Commodity prices
Commodity markets in focus
UAE commodity prices
Cost pressure remains uneven
Since January, average concrete prices have risen 10%, steel reinforcement 8% and cement 16%. Diesel has been more volatile, rising sharply in April before falling back and increasing again in August.
The latest picture is more mixed. Concrete and cement were stable or slightly lower in August, while steel reinforcement and diesel increased. Cost pressure remains, but it is not being felt evenly across materials.
We track pricing regularly across UAE suppliers. Figures shown are average prices on 31 August 2026, in AED.
Concrete (C45) per m³
Steel reinforcement per ton
Cement per bag
Diesel fuel per litre
Short-term changes in energy, shipping and material costs can increase construction costs without signalling a longer-term inflation trend.
Global commodity prices
Energy and metals lead price increases
Geopolitical uncertainty continues to add volatility to global commodity markets. Energy and metals have seen some of the strongest increases, with oil, aluminium, copper and other key metals rising sharply. Other raw materials have been more stable, showing that cost pressure is not being felt evenly.
For construction, the greatest pressure is likely to be felt in energy- and metal-intensive packages.