Steel fabrication cost UAE: 2026 rate card and drivers
In 2026 the steel fabrication cost UAE clients should budget for runs from AED 6.50 per kg for mild structural steel supplied, fabricated, blasted and primed, up to AED 38 per kg for stainless. The number moves with drawing complexity, tonnage, coating spec and how the steel reaches site.
Why work with APEX STEEL WORKS L.L.C
- Google rating 5.0 from 32 reviews
- In-house mild steel, stainless steel, GI welding and lathe work
- Workshop fabrication delivered across all seven emirates
- Fixed price quotes issued from approved drawings
- Direct WhatsApp and phone line on +971 52 270 9796
What steel fabrication cost actually covers in the UAE
Shop cost covers cut, drill, cope, fit up, weld, blast, prime, NDT, mark, pack and load out. It stops when the truck leaves the workshop. Erection, cranes and site welding sit in separate line items, and blending the two is how quote comparisons go wrong.
Raw material is usually the largest single line. Fabrication, meaning the labour and machine time that turns plate and sections into a deliverable, varies most between workshops. Our steel fabrication services run from one workshop, so cutting, welding, lathe work and galvanising coordination are not subcontracted and marked up twice.
Approvals shape the front end. In Dubai, DET structural submissions need stamped shop drawings, written welding procedures and valid welder certificates before anything reaches the shop floor. Abu Dhabi projects follow the same route through ADM and DDA, with consultant review added on load bearing members.
2026 indicative AED rate card
Rates below are supply and fabricate, blast and primer included, delivered to site in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah. VAT, erection and third party testing are separate. For the material side of the equation, see structural steel price per ton in UAE.
Mild and structural steel
AED 6.50 to 9.50 per kg, or AED 6,500 to 9,500 per tonne, for S275 and S355 sections and plate with standard bolted connections. Client supplied material drops fabrication only to AED 3.00 to 5.00 per kg.
Galvanised steel
AED 9.50 to 13.00 per kg, or AED 9,500 to 13,000 per tonne. Hot dip galvanising adds roughly AED 1,450 to 1,900 per tonne over the mild steel base, covering pickling, dipping and thread cleaning.
Stainless steel
AED 22 to 38 per kg, or AED 22,000 to 38,000 per tonne. Grade 304 sits low, 316 high. Hairline and mirror finishes with tight tolerances push past AED 40 per kg.
Aluminium
AED 18 to 30 per kg, or AED 18,000 to 30,000 per tonne, for fabricated sections and sheet. Aluminium anodising and powder coating are quoted separately.
| Family | Per kg AED | Per tonne AED | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild structural | 6.50 to 9.50 | 6,500 to 9,500 | Warehouse frames, mezzanines, skids |
| Galvanised | 9.50 to 13.00 | 9,500 to 13,000 | External platforms, canopies, stairs |
| Stainless 304/316 | 22 to 38 | 22,000 to 38,000 | Kitchens, handrails, cladding |
| Aluminium | 18 to 30 | 18,000 to 30,000 | Facades, partitions, louvres |
What drives your quote up or down
Drawing and connection complexity
Sixty identical beams price at the bottom of the range. A one off frame with 200 unique plates, full penetration welds and tight tolerances prices at the top, because the shop spends nearly as long reading drawings as welding.
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Tonnage and repetition
Volume cuts the rate. Above 20 tonnes, mild steel commonly lands at AED 6.80 to 7.80 per kg because setup spreads over more steel. Anything under one tonne carries a minimum charge of AED 1,500 to AED 3,500.
Coating spec: hot dip versus paint
A 60 micron shop primer is the cheapest option and only a transport coat. Epoxy or polyurethane systems cost AED 450 to 900 per tonne. Hot dip galvanising at AED 1,450 to 1,900 per tonne is the durable answer for anything external in coastal areas such as Jebel Ali or Mussafah.
Site access and lifting
Loads into Al Quoz, Deira or central Abu Dhabi need permits, night movements and sometimes shorter trailers. Beams over 12 metres into a tight site add AED 250 to 600 per tonne in haulage and crane waiting time.
Third party NDT and approvals
Visual inspection sits inside most rates. Ultrasonic or magnetic particle testing on full penetration welds is charged per metre or as a lump sum, commonly AED 1,800 to AED 6,000 on a mid sized frame. TUV, BV or SGS attendance for DET and ADM submissions sits in the same line.
They are very professional, knowledgeable, and pay attention to even the smallest details. alhaf malik, 5 stars
Fabrication cost versus erection cost
Erection in the UAE runs AED 850 to AED 1,300 per tonne for straightforward portal frames, and more inside live buildings. Split the budget into supply and fabricate, coating, delivery, then erection, so two quotes compare on the same basis.
A 40 tonne warehouse portal frame in Dubai Industrial City breaks down like this.
