🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates imports of sand: 2024 trade data
In 2024, the United Arab Emirates imported sand worth $32.0 million (737.8 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. Value fell 48% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 13% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2018, at $78.6 million.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Imports of sand by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $32.0M | 737.8K t |
| 2023 | $61.4M | 5.18M t |
| 2022 | $51.6M | 3.34M t |
| 2021 | $56.6M | 3.83M t |
| 2020 | $53.8M | 4.36M t |
| 2019 | $63.4M | 5.57M t |
| 2018 | $78.6M | 5.24M t |
| 2017 | $13.7M | 3.05M t |
Where the United Arab Emirates imports sand from
One supplier dominates: Saudi Arabia accounted for 90% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | $28.9M | 90% |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | $1.3M | 4.1% |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | $344K | 1.1% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $335K | 1.1% |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | $229K | 0.7% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $225K | 0.7% |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | $163K | 0.5% |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | $136K | 0.4% |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $69K | 0.2% |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $59K | 0.2% |
Types of sand under HS 2505
| 2505.10 | Sands: natural, silica and quartz sands, whether or not coloured | 99% |
| 2505.90 | Sands: natural, (other than silica and quartz sands), whether or not coloured, (other than metal-bearing sands of chapter 26) | 1.3% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 2505.
Average import price of sand
The average declared value was about $0.04 per kg, 100% above the world average of $0.02. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
The United Arab Emirates also exports sand
Exports of sand by the United Arab Emirates reached $6.7 million in 2024 (593.5 thousand tonnes). Bahrain alone took 62% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Qatar grew fastest (+102% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | $4.2M | 63% |
| 🇲🇻 Maldives | $942K | 14% |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | $444K | 6.7% |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | $356K | 5.4% |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | $259K | 3.9% |
| 🇰🇼 Kuwait | $130K | 2% |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | $44K | 0.7% |
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | $38K | 0.6% |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | $37K | 0.6% |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | $36K | 0.5% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Arab Emirates?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 2505: Sands of all kinds; natural, whether or not coloured, other than metal-bearing sands of chapter 26.
Sand trade in the United Arab Emirates: questions
What is the value of sand imported by the United Arab Emirates?
The United Arab Emirates imported sand worth $32.0 million in 2024 (737.8 thousand tonnes).
Where does the United Arab Emirates import sand from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were Saudi Arabia (90%), Belgium (4%), Pakistan (1%).
What is the average import price of sand in the United Arab Emirates?
The average declared import value was about $0.04 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $0.02 per kg.
Does the United Arab Emirates export sand?
Yes. The United Arab Emirates exported sand worth $6.7 million in 2024, mainly to Bahrain, Maldives, Saudi Arabia.
What is the HS code for sand?
Sand falls under HS heading 2505 (Sands of all kinds; natural, whether or not coloured, other than metal-bearing sands of chapter 26). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading sand with the United Arab Emirates?
These public statistics stop at country level. EximDataX builds the United Arab Emirates trade from the records of its trading partners, updated weekly, so you can see who ships this product there.
Sand trade in other countries
More trade data for the United Arab Emirates
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