Cement Price in UAE 2026 — OPC, SRC & White Cement Bag Prices

By Khalid Al Mansoori, Senior Procurement Specialist | Published: April 2026

Having procured cement across projects in Al Quoz, Mussafah, and the Fujairah coastal belt, I can tell you the single biggest mistake site teams make is purchasing cement based on price alone without accounting for grade suitability, sulphate exposure, or the logistics cost to site. This guide cuts through the noise and gives you a working price reference — bag and bulk — for every major cement type actively used on UAE construction sites right now.

Current Cement Prices in UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Northern Emirates)

Prices listed below are indicative retail and trade-counter figures for Q2 2026. Bulk pricing, project-volume discounts, and freight surcharges vary by emirate and supplier. All prices are in AED, inclusive of standard 50 kg bag packaging unless stated.

Dubai & Sharjah: Retail bag prices are generally 2–4% higher than factory-gate owing to last-mile transport.
Abu Dhabi & Al Ain: Local production from Al Ain Cement keeps OPC pricing competitive; SRC demand is also higher here due to saline groundwater in coastal and desert zones.
Northern Emirates (RAK, Fujairah, UAQ): Factory-adjacent pricing on RAK Cement products; other brands may carry a small freight premium.

Cement Grades Used in UAE Construction: OPC 42.5, OPC 52.5, SRC & White

OPC 42.5 N / R — General Purpose Cement Pricing

OPC 42.5 is the workhorse grade on most UAE sites — villa slabs, column pours, block-bonding mortar, plastering, and general concrete work all typically specify this grade. At 42.5 MPa minimum 28-day compressive strength [BS EN 197-1], it satisfies the majority of Dubai Municipality and Abu Dhabi Municipal Council structural submissions. Expect to pay AED 14–17 per 50 kg bag at trade counter; bulk tonne pricing (loose or jumbo bag) sits around AED 250–290 per tonne ex-factory or delivered within 50 km.

OPC 52.5 N / R — High-Strength Cement Pricing

OPC 52.5 is specified on high-rise towers, precast elements, post-tensioned slabs, and fast-track commercial fit-out work where early strength gain matters. The 52.5 R (rapid) variant is common in Dubai's tower belt where the formwork cycle is 3–4 days. At AED 17–21 per 50 kg bag retail, the premium over 42.5 is real but justified when you factor in reduced cure time and earlier loading. Bulk: AED 290–340 per tonne.

Sulphate Resistant Cement (SRC) — Coastal & Underground Projects

Sulphate Resistant Cement is non-negotiable for foundations in coastal zones, below-grade basements, and any structure sitting in UAE soils with soluble sulphate content exceeding 0.5 g/litre in groundwater [BS 8500-1 / ACI 318]. Abu Dhabi's coastal corridors, Palm Jumeirah infrastructure, and RAK's sabkha zones all commonly mandate SRC on engineer's drawings. Pricing: AED 16–20 per 50 kg bag; bulk AED 285–330 per tonne. The marginal cost over OPC is a fraction of remediation costs if sulphate attack compromises a foundation.

White Cement — Finishing, Jointing & Decorative Work

White cement is used for tile jointing, exposed architectural features, exterior render finishing, terrazzo, and where pigmented concrete or a clean white base is specified. It carries a significant premium over grey OPC because of the pure limestone and kaolin raw material requirements, plus the energy-intensive bleaching process. Expect AED 28–40 per 50 kg bag depending on brand and grade (White 42.5 vs 52.5). Birla White dominates this segment in the UAE market.

Masonry Cement — Blockwork & Plastering

Masonry cement is a factory-blended product (clinker + filler + air-entraining agent) optimised for brickwork, blockwork bonding, and render coats. It offers better workability and adhesion than straight OPC for non-structural applications and reduces cracking risk on large plaster areas common in UAE villa construction. Price: AED 12–15 per 50 kg bag — the most cost-effective bagged cement option for plastering gangs.

Major Cement Brands Available in the UAE Market

Local UAE Manufacturers

RAK Cement — Ras Al Khaimah-based, one of the largest producers in the GCC. Produces OPC 42.5, OPC 52.5, SRC, and white cement. Strong distribution across all seven emirates.
UltraTech Cement — India's largest cement producer; available in UAE through importers for both OPC and specialty grades. A reliable choice where Indian-origin cement is approved in the project spec.
Birla White — The dominant white cement brand in the UAE and wider GCC. Consistent quality for architectural finishing work.
Lafarge (Holcim) — European-heritage multinational; specified on premium projects and international contracts where global brand approval is required.
Ciment Fondu / Kerneos — Calcium aluminate cement for refractory and high-temperature applications (industrial projects, chimney linings); specialist import only.

