Geology of the UAE: The Rock Resources of the UAE
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has vast resources of limestone and hard rock in the northern Emirates.
These are currently exploited by quarrying companies to produce construction aggregate and raw material for manufacture of cement, with a small amount being used to produce rock wool, dimension stone and mineral filler.
The demand by industry in the UAE for higher value mineral products is currently met by imports but could be met by production from local rock resources.
High Purity Limestone Resources
Limestone and dolomite have many high value industrial applications including the manufacture of paint, paper, plastic, pharmaceuticals, glass, ceramics, food-supplements, and chemicals.
Currently, the limestones and dolomite resources of the UAE are mainly worked to produce low value construction aggregate, with little production of high-purity products.