- Material: 40 tonnes at AED 2,450 = AED 98,000
- Fabrication: 40 tonnes at AED 3,600 = AED 144,000
- Blast and shop primer: 40 tonnes at AED 650 = AED 26,000
- Hot dip galvanising: 40 tonnes at AED 1,450 = AED 58,000
- Delivery and load out: AED 9,000
- Shop drawings, connections and TUV inspection: AED 14,000
Subtotal: AED 349,000, or AED 8.73 per kg before VAT. Erection with a 50 tonne crane adds about AED 42,000, taking the erected package to AED 391,000 or AED 9.78 per kg. Drop the galvanising on an internal frame and the same package falls to AED 291,000, which is AED 7.28 per kg. One coating decision is a AED 58,000 lever.
How to compare two fabrication quotes line by line
Work through this sequence before you sign.
- Confirm whether raw steel is included or client supplied, and which mill certificates you will receive.
- Ask for the per kg rate and the exact tonnage it applies to, including plates, stiffeners and base plates.
- Separate coating: shop primer, epoxy system or hot dip galvanising, with micron thickness stated.
- Fix the NDT scope and who pays for third party inspection.
- Confirm the delivery point, offloading responsibility and any permit costs.
- List the exclusions: erection, crane hire, grouting, site welding, fireproofing, VAT.
Excellent service and very good work. The quality was great, and the price was one of the best I found. Romosh Al Eyoun, 5 stars
A quote at AED 6.20 per kg that excludes galvanising is more expensive than one at AED 7.80 per kg that includes it. Compare totals, not headlines.
Lead times and how they feed cost
A 5 tonne architectural package takes 2 to 3 weeks from approved shop drawings. A 40 tonne portal frame runs 6 to 8 weeks including galvanising and third party inspection. DET or ADM drawing approval adds 7 to 14 working days before cutting starts.
Rush work carries a premium because a shop has to push other jobs aside. Galvanising turnaround alone is 5 to 10 working days in most UAE plants. If your programme is compressed, releasing material early and accepting phased delivery is usually cheaper than buying overtime.
steel fabrication cost UAE line item" loading="lazy" decoding="async" /> Specialist metal ceilings and canopies are quoted per square metre plus fabrication.
For more on execution classes, coatings and inspection, our steel fabrication guides walk through the workflow in detail.
Red flags in a below market quote
A rate far under the ranges above usually means something has been left out or under measured.
- Per kg priced on member weight only, ignoring plates, gussets and stiffeners that can add 8 to 15 percent to tonnage
- No mention of welding procedures, welder certificates or BS EN 1090 execution class
- Shop primer offered on an external structure in a coastal emirate
- Third party inspection excluded with a note that the main contractor will arrange it later
- No exclusions page and no drawing reference on the offer
Send your drawings and tonnage list to +971 52 270 9796 on WhatsApp, or request a fabrication quote and we will return a fixed price per kg with every inclusion and exclusion written down.
Frequently asked questions
How much does steel fabrication cost per kg in the UAE in 2026?
Mild structural steel supplied, fabricated and primed runs AED 6.50 to AED 9.50 per kg, or AED 6,500 to AED 9,500 per tonne. Stainless is AED 22 to AED 38 per kg and aluminium AED 18 to AED 30 per kg. Fabrication only, with you supplying the steel, is about AED 3.00 to AED 5.00 per kg for mild steel.
Is steel fabrication cheaper in Sharjah than in Dubai or Abu Dhabi?
Shop labour rates are close across the emirates, so the gap comes from transport and approvals. A frame fabricated in Sharjah Industrial Area and delivered into Dubai adds roughly AED 150 to AED 350 per tonne in haulage. Long loads into central Abu Dhabi need permits and night movement.
Does the per kg rate include the steel material?
Not always, and this is the most common confusion in UAE quotes. Some shops quote fabrication only and expect you to buy the sections. Most full packages bundle material and fabrication into one supply and fabricate rate. In the 40 tonne example above, raw steel was AED 98,000, about 28 percent of the package.
How long does steel fabrication take in the UAE?
A 5 tonne architectural package takes 2 to 3 weeks from approved shop drawings. A 40 tonne portal frame takes 6 to 8 weeks including hot dip galvanising and third party inspection. DET or ADM drawing approval adds 7 to 14 working days before cutting starts.
Do I need third party inspection for structural steel in the UAE?
For load bearing and public projects, yes. TUV, BV or SGS check welding procedures, welder certificates, weld quality and coating thickness against the execution class. Work is normally specified to BS EN 1090 class EXC2 or EXC3, with ESMA recognised certification expected from the shop.
What is usually excluded from a steel fabrication quote in the UAE?
Erection, crane hire, site welding, grouting, permits and VAT are normally excluded. Coating beyond a shop primer, fireproofing and on site touch up are separate too. Ask for the exclusions page in writing before comparing totals.