Cement Price Comparison Table: Grade vs Brand vs Format

Grade / Type	Common Brand(s)	Pack Size	Price per Bag (AED)	Bulk per Tonne (AED)	Primary Use
OPC 42.5 N	RAK Cement, National Cement, Al Ain Cement	50 kg	14 – 17	250 – 280	General concrete, slabs, columns
OPC 42.5 R	RAK Cement, Emirates Cement	50 kg	15 – 18	260 – 290	Fast-track pours, precast
OPC 52.5 N	RAK Cement, Lafarge, UltraTech	50 kg	17 – 20	290 – 320	High-rise, PT slabs, industrial floors
OPC 52.5 R	Lafarge, RAK Cement	50 kg	19 – 21	310 – 340	Short-cycle formwork, precast panels
SRC (Sulphate Resistant)	RAK Cement, National Cement, Al Ain Cement	50 kg	16 – 20	285 – 330	Foundations, basements, coastal zones
White Cement 42.5	Birla White, RAK White	50 kg	28 – 36	550 – 700	Tile jointing, render, decorative
White Cement 52.5	Birla White	50 kg	34 – 40	650 – 750	Architectural concrete, terrazzo
Masonry Cement	RAK Cement, Emirates Cement	50 kg	12 – 15	220 – 260	Blockwork bonding, plastering
PLC (Portland Limestone)	RAK Cement, Lafarge	50 kg	14 – 17	240 – 275	General construction, lower carbon

Prices are indicative trade-counter figures for Q2 2026. Project-volume and bulk-delivery discounts are negotiable. Prices may vary by emirate and delivery distance.

Which Cement Grade Should You Use for Your Project?

This is the question that actually determines whether your structure performs — and whether your project passes a municipality inspection. Here is a practical guide by project type:

Villa slab and column concrete (non-coastal inland): OPC 42.5 N or R. Standard 1:2:4 or design mix to C25/30 [BS EN 206].
High-rise shear walls and core walls: OPC 52.5 R. Early strength allows earlier load transfer and faster cycle times — critical on Dubai tower projects.
Any below-grade work, pile caps, or raft foundations near the coast: SRC mandatory where sulphate exposure class is XA2 or XA3 [BS 8500-1]. Check your geotechnical report — do not assume.
Block bonding, internal plaster, external render: Masonry cement or OPC 42.5 with a plasticiser admixture. Straight OPC 52.5 on plaster is overkill and increases shrinkage cracking risk.
Tile grouting, exposed white concrete, terrazzo, decorative columns: White cement — specify Birla White 42.5 for standard jointing, 52.5 for structural white concrete elements.
Precast units, pipes, drainage products: OPC 52.5 R or SRPC 42.5 depending on exposure class.

Factors That Drive Cement Prices in the UAE

Buying by the Bag vs Bulk Tonne — Cost Breakdown

At retail bag level, you are paying for packaging, palletisation, handling, and last-mile delivery margins. A 50 kg bag at AED 17 equates to AED 340 per tonne — versus AED 260–280 per tonne in bulk loose or jumbo-bag format. For any pour exceeding 50 m³, it is worth pricing bulk supply from a ready-mix supplier or bulk cement depot. The crossover point on a typical Dubai residential project is roughly 10–15 tonnes, beyond which bulk becomes clearly cheaper even after silo hire or jumbo-bag delivery charges.

How UAE's Extreme Heat Affects Cement Selection and Setting Time

At 45–50°C ambient temperatures common across UAE summers, the hydration reaction in cement accelerates significantly. Flash setting is a real risk when mixing OPC 52.5 R in direct sun without ice water or chilled water batching. On summer pours, many sites switch to OPC 42.5 N (normal) for its slower initial set, add retarder admixtures, and schedule pours for pre-dawn hours. This also affects bag storage — cement stored in direct sun or poorly ventilated warehouses begins to hydrate from atmospheric moisture within weeks, reducing effective strength. Always check bag condition and production date before accepting a delivery.

