In 2024, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the world’s fifth-ranked producer of aluminum and sulfur, accounting for 3.7% of the world’s aluminum smelter output and 7.5% of the world’s sulfur production. Other mineral commodities produced in the country included alumina, cement, chromite, direct-reduced iron, lead, nitrogen (ammonia and urea), raw steel, steel products, and stone, sand and gravel. Production of mineral commodities including hydrocarbons contributed 22% to UAE’s gross domestic product. The country exported aluminum products to Germany, Japan and the United States in 2024.
Article 23 of the UAE Federal Constitution grants each Emirate ownership of and the ability to manage its mineral resources. The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure oversees the mineral sector and provides services including monitoring mineral industry activities and managing the country’s mineral policies. Most mineral commodities were produced by domestic and foreign private companies. In 2024, the UAE was the world’s leading exporter of sulfur, and the country exported 5.1 million metric tons (Mt) of sulfur to Morocco, 1.7 Mt to China, and 0.9 Mt to Indonesia. In 2024, UAE’s imports of bauxite from Guinea Alumina Corp. of Guinea decreased to 10.8 Mt from 14.1 Mt in 2023, owing to an export suspension imposed by Guinea’s Government in October.
