The facility has been designed to supply large-diameter PHC piles for infrastructure and foundation work across the Gulf Cooperation Council region and beyond. With annual port revenues expected to exceed AED 20 million once the plant is fully operational, the venture aligns with Ras Al Khaimah’s broader strategy to deepen its manufacturing and export capabilities.
Under the partnership, RAK Ports will leverage its greenfield deep-water port expansion at Saqr 2.0 to integrate logistics, raw material sourcing and export operations. The site benefits from proximity to quarry, cement and concrete assets in the emirate, allowing access to up to one million tonnes of raw materials annually. Jianhua will bring advanced Chinese manufacturing technology and low-carbon building-material solutions, while PHC Technologies will manage operational and production oversight, setting regional benchmarks for precast construction components.
The agreement builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in September 2024 between the Ras Al Khaimah government and Guangdong province to enhance industrial, trade and education collaboration, signifying China’s deeper industrial footprint in the United Arab Emirates. The ceremony was overseen by Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, who said the project strengthens the robust partnership and cooperation between Ras Al Khaimah and Chinese provinces and cities.
The deployment of PHC piles—which were first developed in Japan in the 1960s but have now become a standard for modern infrastructure—offers enhanced load-bearing capacity, higher quality control through factory precasting and faster installation on site. These attributes respond to the rising demand for sustainable, resilient infrastructure in the Gulf region, as nations accelerate port, logistics, energy and urban-development projects.
For RAK Ports, the plant complements the Saqr 2.0 port development, which features deep-water berths, quay-side logistics corridors and direct access to distribution networks. CEO Roy Cummins stated the collaboration “comes at a pivotal time” for the emirate’s industrial expansion and reaffirms the integrated ecosystem being built for the precast and building-materials industry.
From the Chinese side, Chairman Wang Guihua said the venture will serve as their core manufacturing hub for the Middle East, introducing advanced technologies and green-building-material systems to the UAE market. PHC Technologies’ Managing Director Nader Alizadeh commented that the factory “will set a new standard for regional precast manufacturing.”
Market analysts note that the construction materials segment in the Gulf is shifting towards higher-performance, lower-carbon products, and this plant positions Ras Al Khaimah to capitalise on the trend. With the region’s infrastructure spend expanding and supply-chain pressures mounting, local manufacturing of PHC elements reduces dependency on imports and shortens delivery cycles for major projects.
Topics
Live News