Updated August 2026. The UAE consumes over 6 million tonnes of steel annually, driven by one of the world’s most active construction markets — with mega-projects including the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, ADNOC’s USD 150 billion decarbonisation investment programme, and Etihad Rail generating sustained demand for structural steel, rebar, flat products, and construction materials. The UAE’s position as the GCC’s largest re-export hub for metals — channelling volumes to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and East Africa — creates a compelling case for setting up a steel and metals trading company in JAFZA, KIZAD, or Dubai Industrial City in 2026.
- JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority) is the UAE’s premier logistics hub for steel and metal imports, with direct access to Jebel Ali Port and custom-built open yards for heavy goods; license costs AED 18,000–30,000/year.
- KIZAD (Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi) offers the UAE’s largest industrial land plots for metal processing and manufacturing, with leases from AED 25/sq m/year and a direct port connection to Khalifa Port.
- A DED mainland metals trading license costs AED 10,000–20,000/year and gives direct access to UAE construction contractors — the dominant buyers of structural steel, rebar, and construction materials.
- UAE steel traders importing from China must account for UAE anti-dumping duties on specific Chinese steel products (rebar, wire rod, H-beam) of 5–14% under UAE Cabinet Decision No. 24 of 2020.
- Total first-year cost to establish a steel and metals trading company in UAE ranges from AED 35,000 (RAKEZ, basic trading) to AED 200,000+ (JAFZA/KIZAD with yard and warehousing).
UAE Steel and Metals Industry Overview 2026
The UAE’s steel and metals sector encompasses four broad segments: (1) long products (rebar, wire rod, angle, channel, beam, pipe) used in construction; (2) flat products (HR coil, CR coil, galvanised coil, plates, sheets) used in manufacturing; (3) non-ferrous metals (aluminium, copper, zinc, brass, stainless steel) used in construction, electrical, and industrial applications; and (4) scrap metal (ferrous and non-ferrous), which is collected locally and exported to steel mills in Turkey, India, and Pakistan.
The UAE’s steel demand is underpinned by a construction pipeline that consistently ranks in the top five globally by project value. In 2025–2026, active mega-projects include: Neom (Saudi Arabia, with UAE-based contractors and traders as major suppliers), Dubai Creek Harbour development, Palm Jebel Ali Phase 2, Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal expansion, and the Etihad Rail network. Annual construction steel demand in the UAE has grown from 4.2 million tonnes in 2020 to an estimated 6.1 million tonnes in 2026, driven by an AED 700+ billion infrastructure spending programme.
Key UAE steel traders and service centres include Emirates Steel (now EMSTEEL, ADNOC-owned, 3.5 million tonne/year capacity), Conares Metal Supply, Gulf Steel Company, and dozens of international trading houses (Trafigura, Louis Dreyfus, Stemcor) with UAE operations. The presence of EMSTEEL’s direct sales and the international trader ecosystem creates both competition and opportunity: smaller trading companies can differentiate by product specialisation, delivery speed, or financing terms.
JAFZA: Jebel Ali Free Zone for Steel Traders
The Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA) is the UAE’s original and largest free zone, established in 1985, covering 57 square kilometres adjacent to Jebel Ali Port — the world’s 9th-largest container port and one of the three largest bulk handling terminals in the world. JAFZA is the natural base for steel and metals traders requiring: heavy cargo yard space for coil, pipe, plate, and section storage; direct access to port cranes and flatbed transport; bonded warehousing for duty-suspended re-export; and proximity to major construction contractors headquartered in Dubai’s Jebel Ali corridor.
JAFZA license types for steel and metals traders: Standard JAFZA FZE (single shareholder) or JAFZA FZCo (multiple shareholders). Trade license cost: AED 18,000–30,000/year. Open yard lease (for storing flat steel coils, rebar bundles, structural sections): AED 25–45 per sq m/year. Covered warehouse: AED 55–95 per sq m/year. Minimum yard lease: typically 5,000 sq m. Minimum capital: AED 150,000. Setup timeline: 7–14 business days. A 5,000 sq m yard with a standard trade license costs approximately AED 150,000–240,000/year in rent plus AED 18,000–30,000 in license fees.
JAFZA offers significant logistics advantages: the Jebel Ali Port can receive Capesize vessels (up to 180,000 DWT), enabling traders to import direct from major exporting mills in China, India, South Korea, and Japan without transshipment. Port container handling charges for a 20-foot container: AED 1,200–1,800. Break-bulk steel handling: AED 60–100/tonne at JAFZA logistics hub terminals.
