Manufacturing

Expansion strategies: a look at the Ducab Metals Business

Dignitaries from Ducab and other companies. (Image source: DMB)

Sania Aziz interviews Ducab Group CEO, along with the CEO of DMB. Read on:

Ducab Metals Business (DMB) has doubled its aluminium production capacity to 110,000tpa and increased its bare copper capacity to meet growing global demand. The company made the announcement on 5 September at 'Ducab Metals Business Expansion Forum: Advancing Capacity, Driving Innovation,' held in partnership with Middle East Economic Digest (MEED).

During the event, Technical Review Middle East caught up with Ducab Group CEO Mohammed Almutawa and DMB CEO Mohamed Al Ahmedi. “We are positioned in the value chain directly after the mine and the smelter. When we look downstream, we saw a big industry. So imagine the potential and the opportunities that we are seeing,” said Al Ahmedi, referring to the various sectors Ducab already caters to. These include construction, energy, cabling, automotive, healthcare, transportations, transformers, and others. “When embedded within our ecosystem, these industries can give us stability and sustainability. So that we can diversify when one of the industries slows down.”

Adding to the conversation, Almutawa said that Ducab has succeeded in using its existing products - cables - as a gateway drug for the rest of the industry. This means that the company has been able to provide. “We need cables for energising operations. This allowed us to learn about all the different sectors and then we found our alignment place. Today, I would never have imagined myself sitting down with the pharmaceutical industry. But now we are supplying specific products that will enhance their processes.”

One challenge for Almutawa has been the EV sector. He said that, due to the current infrastructure, it has been difficult for Ducab to service the industry. “We have had the hardest time servicing the EV market sector. Why is this? When we look at EV chargers, the cabling required for them compared to the cabling required for the demand of UAE for ten years is just a two week production.” This means that Ducab has had to foray into other markets. According to DMB, about 90% of its product is exported from the UAE. But at the same time, DMB is keen on contributing to the circular economy. “We do not go outside unless we satisfy the market,” said Almutawa, adding that DMB’s products only go global when the UAE’s expectations are met.

Read the full interview in the latest issue of Technical Review Middle East.

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Alba CEO highlights market trends in the aluminium industry

Alba’s CEO Ali Al Baqali was a featured speaker at the CEO Panel. (Image source: Alba)

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba)’s CEO, Ali Al Baqali, was a featured speaker at the CEO Panel titled Industry Insights from Aluminium Primary Producers during the Fastmarkets International Aluminium Conference 2024, held from 10-12 September in Athens, Greece.

Joining senior executives from Hongqiao Group and Century Aluminium, Al Baqali addressed key issues facing the aluminium industry, including the rising costs of smelters, the increasing demand for value-added products, the implications of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), carbon emissions reduction, and supply chain sustainability.

He also discussed the broader challenges and future outlook for the industry.

Al Baqali further highlighted market trends in the Middle East and North Africa, introduced Alba’s EternAlTM low-carbon aluminium product line, and spoke on Bahrain’s government initiatives toward achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2060.

During his time in Athens, Al Baqali also visited Elval, one of Alba’s clients, to explore their production processes, sustainability efforts, and discuss potential market dynamics and future collaboration opportunities.

Emirates Steel Arkan rebrands as EMSTEEL

The rebranding was officially presented at a high-profile event in Abu Dhabi, attended by prominent officials, over 400 clients, partners, and employees. (Image source: EMSTEEL)

Emirates Steel Arkan, the UAE’s largest listed company in the steel and building materials sector, has unveiled a new identity as EMSTEEL, reflecting its ambitions for accelerated transformation and enhanced global reach.

The rebranding was officially presented at a high-profile event in Abu Dhabi, attended by prominent officials, over 400 clients, partners, and employees.

This new identity marks the successful integration of Emirates Steel and Arkan Building Materials, a merger finalised in late 2021. The union has created the UAE’s foremost steel and construction materials company, with an estimated value of US$3.5bn (AED 13 billion). The merger positions EMSTEEL for significant expansion both locally and internationally.

