Saudi Arabia Fiber Cement Board Market Overview, 2030

The fiber cement board market in Saudi Arabia developed rapidly due to shifting construction priorities and rising demand for non-combustible and moisture-resistant materials in cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, especially across commercial, healthcare, and educational projects. Adoption was strongly linked to the goals of Vision 2030, which emphasized prefabrication, modular housing, and fire safety in large-scale infrastructure programs. The material became common in external façades, wet area linings, interior partitions, and prefab worker accommodations, especially in industrial cities such as Jubail and Yanbu. This initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 sustainable infrastructure goals. Landmark projects like NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea Project used fiber cement boards in temporary site offices, low-rise housing, and modular units, given their resistance to heat and fire. Builders across Mecca, Medina, and coastal provinces favored the material in mosques, airports, and housing developments due to its durability in dusty, humid, and high-temperature zones. Suppliers positioned fiber cement as a premium upgrade over gypsum boards and wood-based panels, with added appeal in social housing, military camps, and education campuses. Architects recommended it for rainscreens, ventilated façades, and curtain walls to improve energy performance. The material complies with the Saudi Building Code (SBC), meeting local standards for fire safety, thermal insulation, and acoustic performance, and is widely perceived as a cost-efficient, durable, and sustainable option for evolving construction needs in line with national development priorities. Material adoption is growing in energy-efficient housing and thermal-insulated buildings, driven by mandates from the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and Ministry of Energy. The oil and gas sector also uses these boards in refineries, in compliance with Saudi Aramco’s SAES codes and SABIC material standards. Certified subcontractors install most panels in high-rise and institutional buildings, while market demand remains concentrated in Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and Western megacities, shaped by national project rollouts and logistics infrastructure.

According to the research report, ""Saudi Arabia Fiber Cement Board Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the Saudi Arabia Fiber Cement Board market is anticipated to add to more than USD 90 Million by 2025–30. Saudi Arabia’s fiber cement board market depends entirely on imports, with major brands including Everest Industries, SCG Smartboard, Shera, and Etex Group, supplied through distributors based in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Shipments enter the country primarily through Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port (Dammam), and King Abdullah Port, and no major local manufacturing facilities exist for these products. In January 2025, Masheed and SESCO Trading partnered to build a cement grinding station in Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON). The station, producing 2 million tons of cement alternatives annually, aims to reduce carbon emissions by 50%, creating over 500 jobs and supporting Vision 2030 goals. Boards are distributed by firms such as Zamil Industrial, AlJazira, Almuhaidib, and various regional depots, often under public tenders. Mada Gypsum Company introduced its ASTM C-1186 compliant fiber cement boards in Saudi Arabia. The product enhanced construction flexibility and durability, designed for both interior and exterior use, strengthening the market with fire-resistant and moisture-proof building solutions. In January 2025, ClimateCrete, as part of the NovusCrete Consortium launched by Saudi Arabia’s Oil Sustainability Program, advanced fiber cement innovation by integrating GFRP rebars and recycled inputs into concrete production. The company positioned itself as a leader in sustainable building materials, reinforcing its role in driving low-emission, fiber-reinforced construction solutions across the Saudi market.

In Saudi Arabia, the use of high-density fiber cement boards is the most dominant due to their resistance to fire, moisture, and mechanical stress, which aligns with safety codes for public buildings and infrastructure in urban centers like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. These boards are extensively used in external wall cladding, rainscreen systems, and fire-rated partitions across commercial complexes, airports, government buildings, and transport terminals. Their strength and non-combustibility make them essential in high-traffic areas, especially in seismic-prone or wind-exposed projects like NEOM or The Line. High-density boards are often integrated into ventilated façade systems with textured or colored finishes for visual appeal and solar deflection. Medium-density boards are commonly used in ceilings and internal partitions of hotels, shopping malls, residential towers, and public schools under programs like Vision 2030’s housing drive. These panels offer a balance of strength, weight, and cost, making them suitable for fast-track construction, especially in arid interior zones where low humidity minimizes water exposure. Low-density fiber cement boards serve temporary applications like site offices, container housing, festival kiosks, and demountable pavilions in Hajj infrastructure or labor camps. Their lower transport weight is a key advantage in desert logistics, although limited impact and water resistance make them less ideal for long-term use. Product selection by density strongly depends on building classification, project location, and environmental stress factors. Government specifications in public works projects tend to mandate medium or high-density variants due to their fire and structural certifications under GCC standards. Developers in hospitality, education, and modular construction frequently specify density type based on durability needs and installation speed, especially in regions like Mecca, Medina, and the Eastern Province where large-scale construction continues year-round in extreme heat and dust-prone conditions.