KIZAD: Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi
KIZAD (Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi), renamed Abu Dhabi Industrial City (ADIC) in 2022, is the UAE’s largest industrial zone by area, spanning over 417 square kilometres adjacent to Khalifa Port — Abu Dhabi’s deep-water port with 7.5 million TEU capacity and dedicated bulk terminal infrastructure. KIZAD/ADIC is a joint development between Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) and Mubadala, targeted at heavy industrial and manufacturing companies requiring large land plots with direct port access.
For steel and metals companies, KIZAD offers industrial land plots (2,500–50,000+ sq m) at AED 20–35/sq m/year on 25-year leases, making it the most cost-effective option for companies requiring large-scale metal processing, cut-to-length operations, or coil coating. KIZAD tenants benefit from UAE industrial utility rates (electricity at AED 0.14–0.23/kWh, water at AED 6–8/m3), streamlined industrial permit processing through the ADIC portal, and Abu Dhabi government incentives including 10-year corporate tax holidays for manufacturing entities meeting specific Emiratisation targets.
KIZAD license and incorporation: FZE or FZCo structure. Trade license: AED 12,000–20,000/year. Industrial license (for processing/manufacturing): AED 15,000–25,000/year. Minimum capital: AED 150,000. Setup timeline: 7–14 business days. Best suited to: steel service centres, aluminium fabrication, pipe coating, structural steel fabrication, and scrap metal processing.
Mussafah Industrial Area: Abu Dhabi’s Trading Hub
Mussafah Industrial Area, located 35km from Abu Dhabi city centre, is the UAE’s largest mainland industrial trading area for construction materials, steel, and metals. Unlike JAFZA and KIZAD, Mussafah is a mainland DED-licensed zone, meaning companies here pay UAE corporate tax on profits above AED 375,000 but enjoy direct access to Abu Dhabi’s construction contractors, government tenders, and ADNOC’s vast supply chain without free zone export restrictions.
Over 2,500 steel, metals, and building materials trading companies are headquartered in Mussafah, making it the UAE’s most concentrated hub for the construction materials supply chain. Warehouse units in Mussafah: AED 30–60/sq m/year. Office space: AED 400–800/sq m/year. DED trade license (Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, ADDED): AED 8,000–15,000/year. Total first-year cost for a Mussafah-based steel trading company: AED 45,000–90,000 including 500–1,000 sq m of warehouse space.
Mussafah is particularly advantageous for companies serving the Abu Dhabi government tenders market. UAE Federal Law No. 11 of 2023 on Public Procurement requires government entities to give preference to UAE-based companies in tenders, and ADNOC’s local content programme (ADNOC InCountry Value, or ICV) requires ADNOC and its subsidiaries to source a minimum percentage of their supply chain from UAE-certified suppliers. Mussafah-based steel and metals traders with valid ADNOC ICV certification (issued by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology) qualify for preferential scoring in ADNOC tenders, which represents billions of AED annually in metals procurement.
Dubai Industrial City for Steel and Manufacturing
Dubai Industrial City (DIC), developed by TECOM Group, is a dedicated industrial free zone in Dubai’s Al Quoz district, home to over 500 manufacturing and industrial companies. DIC offers plot leases (1,000–50,000+ sq m) at AED 40–70/sq m/year and industrial units from AED 55,000/year. DIC is preferred for light steel fabrication, metal stamping, wire drawing, and steel tube manufacturing — activities that require industrial premises but not the deep-water port access that JAFZA provides.
DIC trade and industrial license: AED 12,000–22,000/year. DIC industrial plots allow construction of purpose-built production facilities (subject to DIC design guidelines). Companies operating in DIC benefit from Dubai Industrial City’s co-location with Dubai Wholesale City and the Dubai Logistics Corridor — a dedicated industrial zone supply chain linking DIC, Dubai Investment Park, and JAFZA via a road network with minimal congestion.
Steel and Metals Trading Costs and Comparison 2026
| Jurisdiction | License (AED/yr) | Yard/Warehouse (AED/yr) | Min. Capital (AED) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAFZA | 18,000–30,000 | 125,000–450,000+ | 150,000 | Import/re-export, heavy bulk |
| KIZAD / ADIC | 12,000–25,000 | 50,000–175,000+ | 150,000 | Processing, service centres |
| Mussafah (DED/ADDED) | 8,000–15,000 | 15,000–60,000 | None | Abu Dhabi contractor supply |
| Dubai Industrial City | 12,000–22,000 | 55,000–200,000 | 75,000 | Light fabrication, manufacturing |
| RAKEZ | 8,000–15,000 | 20,000–80,000 | 25,000 | Low-cost general metals trade |
| Mainland DET Dubai | 10,000–20,000 | 40,000–150,000 | None | Dubai contractor supply |
Quality Standards, Anti-Dumping Duties, and Compliance
Steel and metals traders in the UAE must comply with UAE and GCC product quality standards administered by ESMA. Key standards applicable to common steel products: UAE/GSO ASTM A615 (deformed steel bar for concrete reinforcement); UAE/GSO ISO 6935 (steel for reinforcement of concrete); UAE/GSO ISO 4978 (flat products of steel for stamping and forming); UAE/GSO EN 10025 (hot-rolled structural steel sections). Products not meeting these standards are subject to seizure by ESMA inspectors at UAE ports and retail premises.