Price Trends: What's Moved Cement Costs in 2025–2026

UAE cement prices have been shaped by several converging factors: energy cost fluctuations (clinker production is highly energy-intensive), logistics costs from GCC and Indian import routes, and construction activity levels in Dubai (Expo legacy development, the Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040 pipeline) and Abu Dhabi (Zayed City, ADNOC industrial expansions). Local producer prices have remained relatively stable due to overcapacity in UAE and GCC clinker production, but bagged retail prices have seen modest 5–8% increases since early 2025 driven by fuel surcharges on distribution.

Transport, Wastage & Storage — The Hidden Costs on Site

A 50 kg bag of cement nominally produces approximately 0.035 m³ of concrete (at a 1:2:4 mix ratio). Waste from torn bags, improper storage, and over-batching can add 8–12% to your actual cement consumption. Factor this in when ordering. Cement stored on site for more than 90 days in UAE conditions should be tested before use — the combination of fine construction dust, coastal humidity (particularly in Abu Dhabi, Dubai Marina, and the East Coast), and temperature cycling accelerates pre-hydration. Palletise, wrap, and store off-ground in shaded, ventilated areas.

Safety, Standards & Regulatory Compliance for Cement in UAE

All cement supplied and used in the UAE must comply with UAE.S 1, the Emirates standard for Portland cement, which is administered by ESMA (Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology). ESMA certification is a mandatory requirement — suppliers without ESMA-approved products should not be accepted on site. You can verify conformity marks and certification status directly at the ESMA official portal.

In parallel, most UAE engineering specifications (particularly for government and semi-government projects) reference BS EN 197-1 for cement classification and BS 8500-1 for concrete specification — both of which align with the ESMA framework. Dubai Municipality's Green Building Regulations also now encourage or mandate the use of Portland Limestone Cement (PLC) and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs like GGBS and fly ash) to reduce the embodied carbon of structural concrete on qualifying projects.

For SRC specifically, the sulphate resistance classification must be confirmed by the manufacturer's third-party test certificate, not self-declaration. Any project consultant worth their PI insurance will ask for this before sign-off.

When purchasing cement and concrete materials for structural applications, always request the batch test certificate (mill certificate) with each delivery — it should show 3-day, 7-day, and 28-day compressive strength data, fineness, and setting time conforming to the declared grade.

Where to Buy Cement in UAE

For project quantities — whether you are a main contractor, sub-contractor, or a villa self-builder — sourcing from a reliable, ESMA-verified supplier matters as much as price. Look for suppliers who can provide mill certificates, maintain cold-chain-compliant storage, and offer consistent lead times.

FEPY stocks cement from verified UAE-market brands with full documentation. Browse by grade and brand below:

Sources & References

FAQs

As of Q2 2026, OPC 42.5 cement in a standard 50 kg bag retails between AED 14 and AED 17 at trade counters across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the Northern Emirates. OPC 52.5 runs AED 17–21 per bag, Sulphate Resistant Cement (SRC) AED 16–20, and White Cement AED 28–40 depending on grade and brand. Prices vary by emirate, volume, and delivery distance.

RAK Cement and National Cement are the most widely used local brands across UAE projects, offering ESMA-certified OPC and SRC grades with reliable batch consistency and wide distribution. For white cement, Birla White is the market standard. For imported high-strength grades, UltraTech and Lafarge are commonly specified on international or premium projects. The 'best' brand depends on your grade requirement, project specification, and proximity to supply.

For a standard 1:2:4 nominal mix (OPC: sand: aggregate), you need approximately 6–7 bags of 50 kg cement per cubic metre of concrete. For a richer C30 or C35 design mix (common in UAE structural specifications), this rises to 7–9 bags per m³ depending on w/c ratio and aggregate grading. Always use a design mix from an approved mix design laboratory for structural pours.

Al Ain Cement is typically the most price-competitive source for OPC in the Abu Dhabi emirate given its local production advantage. For bulk purchases, sourcing directly from a factory depot in Mussafah Industrial Area eliminates distribution markups. Always compare delivered prices rather than ex-works prices — transport from Fujairah or RAK can offset lower bag costs for Abu Dhabi sites.

It depends on your geotechnical investigation results. If your soil or groundwater report shows sulphate levels exceeding exposure class XA1 (SO₄ > 200 mg/kg in soil, or > 200 mg/litre in water) per BS 8500-1, SRC is required. In coastal Dubai — particularly areas near the creek, Palm Jumeirah infrastructure, and reclaimed land — XA2 or XA3 conditions are common and SRC is routinely specified. Confirm with your structural engineer before ordering standard OPC for below-grade pours.