Green steel production

Operating under the EMSTEEL banner, the company is divided into two key sectors: Emirates Steel and Emirates Cement. Emirates Cement oversees brands such as Al Ain Cement Factory, Emirates Blocks Factories, ANABEEB, and Arkan Bags. These divisions form the backbone of EMSTEEL's operations, ensuring the delivery of top-tier products to meet the growing demands of both domestic and global markets in the construction and manufacturing sectors. The group’s structure is flexible, designed to accommodate new business lines and expansions into fresh markets.

At the core of EMSTEEL’s strategy are innovation and sustainability. The group is investing in advanced technologies and clean energy initiatives, driving the development of cutting-edge solutions that focus on safety, quality, and efficiency. Producing low-carbon products remains a central objective as the company works towards offering environmentally sustainable solutions.

EMSTEEL controls 11% of Abu Dhabi’s manufacturing output and holds a 60% share of the UAE’s steel market. As a key player in supporting the UAE’s "Operation 300bn" industrial strategy, the company is also championing digital transformation across the sector. This is exemplified by its receipt of five prestigious "UAE Industry 4.0 Digital Leader" awards from the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT).

Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group Chief Executive Officer of EMSTEEL, said, “Today’s unveiling of our new brand identity marks a milestone in our evolution, as the group forges ahead to support its customers and add value to its shareholders with a unified vision. Our EMSTEEL brand carries us forward into a future full of opportunities for expansion, business growth and digital transformation. It represents our commitment to creating products, services and solutions to build a better world, in addition to driving global sustainability efforts in our sector through promoting a low-carbon supply chain in collaboration with our partners.

He added, “The company is committed to reducing carbon emissions in alignment with the UAE's Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, where the use of clean energy in our operations is at 80%. EMSTEEL is a global leader in low-carbon steel production and the first steelmaker in the world to capture its CO₂ emissions, enabling us to operate with 45% less carbon than our peers.”

Ducab increases its aluminium capacity

The capacity has increased from 55,000tpa to 110,000tpa. (Image source: DMB)

Ducab Metals Business (DMB), part of the Ducab Group, has announced a major expansion, doubling its annual aluminium production capacity from 55,000tpa to 110,000tpa, and increasing its bare copper output to meet growing global demand.

This move strengthens DMB’s competitive edge in the international metals sector while contributing to the UAE’s Operation 300bn strategy, which aims to boost industrial growth and enhance the nation’s role as a leader in advanced manufacturing.

Sustainability options

The expansion was unveiled at the ‘Ducab Metals Business Expansion Forum: Advancing Capacity, Driving Innovation,’ held in collaboration with Middle East Economic Digest (MEED).

The forum brought together leading industry, government, and academic figures to discuss the future of the UAE’s industrial development and explore key strategies for achieving the objectives of Operation 300bn. The event also highlighted DMB’s progress in innovation and sustainability, including its groundbreaking work in green aluminium production.

Among the prominent attendees were Ducab Group CEO Mohammed Almutawa, DMB CEO Mohamed Al Ahmedi, and key representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi - KEZAD Group, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.

Mohammad Almutawa, CEO of Ducab Group, said, "At Ducab, we are committed to boosting our industrial and production capacities through strategic, forward-looking investments that are perfectly aligned with Operation 300bn. This expansion enhances our ability to meet international demand, elevates the 'Made in the Emirates' brand, and boosts our global competitiveness, all while supporting sustainable business growth and strengthening industrial resilience. These efforts further establish the UAE as a leading hub for future industries and attract greater global investments."

Mohamed Al Ahmedi, CEO of DMB, said, "Doubling our aluminium production and expanding our copper capabilities reflects our dedication to strengthening the UAE's industrial sector. This move secures our leadership in metal manufacturing, drives innovation, and reinforces our status as a major global producer. By adopting advanced, sustainable technologies and pioneering new industrial solutions, we continue to lead in industrial and technological advancement."

This recent enlargement of DMB's facilities at KEZAD Group, which increased the total space by 51,015 sqm, along with the strategic acquisition of GIC Magnet—a leading global supplier of paper-insulated aluminum strips—underscores DMB’s role as a key manufacturing hub. This development enables DMB to better serve industries such as healthcare, automotive, and packaging, thereby broadening its product range and expanding its global footprint.