One of the largest property developers in the United Arab Emirates, Azizi Developers, has signed a land lease agreement with the Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi (Kezad) to build a rebar rolling mill, sources tell Kallanish.

In late July, the company applied to Kezad for a 300,000-square-metre plot of land to build a 600,000 tonnes/year rebar rolling mill that could start production by the fourth quarter of 2026 at the earliest (see Kallanish passim).

Meanwhile, Kallanish learns that a local investor and an Indian metals company are in the process of setting up an induction furnace mill in Al Ain, UAE to produce 12 meter-long 100/130mm square billet and, later, 150mm billet. This will have a 5,000 t/month capacity allocated for the domestic market. The mill is expected to be operational in May or June.

UAE rebar market demand has expanded to 250,000 tonnes/month in 2024 from only 170,000 t/m a year earlier. New construction projects are providing a strong demand pull for rebar; however, Azizi failed to conclude direct offtake agreements with mills in the past and has therefore pushed for its own plant.