The United Arab Emirates has reinforced its global leadership in high-quality aluminum production, becoming one of the largest producing countries worldwide and a key center for exporting to global markets. The aluminum industry in the UAE has seen significant growth over the past years, as UAE companies continue to invest heavily in building new facilities to meet increasing production capacity and enhance efficiency, reflecting the high demand for national products in local and international markets.
The country has successfully strengthened its position in the global aluminum market, having exported approximately 2 billion kilograms of raw aluminum alloys last year, according to a World Bank report on "Imports of Raw Aluminum Alloys." According to the World Bank, the European Union was the largest importer of raw aluminum alloys from the UAE, with about 448.9 million kilograms by the end of 2023, followed by the United States with nearly 322.5 million kilograms, and Japan with around 258.04 million kilograms.
Major national aluminum companies in the UAE, led by Emirates Global Aluminum, are undertaking massive expansion projects aimed at increasing production and meeting the growing demand for high-quality, low-carbon aluminum in global markets. The company is focused on minimizing environmental impact through its production processes and prioritizing innovation and advanced technology in production.
These steps reflect the company's efforts to achieve sustainable development in line with the visions of the wise leadership, enhancing the national economy by increasing exports and solidifying its position on the global stage. The company's operations include an aluminum smelter and alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi, an aluminum smelter in Dubai, a bauxite mine in Guinea, and the Leschmetall smelter in Germany, which was fully acquired by the company this year. This smelter specializes in producing solid alloys and large-diameter rods containing high proportions of secondary aluminum.
Emirates Global Aluminum is preparing to complete the construction of several facilities this year, including an aluminum recycling plant with a production capacity of up to 170,000 tons annually and a pilot plant for converting caustic bauxite residue into soil, which will contribute to improving production efficiency and reducing carbon footprint, as well as supporting the national economy and providing quality job opportunities.
Emirates Global Aluminum provides its products to over 400 customers in more than 50 countries across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Americas, producing one ton of every 25 tons of global aluminum production, representing approximately 1.5% of the total national economy. By the end of last year, the company injected around 7.3 billion dirhams into the national economy. The company's sales volume reached approximately 2.745 million metric tons of primary aluminum in 2023, compared to around 2.743 million tons in 2022, leading sales volumes in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, which totaled 6.3 million metric tons, according to data from the Gulf Aluminum Council.
