Engineering-grade steel for GCC mega-projects.

What steel products does TIC Dubai supply?

TIC Dubai supplies the full structural and merchant steel range: H beams, I beams, UB / UC, IPE / IPN, HEA / HEB / HEM sections, channels, angles, tees and Z-sections; rounds, squares and flats; HR / CR coils and plates, chequered, boiler, wear and shipbuilding plates; ERW, seamless and MS pipes; CHS / SHS / RHS hollow sections; welded wire mesh, expanded metal and steel gratings.

Which standards do you supply to?

EN 10025 / 10210 / 10219 / 10056 / 10058 / 10060 / 10025-6 (European); BS 4-1 / BS 4483 / BS 1387 (British); ASTM A36 / A53 / A106 / A500 / A572 / A992 / A1011 / A1064 and ASME (American); JIS G3101 / G3106 / G3192 / G3141 (Japanese); IS 808 / 1239 / 2062 (Indian); GB/T 706 / 3274 / 11263 (Chinese); API 5L (line pipe).

Which countries do you supply to?

TIC Dubai supplies steel across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the wider Middle East, East Africa and the Indian subcontinent, direct ex-mill or ex-Dubai stock.

Are mill test certificates included?

Yes: every dispatch includes original mill test certificates per heat number to EN 10204 3.1 by default; 3.2 third-party inspected certificates (Lloyd's, BV, DNV, TÜV, SGS) can be arranged on indent.

Can you supply cut-to-length and project-marked steel?

Yes: standard mill lengths of 6, 9 and 12 metres are stock; custom cut-to-length up to 24 metres, project-marked dispatch and heat-numbered bundles are arranged direct from mill for project tonnages.

What is structural steel?

Structural steel is hot-rolled or cold-formed carbon and low-alloy steel manufactured into standard sections, H beams, I beams, channels, angles, hollow sections and plates, used to form the load-bearing skeleton of buildings, bridges, industrial plants and infrastructure. It is specified by grade and standard (e.g. S355J2 to EN 10025-2, A992 to ASTM, Q355B to GB/T 1591) and supplied with mill test certificates traceable to the steelmaking heat.

What is the difference between structural steel and mild steel?

Mild steel is a colloquial term for low-carbon steel (≈ 0.05–0.25% C), used historically for general bar, plate and pipe. Structural steel is a specified-strength product, minimum yield, minimum elongation, controlled chemistry, dimensional tolerances and Charpy impact requirements per EN 10025 / ASTM A36-A992 / GB/T 1591. All structural steel is mild steel by chemistry; not all mild steel meets a structural specification.

Which structural steel grade is most common in the GCC?

S355JR / S355J2 to EN 10025-2 is the dominant primary structural grade across the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain for buildings, bridges and infrastructure. ASTM A992 / A572 Gr.50 dominate Aramco / ADNOC / US-licensed projects in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait. Q355B is the equivalent on Chinese-origin steel.

What is the difference between an H-beam and an I-beam?

H-beams (wide-flange / W-section) have flanges approximately equal to the depth, with parallel inner faces. They resist biaxial buckling and are the column-of-choice. I-beams (IPN / IS 808) have narrow tapered flanges and a much deeper web relative to width, optimised for pure bending, used for floor and roof beams.

What is the difference between S275 and S355?

S355 has 29% higher minimum yield (355 vs 275 MPa) and higher tensile strength. For a given moment capacity, S355 saves 20–25% mass over S275, usually with a 5–10% mill price premium. S355J2 is the GCC default for primary structural members; S275JR is used for secondary framing and light commercial.

What is the ASTM equivalent of S355?

ASTM A572 Gr.50 and A992 are the closest equivalents, both with 345 MPa minimum yield. A992 is the modern US wide-flange standard with tighter chemistry control for weldability. Cross-substitution is acceptable on most GCC projects but must be approved by the consultant.

What is ASTM A992?

ASTM A992 is the standard specification for structural steel shapes (W-sections) used in building columns and beams in the US market. It supersedes A36 for rolled shapes, with 345 MPa minimum yield, 450–620 MPa tensile, controlled carbon equivalent (CE ≤ 0.45%) and Yield-to-Tensile ratio ≤ 0.85 for ductility under seismic loading.

What is the difference between hot-finished and cold-formed hollow sections?

Hot-finished (EN 10210) sections are formed and welded above the recrystallisation temperature, giving uniform mechanical properties around the perimeter and tighter corner radius. Cold-formed (EN 10219) sections are roll-formed at room temperature, slightly strain-hardened at the corners, more economical, slightly larger corner radius. Both are valid for structural use; designer choice depends on fatigue, fire and connection details.

What does JR / J0 / J2 / K2 mean in EN 10025?

