It is not the same as ordering office supplies when buying precast concrete columns in UAE. No one puts a 500×500 mm structural column onto a trailer and then arrives at your front door the following morning with the column in hand! It’s just a technical, structured procurement process — as soon as you grasp the process it’s actually efficient, not complicated.
This guide takes you through the UAE precast column market, who’s purchasing, and how you can be on site from structural drawings to columns.
This Section Involves Analyzing the UAE Precast Concrete Market
Before investing any money in a market, it is helpful to know what it’s about. Urbanisation, infrastructure development and the increased demand for sustainable building techniques are contributing to a UAE precast concrete market worth circa USD 2.2 billion.
The market is a well-serviced, mature one with many established manufacturers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and beyond. That’s the only way you will have both competition and choice — and that indicates that a supplier’s price per cubic meter shouldn’t be the only consideration.
In the UAE alone, the demand for columns and beams is equally strong, and one of the biggest product categories in the global precast market. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are leading the consumption, as large scale construction projects and government initiatives on urban developments and smart cities drive consumption.
Who is Buying Precast Columns in UAE?
Knowing what other individuals are also in this market will help you establish your own buying process sensibly. The largest volumes are bought by main contractors who often buy as part of structural packages for residential towers, commercial buildings, logistics warehouses and parking structures. Developers also purchase from larger projects that are fast tracked, typically through their contracted developer.
Whatever it is, there is always a structural consultant setting dimensions, grades and connection details that need to be met by the procurement. If the developer is purchasing directly, close cooperation with the structural engineer is a must for the developer. Contractors, the QA/QC team, the procurement manager and the project engineer all have to remain engaged – precast columns aren’t an off the shelf, one-off purchase.
The First Step is to Build Up Your Structure Drawings
Any reputable precast manufacturer in UAE will not give you a reasonable quote without drawing your attention to the drawings. This isn’t bureaucracy — a quote, no drawings, is a guess that’s got a price.
Prior to contacting suppliers, verify cross section of each column at all locations, concrete grade (usually C40 to C55 in UAE), column height from base to first floor and or from the base to the top of run, or if required corbel/connection plate, any special finish/architectural requirements, and provide a detailed column schedule per type and quantity.
Shop drawings convert design intent into manufacturing and installation instructions, and give detail of how every individual component is to be manufactured, lifted, and installed on site. Failure to do so introduces mismatches in dimensions, connection issues and expensive rework on site. When your structural drawings are finished, it’s time to contact the manufacturers.
Now, it’s Time to Find DM-Certified Manufacturers
This is a requirement for any Dubai project. It is still the best quality indicator outside Dubai.
Request the current Certificate of Conformity from all suppliers you contact – this is a requirement of Dubai Municipality’s Administrative Decision No. 316 of 2012 for all precast concrete factories before they are allowed to sell precast concrete for use in regulated construction projects. If it isn’t immediately readily available, a manufacturer is not to be trusted.
UAE Contractors and Suppliers Directory is a helpful tool to find trusted precast suppliers in the UAE. Some of the UAE’s largest precast companies include Hard Precast Building Systems (HPBS), Gulf Precast, Dubai Precast, Abu Dhabi Precast, Exeed Precast and BPC Group, all of which feature structural columns in their product portfolio.
Step Three: Proper Request for Quotation is Being Sent
The RFQ for precast columns must have a lot more content than a casual request. Broad requests and broad quotes are time wasting and unhelpful in comparison.
A good RFQ begins with a concise introduction to the project and company, followed by a clear specification of technical and commercial requirements that can be used to compare bids. Enter your project name and address, drawing reference numbers and dates of revisions, a complete column schedule (type, quantity, cross section, height, concrete grade, corbel requirements), delivery date and construction program, site access (crane availability, road access, height restrictions), and supply only, or supply-and-erection.
Routinely RFQ three different manufacturers that are certified with DM to obtain a true apples-to-apples set of responses. Don’t compare on price only, lead time, technical engagement and quality of engineering support all play a part in that comparison.
The Next Step is to See the Technical Proposal and Shop Drawings
After responses are returned, price is just one of the factors, and not the entire evaluation. A supplier that offers a true technical proposal with their quote has actually worked with your drawings, and not just run a number. Check that they are able to supply the concrete grades that your project requires — not all manufacturers are at ease in the range C50-C55.
Submit in advance for approval. Precast elements have longer lead time than many other materials, so submittals must go through the review and approval process several months prior to the construction program to ensure that they do not delay the project.
Inquire directly regarding the process of the shop drawing. A quality supplier provides your structural engineer with column shop drawings to review and approve prior to any manufacturing, thus ensuring that your dimensional or connection problems are identified prior to material production and costly onsite problems. If a supplier wants to begin production without the shop drawings being approved, then that is a reason not to remain.
Understanding Pricing Factors
Precast column pricing in the UAE is influenced by a number of interconnected parameters. One of the largest is concrete grade which is based on the amount of cement and admixture in the concrete, which in turn is directly related to the cost. The size of the cross section, the height of the column and the special finishes, corbels or cast in plates increase the volume of the material and the complexity of the mold, and they increase the time and cost of the fabrication. The distance from the factory to the site is also important, especially if the project is located outside of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Prices for standard precast products in the GCC region are generally in the range of USD 240 to USD 300 per cubic meter and higher precast structural elements will cost well over USD 500 per cubic meter.
Request suppliers to provide a breakdown of quotes that separates material, fabrication, transport and erection costs. Without a bundle number, it is not possible to make any meaningful comparisons.
Step Five: Validate Lead Time and Delivery Logistics
Typically, lead time for precast columns in UAE is several weeks from approved shop drawings to first delivery, depending on the complexity of the column and workload for the precaster. For fast-tracked projects some suppliers can speed up production, typically with an early involvement at an additional cost.
Logistics for delivery is a serious matter. The columns are heavy and are usually long and can only be transported by specialists. Check with your site that you can accommodate a crane that will be able to handle the load with a manageable sweep radius, and have your supplier answer questions about the vehicle type, the weight per delivery trip, any special handling problems for your type of columns and the likely frequency of deliveries against your erecting schedule. Logistics is a supplier’s reliability, as much as their manufacturing quality.
Step 6: Plan for the Erection Approach
When you place your order, determine if you want the columns as supply only or supply and erection. The options are available from most of the main UAE manufacturers – it will depend on the project and your contracting teams experience.
Supply-and-erection contracts bring the manufacturer’s erection crew, tools, and connection expertise to the job, minimizing technical risk on projects that require precision, such as column-to-column splicing, grouted pocket foundations or moment-resisting connections, where the precision required is more significant than what a general civil erection crew may be able to provide.
Supply-only works best if you already have experience in erecting precast, your structural engineer is able to supervise closely, and the connection used for the column is relatively simple. Regardless of the way you go, make sure that your contract includes erection methodology statements, temporary propping calculations and on-site technical support at least for your initial lift.
Final Thoughts on Precast Concrete Columns UAE
The process of purchasing precast concrete columns in UAE is structured but not complicated when you know the steps. The market is well established and it’s a competitive market because of the continuous urbanisation and infrastructure development in both countries, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Start with complete structural drawings. Use only DM approved manufacturers. E-mail a technically detailed RFQ to 3+ suppliers. Suggest that shop drawing be reviewed prior to production. Schedule for delivery and erection from the outset. If those steps are followed, your structural columns will be delivered to site correctly sized, engineered and ready to stand without a single cubic metre of formwork to be seen.