EMSTEEL Group and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) have announced a strategic collaboration to advance high-strength reinforcement solutions for protecting and improving the resilience of the UAE’s critical infrastructure.
The agreement, signed in Abu Dhabi on 29 June 2026, brings together the region’s largest publicly traded steel and building materials manufacturer with Abu Dhabi’s leading applied research centre. The partnership focuses on assessing and validating the performance of EMSTEEL’s ES600 high-strength rebar under demanding impact and protection scenarios, creating a pathway for the development of specialised reinforcement grades designed for resilience-critical applications across the country’s strategic assets and essential infrastructure.
EMSTEEL Group CEO Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi said the collaboration reflects the company’s commitment to innovation that supports the UAE’s long-term infrastructure and industrial priorities.
“By combining our expertise in advanced steel manufacturing with TII’s world-class research and engineering capabilities, we are creating the foundation for next-generation reinforcement solutions designed for the nation’s most critical and strategically important assets. The partnership strengthens local capability, accelerates knowledge development, and reinforces the role of UAE-made steel in supporting national resilience and sustainable economic growth,” he said.
Technology Innovation Institute CEO Dr Najwa Aaraj said the partnership combines TII’s expertise in material characterisation, advanced simulation and impact-response assessment with EMSTEEL’s steelmaking capabilities.
“Together, we are validating high-strength reinforcement for the most demanding protection applications and building the scientific foundation for next-generation solutions developed in the UAE to safeguard the resilience of the nation’s most critical infrastructure,” she said.
The collaboration leverages EMSTEEL’s production network of 16 manufacturing plants with an annual capacity of 3.5 million tonnes of steel and 4.6 million tonnes of cement, supplying both the domestic market and more than 70 international markets. The initiative also supports the UAE’s Operation 300bn industrial strategy by promoting advanced manufacturing, strengthening local industries, creating employment opportunities for UAE nationals and advancing sustainable practices. As a producer of low-carbon steel, EMSTEEL aligns its operations with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.
TII, the applied research arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), contributes expertise through its nine research centres covering advanced materials, autonomous robotics, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cryptography, secure systems, directed energy, propulsion and space, and renewable energy. The institute works with universities, research organisations and industry partners worldwide to strengthen the UAE’s position as a global innovation hub.
Through continued investment in advanced manufacturing, product development and strategic partnerships, EMSTEEL aims to expand the use of high-performance steel solutions for increasingly sophisticated applications, supporting the UAE’s vision of building a globally competitive, innovation-driven industrial economy.
