GCC Silica Sand Market

Market Overview:

The GCC silica sand market size reached USD 426.0 Million in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 776.5 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 6.55% during 2025-2033. The growing application of hybrid guide plates and solar control glazing, thriving construction industry and the rising use of glass to manufacture jars, bottles, cups, bowls, windows, and facades represent some of the key factors driving the market.

Silica sand, also called industrial sand, is primarily composed of quartz with slight amounts of other materials or organic constituents, such as feldspars, carbonates, iron oxides, micas, clay minerals, and coal. It is usually found as unconsolidated deposits below thin layers of soil or in the form of sandstone. It is produced from both loosely consolidated sand deposits and by crushing weakly cemented sandstones. It has a high melting point, low thermal expansion, and enhanced chemical stability, which makes it a versatile and valuable material in numerous applications. It assists in manufacturing glass due to its high purity and consistency while providing clarity, strength, and heat resistance. It also aids in producing specialty glasses, such as solar panels, fiber optics, and laboratory glassware. It is widely utilized in the construction industry as a key component in concrete, mortar, and other cementitious materials. As it is used as a proppant in hydraulic fracturing operations to enhance the flow of oil and gas from underground rock formations, the demand for silica sand is increasing in the GCC region.

GCC Silica Sand Market Trends:

At present, there is a rise in the demand for silica sand to manufacture floors, mortars, specialty cement, roofing shingles, asphalt mixtures, and skid-resistant surfaces. This, along with the thriving construction industry, represents one of the key factors supporting the growth of the market in the GCC region. Besides this, the increasing utilization of silica sand as a functional extender to add durability, anti-corrosion, and weathering properties in sealants, caulks, and epoxy-based compounds in the region is propelling the growth of the market. In addition, the growing demand for glass to manufacture jars, bottles, flacons, cups, bowls, windows, and facades is offering a favorable market outlook. Moreover, there is an increase in the demand for silica sand to purify water and form synthetic foundry molding catalysts and disodium ultramarine in the GCC region. This, coupled with the growing demand for silica sand as a proppant during extraction activities of shale gas, is positively influencing the market. In line with this, the increasing application of hybrid guide plates, solar control glazing, lightweight glazing, and advanced nanotechnological processes in flat glass production is catalyzing the demand for silica sand in the GCC region. Apart from this, various beneficial properties of silica sand, including its high melting point, chemical inertness, and hardness, are bolstering the growth of the market in the region.

Key Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the GCC silica sand market, along with forecasts at the country level from 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on end use.

End Use Insights:

• Glass Industry
• Hydraulic Fracturing
• Foundry
• Filtration
• Abrasives
• Others

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the GCC silica sand market based on the end use. This includes glass industry, hydraulic fracturing, foundry, filtration, abrasives, and others. According to the report, glass industry represented the largest segment.

Country Insights:

• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Qatar
• Bahrain

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major markets in GCC, which include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain. According to the report, Saudi Arabia was the largest market for GCC silica sand. Some of the factors driving the Saudi Arabia silica sand market included the growing construction activities, rising sales of glasses, increasing shale gas exploration, etc.

Competitive Landscape:

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the GCC silica sand market. Detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided. Some of the companies covered include Al-Rashed Cement Company, Alsalam Almasi, BMS Factories, Delmon Group, Gulf Minerals & Chemicals LLC, Majd Al Muayad, Mitsubishi Corporation, Muadinoon, etc. Kindly note that this only represents a partial list of companies, and the complete list has been provided in the report.

Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the GCC silica sand market performed so far, and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What are the drivers, restraints, and opportunities in the GCC silica sand market?
• What is the impact of each driver, restraint, and opportunity on the GCC silica sand market?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the end use?
• Which is the most attractive end use in the GCC silica sand market?
• What is the competitive structure of the GCC silica sand market?
• Who are the key players/companies in the GCC silica sand market?

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the GCC silica sand market from 2019-2033.
• The research study provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the GCC silica sand market.
• The study maps the leading, as well as the fastest-growing, regional markets.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the GCC silica sand industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.