RAK Ports and Jianhua Holdings Group have announced the next phase of their strategic collaboration, marking Jianhua’s official entry into the UAE 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 HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

The project represents a key milestone in Ras Al Khaimah’s industrial growth strategy and is 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 deepwater berths, unobstructed access to the quayside, and integrated logistics infrastructure to efficiently serve regional and international markets.

In partnership with PHC Technologies, Jianhua’s 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 project will create up to 500 new jobs in Ras Al Khaimah and is set to generate annual revenues in excess of AED20 million ($5.4 million). The plant will be spread over 540,000-sq-ft freezone land, with one million 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 deepwater ports, makes it an ideal hub for the precast and construction materials industry. This collaboration further cements the emirate’s position as a preferred destination for advanced manufacturing and sustainable infrastructure development.

Roy Cummins, CEO of RAK Ports, said: “Our collaboration with Jianhua and PHC Technologies comes at a pivotal time as Ras Al Khaimah advances our new port development. This 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 supports the growth of the precast and wider construction materials industry across the UAE and the region,” he added.