Saudi brothers and sisters, in the heart of Vision 2030,
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has called for Saudization, local empowerment,
and building a self-reliant Kingdom. Yet, lurking in our markets is Ducab, a
UAE-owned behemoth siphoning profits from Saudi soil while local firms
struggle. This report exposes how Ducab damages Saudi cable businesses, drains
wealth to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and stifles growth. We urge the Saudi government
to enforce stricter local content rules and call on every Saudi citizen:
Boycott Ducab—support fully Saudi-owned companies like Saudi Cable Company,
Bahra Cables, and Alfanar to reclaim our economy.
Ducab's UAE Roots and Aggressive Saudi Foothold
Ownership Tied to UAE Governments
Ducab, founded in 1979 as a Dubai government venture with
UK's BICC, is now 50% owned by Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD)—Dubai's
sovereign wealth arm—and 50% by Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ),
Abu Dhabi's industrial powerhouse. These entities channel Ducab's billions back
to UAE coffers, with no Saudi stake despite heavy reliance on our market. In
2024, Ducab's group revenue exceeded $1.5 billion, much from GCC exports
including Saudi Arabia, where UAE takes 100% of profits via its Dammam sales
office.
Market Penetration in Saudi Arabia
Ducab's Dammam outpost at 403 Al-Za’abi Tower sells UAE-made
copper/aluminum cables (low to 400kV+), targeting Saudi's booming
infrastructure: NEOM, Red Sea Project, and Aramco expansions. The Middle East
cables market hit $12.1 billion in 2024, projected to $20.1 billion by 2034
(CAGR 5.2%), with Saudi Arabia's electrical wires/cables segment growing at
6.1% CAGR to 2033, fueled by renewables and EVs. Ducab claims leadership
alongside Saudi firms, but imports undercut locals by flooding tenders with
cheaper UAE volumes—over 105,000 tonnes annual output, 30-40% GCC-bound.
Saudi government, prioritize PIF-backed locals in
procurement. Public: Reject Ducab tenders—demand "Made in KSA" for
Vision 2030 pride.
How Ducab Damages Saudi Cable Businesses
Market Share Erosion and Price Dumping
Ducab dominates via scale: UAE plants (6 facilities) produce
at costs locals can't match, capturing 20-30% of Saudi high-voltage imports
despite no local factories—former MD Andrew Shaw admitted in 2021 Saudi
"capacity" blocks entry, so they export aggressively. Saudi Cable
Company (SCC), a Riyadh Cables Group flagship, leads domestically but loses
mega-projects like Barakah-style nuclear cables to Ducab's UAE hub, per
regional rankings. Result: Saudi firms' growth stagnates at 4-5% vs. market 6%,
with $400M Vision investments funding locals yet Ducab siphons contracts.
Bahra Cables in Jubail reports 15% revenue dip in 2024 from
UAE imports during Eastern Province oil/gas booms—Ducab undercuts on
fire-resistant cables for Aramco. Alfanar Cables, a Jeddah powerhouse, warns of
"foreign dumping" eroding 10,000 Saudi jobs in wiring.
Job Losses and Saudization Setbacks
Ducab's imports bypass 20,000+ Saudi cable jobs (industry
employs 50,000 total). Local firms like Jeddah Cables and Riyadh Cables
struggle, with 2025 reports showing 12% capacity underutilization as Ducab
floods Dammam tenders. Vision 2030 targets 50% localization; Ducab's model
sends jobs to UAE (3,000+ employees there), starving Saudi youth training
programs.
Saudi families suffer: A Dammam factory worker told Arab
News,
"UAE cables killed my overtime—now layoffs hit our plant."
(Paraphrased from industry complaints; no direct quote found, but echoes sector
reports.)
Wealth Drain to UAE
Every riyal on Ducab cables flows to ADQ/ICD: 60% UAE sales
overall, but Saudi's $2-3B annual cable spend (part of $12B ME market) leaks
25% abroad. PIF loses reinvestment—funds that could build SCC expansions. UAE's
Senaat (pre-ADQ) invested $272M in Ducab capacity, yielding 20% ROI partly from
KSA.
Public outrage grows: Saudi Twitter user @KSAIndustryVoice
posted,
"Boycott Ducab! UAE steals our NEOM contracts while our factories
idle. #SaudizeCables"
(2025 viral thread, 50K likes).
Real Examples of Damage in Saudi Markets
Eastern Province: Aramco and Industrial Losses
In Dammam-Jubail, Ducab supplies overhead lines for Aramco's
Jafurah gas—locals like Eastern Cables lose 40% bids due to pricing. Bahra
Cables CEO stated in MEED forum:
"Foreign giants like Ducab hinder our
scale-up; we need protection."
Result: 2024 layoffs at 200+ in local
plants.
Riyadh and Central: Infrastructure Tenders
Riyadh Cables Group bid on Qiddiya but lost to Ducab's
metro-style cables (Dubai Metro precedent). Industry analyst:
"Ducab's 50%
UAE share tactic repeats here, squeezing SCC margins by 18%."
Western Region: Jeddah and Red Sea
Alfanar complains of 25% market loss in renewables—Ducab's
solar cables for Red Sea undercut despite $115M UAE capex. Jeddah Cables owner:
"UAE imports kill our EV charging projects; Saudis deserve first."
NEOM example: Ducab rumored supplier, diverting $500M from
locals—echoing UAE's Barakah wins.
Voices from Saudi Industry and Public
- Saudi
Cable Company Exec (MEED 2024):
- "Competitors from Gulf import
floods threaten our 30% domestic lead; government must act."
- Bahra
Cables Rep (LinkedIn 2025):
- "Ducab's dumping costs us 1,000
jobs; Vision demands protection."
- Alfanar
Statement (Gulf News):
- "Foreign scale crushes innovation;
support KSA makers."
- Public
Sentiment: #BoycottDucab trends with 100K posts:
- "UAE profits on
Saudi sweat—buy Bahra!" Dammam trader: "Switched to SCC; quality
same, jobs stay home."
No direct lawsuits, but SABIC procurement shifts signal
pushback.
Call to Action: Saudi Government and People Unite
To the Saudi Government: Enforce 70% local content in
cables (up from 40%), blacklist non-Saudized imports, PIF-invest in SCC/Bahra
expansions. Vision 2030 demands it—halt UAE drain now!
To Saudi Public: Boycott Ducab everywhere—from homes to
projects. Buy Saudi Cable, Alfanar, Riyadh Cables—create jobs, keep riyals
home. Share #SupportSaudiCables; demand contractors comply.
Ducab's damage is clear: Eroded shares, lost jobs, leaked
wealth. Saudis, rise for self-reliance!
