Saudi Arabia is one of the countries in the world where most of the regions are desert. 95 percent of this is barren. The biggest sandstone here is Rub al-Khali. The sand appears everywhere, yet Saudi Arabia imports sand from China and Australia. It may seem incredible, but the reason behind it is very interesting. Saudi Arabia is working on its Vision 2030, which aims to establish the future cities on the sand. The type of sand needed to realize this vision cannot meet the Saudi Desert. The question now is, what is there in the sand of Australia and China that is not available in the Saudi Desert? Why is the sand of Australia and China important to Saudi Arabia? Saudi sand is unique. The particles are very round and smooth. This is because desert winds have grouped particles in this form over years. It is better for concrete production. But when it comes to the construction of skyscrapers and urban areas, angular sand is needed. This type of sand is obtained from rivers, lakes and beaches. It is considered ideal to connect particles to each other and strengthen the construction. According to the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), about 50 billion tonnes of sand is used worldwide each year. Australia is the largest supplier, Australia is a leader in terms of high quality sand. According to OEC World, Australia exported sand worth $ 27.3 million in 2023. In 2023 alone, Saudi Arabia imported sand worth $ 1,40,000 from Australia. Reliable materials are needed here for construction. Saudi Arabia believes that it does not want to leave any stone unturned to achieve his goal. He considers large infrastructure projects needed to pursue the economy. This includes Saudi Arabia’s Neom and Red Sea projects. These projects need large amounts of concrete, but at the same time also need high quality sand, for which Saudi Arabia depends on other countries. Saudi Arabia is not alone. The Golf Countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, also import sand from other countries. The UNEP 2024 report states that the demand for high -quality sand is increasing due to rapid urban construction in the wavy countries. The report also warned that this growing need for sand is causing new problems. Raising the exploitation of sand to meet this question could pose a new threat to the environment. However, some countries are looking for options and the use of crushed stones in construction work. However, no concrete options have developed. This is why Golf Countries are currently asking sand from other countries for major building projects. Share this story -tags
-
-
-
-
