Dubai Investments strengthens its foothold in the region's glass manufacturing landscape

In a region defined by rapid transformation and development goals, the demand for high-performance, sustainable building materials keeps rising. Leading that change is Dubai Investments, a company whose legacy in industrial manufacturing continues to shape the future of the GCC’s built environment.

Recognising the long-term potential of glass as a high-value, design-forward, and performance-driven material, Dubai Investments had established Glass LLC as a dedicated holding company to consolidate its glass manufacturing entities. This strategic structure has enabled the group to align with the region’s accelerating infrastructure growth and increasing emphasis on sustainability; positioning it at the forefront of industrial innovation.

With deep-rooted expertise in the broader building materials sector, Dubai Investments has developed a diversified platform that supports the region’s most ambitious infrastructure and real estate projects. However, it is in glass manufacturing - an area experiencing rapid innovation and growing global relevance - where the company is currently witnessing exceptional momentum.

Established to streamline operations and drive synergies across Emirates Float Glass, Emirates Glass, and Saudi American Glass, Glass LLC serves as the group’s response to rising demand for integrated, value-added glass solutions across regional megaprojects.

Through its dedicated industrial subsidiary, Glass LLC, Dubai Investments is not only scaling production but also setting new benchmarks in design, sustainability, and regional impact. As glass evolves from a basic construction material to a smart, design-led and eco-conscious solution, the group is positioning itself at the cutting edge of this transformation.

A clear vision: Glass as a strategic growth engine

The performance of Dubai Investments’ glass businesses in 2024 underscores the sector’s growing importance, both in regional development and the global supply chain. Across its three key subsidiaries, Emirates Float Glass (EFG); Emirates Glass (EG); and Saudi American Glass (SAG), the group recorded a combined production output of 14.8 million square metres (sqm), reflecting consistent double-digit growth.

This surge is driven by a combination of factors: rising demand from mega infrastructure projects in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, a growing shift toward sustainable and energy-efficient materials, and a bold commitment to manufacturing innovation.

Emirates Float Glass: At full capacity and going global

2024 marked a pivotal year for Emirates Float Glass, which reached full production capacity and exported over 12.6 million sqm of float glass to markets across five

continents. EFG stands as the only ICV-certified float glass manufacturer in the UAE, a critical advantage in government-backed development projects that prioritise local value creation.

The company’s inclusion in the Golden List by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development is further testament to its national significance. Its diverse product range, including Clear, Tinted, Reflective, and Low-E glass, supports high-performance architectural designs and energy-efficient buildings.

Emirates Glass: Expanding capabilities and design possibilities

At Emirates Glass, 2024 brought both scale and sophistication. The company delivered 1.3 million+ sqm of processed glass, representing 8 per cent year-on-year growth, with output peaking at 28 per cent higher during key months.

A major driver of this growth has been the company’s investment in jumbo processing lines, which allow for precision cutting, tempering, and lamination on a larger scale. Emirates Glass also expanded its portfolio with fire-rated and bullet-resistant glass and launched a new digital printing unit; a game changer for architects seeking bespoke, large-format designs.

Saudi American Glass: Design-led growth in the Kingdom

Saudi American Glass (SAG), too, had a record year, delivering over 927,000 sqm in 2024; a 13 per cent increase from the previous year. SAG’s design-led products, particularly under its Elite Vitrage brand, are seeing strong uptake across high-end residential, commercial, and hospitality projects.

There’s growing demand for artistic and digitally printed glass, and with Saudi Arabia’s construction boom continuing through Vision 2030, the company expects this segment alone to grow by 57 per cent in 2025.

Aligning with sustainability and regional visions

At a time when the UAE is pushing ahead with its Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative and Saudi Arabia is realising its Vision 2030 goals, Dubai Investments’ glass companies are playing an active role in supporting these missions.

From solar control and Low-E technologies to green-certified manufacturing, the group’s solutions are purpose-built for today’s sustainable building mandates. Its export footprint, spanning 35+ countries, also reinforces the UAE’s ambitions of becoming a global industrial hub.

Building tomorrow with vision and purpose

Dubai Investments, through its integrated glass manufacturing ecosystem, is not just keeping pace with this evolution, it is actively shaping it. By investing in technology, expanding capacity, and staying ahead of sustainability regulations, the group is setting new benchmarks for what locally manufactured glass can achieve.

With Glass LLC, Dubai Investments is not only manufacturing at scale - it’s reshaping the narrative around local industrial capability. From pioneering smart façades to enabling carbon-efficient cities, the group’s glass business is now a pillar of both economic diversification and design excellence across the region. From curtain walls that reflect the region’s architectural ambition to interiors that blend functionality with art, glass is fast becoming one of the most technically advanced and strategically important materials in the modern construction landscape. And with Dubai Investments at the helm, the region is better equipped than ever to build smarter, greener, and more resilient cities.