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Steel Structure Fabrication for UAE & Dubai Projects
Heavy steel, long-span roofs and complex nodes for UAE contractors and developers. Fabricated in South China to Dubai Building Code and Eurocode or AISC designs, coated for desert heat and C5 coastal exposure, shipped to Jebel Ali in about 16 days.
Capacity for the heavy and complex pieces UAE projects need
UAE projects combine tight programs with demanding steel: super-tall towers with mega columns, airport and logistics hangars, data halls and architectural roofs. Regional fabricators are capable but often full, and the heaviest built-up members are where queues form first.
We fabricate box columns up to 1,800 × 1,800 mm, plate to 100 mm and single pieces to 24 m and 60 t, with trusses trial-assembled up to 90 m in our yard. Steel leaves Shenzhen or Guangzhou on weekly direct services into Jebel Ali.
Heat changes the coating brief. Steel surfaces in Dubai summers can exceed 70 °C and the coast adds chlorides. We select ISO 12944 systems for C4 or C5 and a high durability range, with UV-stable polyurethane or polysiloxane topcoats, and record DFT for every piece.
- Q355B/C/D and Q420GJC, equivalent to S355JR/J2 and A572 Gr.50
- Coating systems for C5 high durability, applied after Sa2.5 blasting
- Intumescent or cementitious fireproofing prepared for Civil Defence approval
- Trial assembly of complex roofs and nodes before shipment
Designing and fabricating to the UAE requirements
Dubai projects are approved by Dubai Municipality (or Trakhees, DDA and other free-zone authorities) under the Dubai Building Code. Abu Dhabi uses the Abu Dhabi International Building Code. Designs are typically to Eurocode or AISC.
| Topic | the UAE requirement | How we deliver |
|---|---|---|
| Building regulation | Dubai Building Code 2021; ADIBC in Abu Dhabi | We fabricate to the approved design; authority submissions stay with your consultant |
| Structural design | BS EN 1993 or AISC 360, as specified by the consultant | Connections to EN 1993-1-8 or AISC 360 |
| Execution | BS EN 1090-2 execution class EXC2 / EXC3 commonly specified | ITP, dimensional records and weld maps per execution class |
| Welding | EN ISO 15614 / AWS D1.1 | Qualified WPS/PQR, 100% UT on CJP welds |
| Fire protection | UAE Fire and Life Safety Code (Civil Defence) | Intumescent systems with product listings supplied for approval, or applied on site by your fire contractor |
| Corrosion | ISO 12944-2 C4 / C5, durability H | Zinc-rich epoxy / epoxy MIO / polyurethane or polysiloxane, 280–360 µm DFT typical |
| Imports | UAE customs; ICV scoring on many government tenders | Certificate of origin, MTCs and packing lists per container |
Typical references. The consultant specification and authority approvals govern.
From Shenzhen and Guangzhou to Jebel Ali, Khalifa and Sharjah
Jebel Ali is the main gateway and has direct weekly sailings from Shekou, Yantian and Nansha. Abu Dhabi projects discharge at Khalifa Port.
| Port of loading | Port of discharge | Transit (days) | Typical mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shenzhen (Yantian / Shekou) | Jebel Ali, Dubai | 15–17 | 40HQ / flat-rack |
| Guangzhou (Nansha) | Jebel Ali, Dubai | 16–18 | 40HQ / break-bulk |
| Shenzhen (Yantian) | Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi | 17–19 | 40HQ / break-bulk |
| Shenzhen (Shekou) | Sharjah (Khalid Port) | 18–20 | 40HQ, often via Jebel Ali |
| Guangzhou (Nansha) | Fujairah | 17–19 | Break-bulk on request |
Transit times are typical port-to-port sailing times and vary with carrier, transshipment and season. Confirmed per booking in our quotation.
40HQ and flat-rack
Containers for members to 11.8 m; flat-racks for over-width columns and short trusses.
Break-bulk for mega members
Box columns and transfer girders up to 24 m and 60 t on multipurpose vessels into Jebel Ali.
Coating protected in transit
Edge protectors, rubber pads and steel dunnage to keep C5 coating systems intact for the voyage.
Packing rules, 40HQ loading plans and break-bulk limits are covered in our 40HQ container steel loading guide and on the quality, NDT and shipping page.
What we commonly supply for the UAE projects
UAE enquiries are mostly high-rise and commercial frames, logistics and free-zone industrial buildings, and aviation or architectural long-span roofs.
Column-free hangars and MRO halls around Dubai South and Al Maktoum.
Warehouses and light industrial buildings in free zones.
Members and systems most often ordered
- Complex Multi-Cavity Nodes: multi-cavity mega columns and cast-style welded nodes for towers
- Welded Box Columns & Beams: box columns in thick plate up to 100 mm
- Steel Trusses & Space Frames: pipe trusses and space frames for roofs, canopies and atria
- H-Beams & Plate Girders: plate girders and curved H-sections for architectural frames
Typical steel consumption
High-rise frames commonly run well above 95 kg/m², depending on height and lateral system. Warehouses use 32–45 kg/m². Indicative FOB price is USD 1,100–1,800/t, with complex nodes and heavy plate at the upper end.
Clear scope: what we deliver and where our responsibility ends
We are a supplier to UAE contractors, not a local contractor. We have no office in the UAE; our engineers support you from Guangdong and on site when needed.
FOB Shenzhen / Guangzhou
Steel delivered on board, export-cleared, with packing lists, loading plans and MTCs. You or your forwarder control freight and insurance.
CFR / CIF Jebel Ali
Freight and insurance to Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port. Customs clearance, free-zone documentation and delivery to site stay with your forwarder.
Supervision & installation
Erection supervisors for first lifts, node fit-up and survey checks. Erection is done by your UAE steel erector; we do not perform civil or site works.
- Tekla models shared for coordination with the consultant
- Coating and fire protection data sheets ready for authority approval
- Mega members shipped in erection sequence to suit tower crane capacity
- Dossier: MTCs 3.1, UT, DFT and dimensional reports
Heavy and complex projects delivered in China
Multi-cavity mega columns and outrigger trusses for a headquarters tower.
Zengcheng New World super high-rise: 7,000 t in Q420GJC thick plate.
36 m truss atrium for an aviation training center.
Questions UAE buyers ask
Send consultant drawings or a Tekla model; we return tonnage and FOB price within 24 hours for most packages.
Other markets we ship to
How long does shipping from China to Jebel Ali take?
Typically 15–17 days from Shenzhen and 16–18 days from Guangzhou, plus 25–40 days of fabrication after shop drawing approval. Complex nodes take 40–60 days.
Which coating system do you use for Dubai?
For coastal C5 sites we usually apply Sa2.5 blasting, epoxy zinc-rich primer, epoxy MIO and a polyurethane or polysiloxane topcoat at 280–360 µm DFT. Inland C4 sites can use thinner systems. Final selection follows the consultant’s specification.
Do you work to BS EN 1090?
We fabricate to the execution class specified, usually EXC2 or EXC3, with qualified welding procedures, 100% UT on CJP welds and full traceability. Please tell us if your project requires a CE-marked EN 1090 certificate so we can confirm scope at tender.
Can you supply fire-rated steel?
Yes. We can apply intumescent coatings in the factory or ship primed steel for site application by your fire contractor. Product data is supplied for Civil Defence approval.
Do you have an office in Dubai?
No. We supply from our bases in South China and support projects through our engineers and erection supervisors. Erection is carried out by your local contractor.
Send your drawings. Get a 24-hour BOM and FOB price.
DWG, IFC, Tekla or PDF. Engineering review by our Tekla team, from 50 t or 2,000 m².