Anti-dumping duties: The UAE has imposed anti-dumping measures on specific Chinese and other origin steel products under GCC trade defence mechanisms. As of 2026, UAE anti-dumping duties apply to Chinese-origin rebar (5.5%), wire rod (9%), and certain H-beam sections (14%). These duties are levied on the CIF value of imports and significantly affect the cost competitiveness of Chinese steel versus European, Indian, or Korean alternatives for UAE-based traders and contractors.
ADNOC ICV Certification for steel suppliers: If your customer base includes ADNOC or its subsidiaries, UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MOIAT) ICV certification is commercially essential. ICV certification involves an annual audit of the company’s UAE-based expenditure (salaries, local procurement, capital investment) as a percentage of total revenue. Certified suppliers receive an ICV score that is weighted in ADNOC tender evaluations. Certification fee: AED 5,000–15,000 via accredited certifier; annual renewal required.
What license do I need to trade steel in UAE?
A steel and metals trading company in UAE requires a trade license from the relevant free zone authority (JAFZA, KIZAD, RAKEZ) or a mainland DET/ADDED license. JAFZA is preferred for import/re-export operations using Jebel Ali Port; KIZAD for Abu Dhabi-based operations with large-scale processing; mainland DET/ADDED licenses for direct supply to UAE construction contractors. License costs range from AED 8,000 (RAKEZ) to AED 30,000 (JAFZA). No special steel-specific regulatory license is required beyond the standard trade license, but quality compliance with ESMA/GSO standards is mandatory for products sold in the UAE market.
Are there anti-dumping duties on Chinese steel in UAE?
Yes. The UAE imposes anti-dumping duties on several Chinese steel products: rebar 5.5%, wire rod 9%, and certain H-beam sections 14% (as of 2026 under UAE Cabinet Decision No. 24 of 2020 and subsequent reviews). These duties are levied on the CIF value at import. Steel traders importing Chinese-origin products must factor these duties into their cost calculations. Indian, South Korean, Japanese, and European steel products are not currently subject to UAE anti-dumping duties, making them more cost-competitive for UAE distribution despite higher mill prices.
What is the KIZAD advantage for steel processing companies?
KIZAD (Abu Dhabi Industrial City / ADIC) offers UAE’s largest industrial land plots (2,500–50,000+ sq m) at AED 20–35/sq m/year on 25-year leases — the most competitive industrial land rates in the UAE. Direct access to Khalifa Port (7.5 million TEU capacity) and Abu Dhabi utilities at industrial rates (electricity AED 0.14–0.23/kWh) make KIZAD ideal for capital-intensive steel processing: cut-to-length lines, slitting lines, pipe mills, and galvanising plants. KIZAD/ADIC tenants may also qualify for Abu Dhabi manufacturing incentives including 10-year corporate tax holidays.
How do I qualify as an ADNOC-approved steel supplier?
To supply steel to ADNOC and its subsidiaries, register as an approved vendor through the ADNOC Vendor Portal (vendor.adnoc.ae) and obtain UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MOIAT) InCountry Value (ICV) certification. ICV certification requires an annual audit of your UAE-based expenditure. Also ensure your products comply with applicable ESMA/GSO quality standards. ADNOC supply contracts for structural steel and pipelines typically require ISO 9001 quality management certification and product mill test certificates traceable to specific steel heat numbers.
What is the import duty on steel in UAE?
GCC member states — including the UAE — apply a standard 5% customs duty on steel imports from non-GCC countries, calculated on the CIF (cost, insurance, freight) value of the shipment. Steel companies operating in UAE free zones (JAFZA, KIZAD, RAKEZ) benefit from customs duty suspension: goods imported into free zones are not subject to the 5% duty unless and until they enter the UAE/GCC domestic market. Re-exported goods leave the free zone without incurring the domestic duty. Anti-dumping surcharges (5.5–14% on specified Chinese products) are levied in addition to the standard 5% duty.