These are sub-grades indicating Charpy V-notch impact testing temperature: JR = +20 °C, J0 = 0 °C, J2 = −20 °C, K2 = −20 °C at 40 J. Lower temperature = tougher steel. GCC indoor and warm-climate structures normally specify JR; cold-storage, bridges or low-temperature applications use J2 or K2.

What is an MTC and why do I need it?

A Mill Test Certificate (EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2) is the original document issued by the steelmaker confirming chemistry, mechanical properties, heat number and grade conformance for the supplied material. Without an MTC the steel is not project-grade; consultants will not approve installed material against an unverifiable chain of custody.

What is the difference between EN 10204 3.1 and 3.2?

3.1 is a mill-issued certificate signed by the manufacturer's quality department, witnessing tests done by the mill, the GCC default. 3.2 is a 3.1 certificate additionally signed by an independent inspector (SGS, BV, Intertek, TÜV, Lloyd's, DNV) who witnessed the testing at the mill. 3.2 is required on Aramco, ADNOC, NEOM and most major EPC tenders.

Does TIC Dubai arrange third-party inspection?

Yes, SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, TÜV, Lloyd's Register and DNV are all coordinated routinely. Inspection can be witnessed at the mill (pre-production, in-process, final) and / or at load port. Reports are issued with the project documentation pack.

Can you supply Aramco-approved steel?

Yes, we supply to Aramco SAES standards including ASTM A572 Gr.50, A992 and stainless equivalents, from Aramco-approved mills with 3.2 inspected MTCs and Aramco-recognised third-party inspection. Vendor lists and project ticketing are handled through the consultant of record.

What is heat number traceability?

Every length of structural steel is stamped with the mill's heat number, the unique identifier of the steelmaking ladle from which it was cast. The heat number cross-references the MTC chemistry and mechanicals, enabling end-to-end traceability from the ladle to the installed member. Lost stamps invalidate the chain of custody.

What does hot-dip galvanizing add?

Immersion in molten zinc at ≈ 450 °C, producing a metallurgically bonded zinc-iron alloy coating (typically 85 µm on structural steel, 120 µm on marine). It is the most durable atmospheric corrosion protection, 30–70 year life in C3 / C4 environments per ISO 9223.

Galvanized vs painted steel, which is better for GCC coastal use?

Hot-dip galvanizing (HDG) to ISO 1461 is generally superior for coastal UAE, Bahrain, Eastern Province and Sohar applications because zinc sacrificially protects exposed steel at cuts and scratches. Paint systems require near-perfect prep and are vulnerable to mechanical damage. For aesthetics-critical exposed steel, a duplex system (HDG + paint to ISO 12944 C5-M) gives the longest life.

What surface preparation grade is required for paint?

Sa 2½ (near-white blast cleaning) per ISO 8501-1 for full ISO 12944 systems. Roughness profile Rz 50–85 µm. The blast must be done immediately before priming; the prep must not flash-rust before the primer is applied.

What welding process is used for structural steel?

SMAW (stick), FCAW (flux-cored), GMAW (MIG) and SAW (submerged arc) are all standard. WPS qualified to EN ISO 15614 or AWS D1.1, welders qualified to EN ISO 9606 or AWS QC. SAW is preferred for long fillet welds on plate girders; FCAW for site work; SMAW for repairs and complex geometry.

Why is preheat required on thick sections?

Preheat (typically 50–150 °C for S355 > 25 mm) reduces the cooling rate of the heat-affected zone, preventing hydrogen-induced cracking. The required preheat depends on carbon equivalent (CE), section thickness, heat input and restraint. The WPS specifies the value.

What is a Charpy impact test?

A pendulum test that measures the energy absorbed by a notched specimen at a specified temperature. Higher absorbed energy = higher toughness = lower risk of brittle fracture in cold or impact conditions. S355J2 must achieve ≥ 27 J at −20 °C.

How do I prevent steel from rusting on a UAE construction site?

Insist on shop primer at the mill or fabricator, store on dunnage off the ground with drainage, cover during long storage, touch up site damage immediately with the same primer system, and apply the topcoat before exposure to coastal humidity. Galvanized steel is the most forgiving solution for site storage.

What is the lead time for structural steel from China?

Stock items in Dubai: 1–3 days. Mill-rolled tonnages from Chinese, Turkish or Korean mills: 30–45 days from indent confirmation to vessel sailing. Transit Jebel Ali: 18–25 days from China, 7–12 days from Türkiye. Total project indent: typically 60–90 days FOB-to-yard.

What is the lead time from Türkiye to Jebel Ali?

7–12 days port-to-port with weekly liner services and regular project breakbulk lifters. Turkish mills (Erdemir, Kardemir, ICDAS, Kocaer, MMK Metalurji, Çolakoğlu) are the GCC's fastest mill-direct source, with full EN 10025 / 10210 / 10219 coverage.

Can TIC Dubai supply both container and break-bulk shipments?

