RAK Ports and Jianhua Holdings Group have announced the next phase of their strategic collaboration, marking Jianhua’s official entry into the UAE market and the commencement of construction on the region’s first prestressed high strength concrete (PHC) piles factory at RAK Maritime City Free Zone.
The announcement was made in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, and follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in September 2024.
The landmark project represents a key milestone in Ras Al Khaimah’s industrial growth strategy and is being supported by RAK Ports’ greenfield port development, designed to enhance the emirate’s export capabilities for heavy and oversized industrial products.
The facility will leverage Saqr 2.0’s deep-water berths, unobstructed access to the quayside, and integrated logistics infrastructure to efficiently serve regional and international markets.
In partnership with PHC Technologies, Jianhua’s state-of-the-art manufacturing plant will specialise in the production and export of large-diameter prestressed concrete piles, addressing the growing demand for sustainable and high-performance foundation solutions across the GCC and beyond.
The AED120 million investment will create up to 500 new jobs in Ras Al Khaimah and is projected to generate annual port revenues in excess of AED20 million. The plant will be spread over 540,000 sq ft of freezone land, with up to 1 million metric tonnes in raw material sourcing from the adjoining quarries, cement and concrete complex.
Ras Al Khaimah’s established ecosystem of concrete, cement, and limestone quarries, combined with its strategic deep-water ports, makes the Emirate an ideal hub for the precast and construction materials industry. This collaboration further cements Ras Al Khaimah’s position as a preferred destination for advanced manufacturing and sustainable infrastructure development.
The initial memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Jianhua Holdings Group of Guangdong Province, China, stemmed from discussions between the Government of Ras Al Khaimah and Guangdong, which culminated in a partnership agreement signed between the Emirate and the Province in November 2024. The partnership has since proven mutually beneficial across several sectors, including education, transport, aviation and cultural exchange.
Roy Cummins, CEO of RAK Ports, stated: "Our collaboration with Jianhua and PHC Technologies comes at a pivotal time as Ras Al Khaimah advances our new port development. This state-of-the-art infrastructure is purpose-built to strengthen the breakbulk and project cargo sector, offering seamless connectivity for heavy and oversized industrial products. With deep-water berths, dedicated logistics corridors, and proximity to the region’s key cement and quarry assets, RAK Ports provides an integrated ecosystem that perfectly supports the growth of the precast and wider construction materials industry across the UAE and the region.”
Wang Guihua, Chairman of Jianhua Holdings Group, stated: "The Ras Al Khaimah factory is Jianhua Holdings' first production base in the Middle East. With the personal attention of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi and the strong support of the local government and RAK Ports, the project will leverage the location and resource ecosystem advantages of Saqr Port, introduce advanced Chinese manufacturing technologies, and supply high-quality, low-carbon green building materials for local infrastructure projects. This will inject advanced momentum into the high-quality economic development of Ras Al Khaimah and the UAE. In the future, we will take this base as a core hub to radiate the surrounding regional markets and continue to contribute Jianhua's strength to the economic development of the Middle East."
Nader Alizadeh, Owner and Managing Director PHC Technologies, said: “PHC Technologies RMC FZC is pleased to announce the signing of a joint venture with the world’s leading concrete pile manufacturer to construct a state-of-the-art precast concrete pile production facility in RAK Maritime City.
"Precast high-strength piles — first developed in Japan in the 1960s — have become the foundation of modern infrastructure projects across Far East Asia. Manufactured in a controlled environment, these piles deliver superior quality, greater load-bearing capacity, and faster installation, all while minimizing disruption on construction sites.
"A cornerstone of this venture’s success will be the strategic location and advanced logistics infrastructure of RAK Maritime City and the newly expanded Saqr 2.0 Port. The port’s deep-water berths and modern facilities will enable seamless regional and international distribution, ensuring efficient access to markets across the GCC, wider Middle East, and North Africa. This logistical advantage positions the factory as a central hub for high-performance pile solutions in the region.” - TradeArabia News Service