Saudi Arabia imports sand despite vast deserts due to concrete quality needs

Saudi Arabia, a nation endowed with some of the world's largest deserts, faces a peculiar paradox: it imports construction sand from abroad, including from Australia. The reason lies not in a lack of sand, but in its unsuitable quality for modern construction needs.

Desert sand, shaped over millennia by wind, has smooth, rounded grains. This uniformity prevents them from interlocking effectively in concrete mixtures, hindering the production of high-strength concrete essential for the kingdom's ambitious infrastructure projects. In contrast, sand sourced from rivers, quarries, or seabeds typically has irregular shapes and rough edges, allowing it to bind better and create a stable concrete structure.

The situation highlights a global challenge, as the United Nations Environment Programme notes the increasing worldwide demand for sand. For Saudi Arabia, this is particularly critical given its Vision 2030 program. This ambitious plan involves massive investments in infrastructure and urbanization, including futuristic cities like NEOM, Red Sea tourism developments, and entertainment complexes. All these require substantial quantities of concrete, making the availability of suitable sand a key concern.

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The difference between suitable and unsuitable sand is like the difference between crushed biscuit fragments and glass beads. Irregular pieces lock into each other and create a stable structure, while rounded surfaces tend to slide.