. Producers are also protecting supply and prices in a volatile environment, with EMSTEEL announcing in April 2026 that it would maintain price stability to contribute to the resilience of the UAE market and ensure supply continuity, a dynamic that is set to intensify over the coming decade.
Government Schemes and National Industrial Programs Driving Demand:
- Operation 300bn and Make it in the Emirates: The national industrial strategy aims to raise the industrial sector’s GDP contribution from AED 133 billion to AED 300 billion by 2031, and at Make it in the Emirates 2026 in May, EMSTEEL concluded six strategic partnerships and received the Quality and Compliance Award.
- Factory Forward UAE Initiative: The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology’s initiative encourages industrial digitalization and advanced manufacturing, which EMSTEEL has aligned its digital transformation strategy with.
- Import Duty on Rebar and Wire Rod: The UAE raised the import duty on rebar and wire rod from 5% to 10% in 2019 and has extended it every year, most recently through 12 October 2026, to protect local mills from low-priced imports, particularly of basic long products.
- Net Zero 2050, National Green Certificates Program and Low Carbon Hydrogen Policy: The Masdar and EMSTEEL green steel pilot supports the UAE’s net-zero by 2050 strategy and the National Green Certificates Program, and aligns with Abu Dhabi’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Policy for sustainable industry growth.
UAE Steel Market Industry Segmentation:
The report has segmented the market into the following categories:
Breakup By Type:
- Flat Steel
- Long Steel
The report provides a detailed breakup and analysis of flat steel and long steel, with long products such as rebar and wire rod tied closely to construction and infrastructure, where the 10% import duty and the launch of high-strength grades such as ES600 matter, and flat steel supporting fabrication, appliances and equipment.
Breakup By Product:
- Structural Steel
- Prestressing Steel
- Bright Steel
- Welding Wire and Rod
- Iron Steel Wire
- Ropes
- Braids
The report provides a detailed breakup of structural steel, prestressing steel, bright steel, welding wire and rod, iron steel wire, ropes and braids, with structural and prefabricated steel gaining from airports, railways, skyscrapers and residential complexes, and off-site modular construction speeding up delivery.
Breakup By Application:
- Building and Construction
- Electrical Appliances
- Metal Products
- Automotive
- Transportation
- Mechanical Equipment
- Domestic Appliances
The report provides a detailed breakup across building and construction, electrical appliances, metal products, automotive, transportation, mechanical equipment and domestic appliances, with building and construction closely linked to mega-projects, real estate and infrastructure investment, and the other applications supported by industrial diversification.
Breakup By Region:
- Dubai
- Abu Dhabi
- Sharjah
- Others
The report provides a comprehensive regional analysis of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and other emirates, with Abu Dhabi hosting EMSTEEL’s headquarters and steel complex, Dubai driving demand through construction and infrastructure projects, and Sharjah and the northern emirates supported by industrial and free zones such as Hamriyah.
Competitive Landscape:
The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape, covering market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, the competitive dashboard and the company evaluation quadrant, along with detailed profiles of major companies. Key players include:
- EMSTEEL (Emirates Steel and Arkan)
- Conares Steel
- Al Ghurair Iron & Steel
- Hamriyah Steel
EMSTEEL, formed through the merger of Emirates Steel and Arkan Building Materials and renamed in September 2024, is the largest steel and building materials company in the UAE, operating 16 plants and serving more than 70 markets through its steel and cement divisions, while other producers compete in rebar, pipes and downstream steel products.
Market Concentration Analysis:
- The UAE steel market is highly concentrated in domestic long steel production, with EMSTEEL, the largest domestic producer, reporting 3.25 million tons of crude steel in 2024 and about 1.77 million tons of rebar, reflecting the capital intensity of integrated steel complexes and their importance to national supply.
- Fragmentation increases in downstream products, fabrication, trading and imports, where producers such as Conares, Al Ghurair Iron & Steel and Hamriyah Steel, steel traders, fabricators and importers compete, creating a structure where an integrated national champion anchors long steel supply while smaller players focus on pipes, specialty products, fabrication and trading niches.
- Consolidation and partnerships are shaping the competitive balance, exemplified by the merger of Emirates Steel and Arkan Building Materials into EMSTEEL, EMSTEEL’s partnership with Masdar on green steel, its 31.5 MWp rooftop solar project with Yellow Door Energy and its MoUs with Modon to explore sustainable steel solutions.
What Does The Full Report Cover?
- Historical, current, and forecast market size for the UAE steel market from 2020 to 2034
- Market breakup by type, product, application, and region
- Regional analysis covering Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Others
- Key growth drivers, challenges, and opportunities shaping the market
- Porter’s Five Forces analysis and value chain assessment
- Competitive landscape, market structure, and player positioning
- Detailed profiles of major steel companies in the UAE
Recent News and Developments in the UAE Steel Market
- October 2026: EMSTEEL Group achieved the EcoVadis Platinum Medal with an overall score of 95 out of 100, placing it in the top 1% of assessed companies globally, and continued as Co-Chair of the Alliance for Industry Decarbonization for a second two-year term, after aligning its digital strategy with the Factory Forward UAE initiative in September.
- August 2026: EMSTEEL reported first-half 2026 revenue of AED 4.6 billion, up 6%, and EBITDA of AED 941 million, up 74%, with second-quarter net profit up 157% to AED 262 million and steel division EBITDA up 71% to AED 382 million.
- Second Quarter 2026: EMSTEEL launched its ES600 high-strength rebar, described as the highest-strength steel grade produced in the UAE, which can reduce steel consumption in construction projects by 18% to 24%, and concluded Make it in the Emirates 2026 with six strategic partnerships and a Quality and Compliance Award.
- April 2026: EMSTEEL announced that it would maintain price stability to contribute to the resilience of the UAE market and ensure supply continuity.
- September 2025: EMSTEEL launched its True:Green brand for sustainable steel, with products accompanied by Environmental Product Declarations and access to digital tools for customers.
Note: If you require specific details, data, or insights that are not currently included in the scope of this report, we are happy to accommodate your request. As part of our customization service, we will gather and provide the additional information you need, tailored to your specific requirements. Please let us know your exact needs, and we will ensure the report is updated accordingly to meet your expectations.
Key Questions This Report Answers
- How has the UAE steel market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
- What is the breakup of the UAE steel market on the basis of type, product, application, and region?
- What are the key driving factors and challenges in the UAE steel market?
- How are infrastructure projects and national industrial programs shaping steel demand?
- How are green steel, scrap recycling, and import duties influencing the market?
- What is the structure of the UAE steel market, who are the key players, and what is the degree of competition?
- What role are automation, digital technologies, and low-carbon production playing in the future of UAE steel?
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