Saudi Arabia’s fiber cement board market heavily relies on Portland cement as the primary raw material, with widespread availability of OPC 42.5-grade cement from domestic manufacturers such as Saudi Cement and Yamama Cement. This ensures structural strength, thermal durability, and compliance with fire-resistance requirements across large-scale commercial and residential developments. Silica is mainly sourced from high-purity desert sand or quartz sand deposits in the Eastern Province, supporting the board’s density, texture, and surface strength. These properties are vital in the Kingdom’s climate, where extreme temperatures and sand abrasion challenge building materials. Cellulosic fibers, largely imported from Europe or Southeast Asia, provide flexibility and prevent cracking during curing in dry environments. They play a crucial role in the performance of medium- and low-density boards used in modular and prefabricated construction for labor camps and remote infrastructure. Due to a national push for green building, especially under Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative, manufacturers increasingly use sustainable pulp sources or agricultural waste fibers to qualify for LEED or local SEEC incentives. Additives like fly ash, pozzolans, polymers, and pigments are used to improve the boards’ thermal performance, surface finish, and moisture resistance, especially for applications in coastal areas like Jazan or Yanbu. Boards with hydrophobic agents and UV-resistant coatings are in demand for solar housing pilots and BIPV-integrated projects in NEOM and Red Sea developments. While most raw materials are locally sourced or imported duty-free under GCC agreements, logistical costs and temperature control during curing remain key considerations. The selection and blend of raw materials in Saudi Arabia are aligned with climate durability, regulatory compliance, and the government’s push for industrial localization and sustainable building systems under mega-project development guidelines.

In Saudi Arabia, fiber cement boards are used across a wide range of applications, with the largest share held by external wall cladding and paneling in government, commercial, and high-rise residential projects. These include installations in public schools, mosques, hospitals, and municipal buildings in Riyadh and Jeddah, where high-density boards meet local fire safety and thermal insulation codes. Wall cladding solutions are also used in mega-projects like NEOM and the Red Sea Development for their low maintenance and heat resistance in extreme climates. Prefabricated shelters and modular housing applications are growing rapidly due to rising demand in pilgrimage infrastructure, temporary accommodations for Hajj and Umrah seasons, and workforce housing in industrial zones like Jubail and Yanbu. These structures use medium- and low-density boards for ceilings, internal walls, and roof panels due to their easy transport and rapid assembly. Furniture-grade applications of fiber cement are found in utility cabinetry and partitions in public clinics, student housing, and food preparation zones, particularly in areas where termite control and fire safety are crucial. In flooring, boards serve as underlayment for vinyl, tile, or laminate finishes in modular homes and prefab classrooms. They are also used in raised access floors for control rooms, telecom hubs, and server facilities. Other applications include fire-safe duct enclosures, shaft linings, telecom shelters, toll booths, and solar panel housing especially in coastal and desert-facing industrial areas where fire resistance and low maintenance are mandatory. With the Saudi government’s focus on green construction and Vision 2030 goals, fiber cement boards are increasingly preferred in applications where durability, thermal efficiency, and speed of construction are required. Installations in retrofitting, solar infrastructure, and energy-efficient shelters are also gaining ground, supported by subsidies and environmental certifications that promote long-lasting and weather-tolerant building materials.

Residential construction in Saudi Arabia leads fiber cement board demand, especially in mid-income and social housing segments supported by the Sakani Program and Vision 2030’s housing targets. Boards are installed in bathrooms, kitchens, ceilings, and external cladding of apartment complexes, villas, and modular homes in Riyadh, Dammam, and Medina. High-density variants are used for fire-rated walls and heat-resistant facades in arid zones, while medium-density panels are common in low-rise housing and prefab solutions for growing urban populations. Modular container homes and low-income housing projects in desert regions rely on fiber cement boards for fast installation and long-term durability. In commercial buildings, the material is adopted across hospitals, schools, retail complexes, and hospitality centers where fire codes mandate non-combustible partitions, shaft enclosures, and acoustic ceilings. Government-funded public infrastructure projects such as universities, border posts, military bases, and transport hubs increasingly incorporate fiber cement boards to reduce maintenance in extreme climate zones. Commercial real estate developers also use fiber cement in malls, coworking hubs, and business parks due to its lightweight structure, ease of installation, and ability to meet insulation targets. Religious and event infrastructure, including Hajj tents, mobile clinics, and security checkpoints, use the boards for their fire safety and rapid deployment capabilities. Across both segments, board selection depends on structural load, exposure to heat or sandstorms, and required certifications under Saudi Building Code (SBC) or GCC regulations. End-use adoption is further strengthened by government incentives for locally manufactured materials and alignment with energy-efficiency benchmarks. In newer cities and economic zones like Qiddiya and NEOM, fiber cement boards are becoming a material of choice for builders focused on rapid execution, durability, and compliance with sustainability and smart city standards.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Fiber Cement Board Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Type
• High density fiber cement board
• Medium density fiber cement board
• Low density fiber cement board

By Raw Material
• Portland Cement
• Silica
• Cellulosic Fiber
• Others

By Application
• Furniture
• Flooring
• Wall Cladding & Panels
• Prefabricated Shelters
• Other Applications

By End Use
• Residential
• Commercial Show more