Yes, containerised 20'/40' shipments for parcels up to 25 t, project break-bulk for tonnages 100 t and above, and full bulk vessel charter for major rolling programmes. Stowage and lashing plans are coordinated with the carrier and surveyor.

What is the longest H-beam I can ship in a container?

11.8 m fits inside a standard 40' container after dunnage; 12 m+ requires a 40' open-top, flat-rack, or break-bulk shipment. Sections up to 18 m can move on 40' flat racks; 24 m+ moves break-bulk only.

How is steel plate measured and ordered?

By grade × thickness × width × length × tonnage. E.g. S355J2+N to EN 10025-2, 20 mm × 2000 mm × 6000 mm, 50 plates ≈ 94 t. Surface condition (mill, pickled, primer), edge (mill, sheared, gas-cut) and any UT requirement (EN 10160 S0, S1, S2) must also be specified.

What is a wear plate?

Through-hardened or quenched-and-tempered abrasion-resistant plate (e.g. Hardox, Bisalloy, Quard) with Brinell hardness 400–600 HB. Used for mining buckets, cement plant chutes, dump truck bodies and crusher liners. Wears 3–10× longer than mild steel under abrasion.

What are shipbuilding plates?

Plates certified by classification societies (ABS, DNV, Lloyd's, BV, ClassNK, KR) for marine structure use, grades A, B, D, E (mild steel) and AH32, DH32, EH36, FH36 (higher-strength). Re-cert is required for any structural component on a registered vessel or floating platform.

What is the difference between ERW, seamless and LSAW pipe?

ERW (Electric Resistance Welded), coil rolled to circle and high-frequency welded; ≤ 24" OD, economic for water, gas and structural use. Seamless, pierced from a billet, no weld seam, the only choice for high-pressure / high-temperature service. LSAW (Longitudinal Submerged Arc Welded), plate rolled and submerged-arc welded; large diameters (24–60"+), used for line pipe and structural piling.

Do you supply API 5L line pipe?

Yes, API 5L X42, X52, X60, X65 and X70 in seamless and welded forms, PSL1 and PSL2, with full API certification, hydrostatic test reports and 3.2 inspection where required for oil & gas pipeline projects.

How is structural steel priced?

Mill base price (USD/tonne FOB) + section / grade extras + size extras + length extras + finish extras + freight + insurance + UAE duty / VAT + handling + margin. Mill base price tracks iron ore, coking coal, scrap and electricity costs; daily quotes are valid 24–72 hours pending mill confirmation.

What is mill-direct pricing?

Pricing negotiated directly with the primary steel mill (not through traders or stockists), based on tonnage, grade, mill loading and rolling programme. TIC Dubai holds long-standing relationships with mills in China, Türkiye, Korea, Japan, India, Vietnam, the GCC and Europe, allowing us to combine multiple buyers into a single mill indent.

Can you consolidate steel with plywood, hardware and scaffolding in one shipment?

Yes, mixed-product 40' containers are routinely coordinated for contractors and EPCs running multi-package procurement, combining structural sections, plates, mesh, fasteners, film-faced plywood and scaffolding into a single landed cost.

What documentation is included on every shipment?

Original MTC (EN 10204 3.1 minimum), packing list with heat numbers, commercial invoice, certificate of origin, certificate of conformity, bill of lading, third-party inspection report (where applicable), CE Declaration of Performance for EN-grade structural steel (EN 1090), and any project-specific submittal forms.

What is EN 1090 and is it relevant in the GCC?

EN 1090 is the European standard for execution of steel and aluminium structures, and the CE-marking framework for structural steel products. EN 1090-1 covers the conformity assessment, EN 1090-2 the execution requirements. It is mandatory in Europe, increasingly required on UAE / KSA projects with European consultants, and is the basis for a Declaration of Performance accompanying every CE-marked structural section.

Do you supply steel for offshore / marine projects?

Yes, ABS, DNV, Lloyd's, BV, ClassNK and KR-certified plates and sections for offshore jackets, topsides, jetty piling, marine platforms and shipbuilding. Welder, WPS and consumable qualifications coordinated with the classification society as required.

How should structural steel be stored on site?

Stack on hardwood dunnage 150 mm above ground, slope for water drainage, separate by grade and member to avoid mixing, cover for long-term storage in coastal yards, isolate galvanized from black steel to prevent contact corrosion. Cover plates with tarps angled to shed water away from labels and identification stamps.

What is a heat affected zone (HAZ) and why does it matter?

The region of the parent metal next to a weld where the temperature rose high enough to alter the microstructure but stayed below the melting point. The HAZ can be harder and less ductile than the parent steel, and is the most common location for hydrogen cracking. Controlled by preheat, low-hydrogen consumables and proper WPS.

Can TIC Dubai cut, drill and primer-coat steel before shipment?

Yes, cut-to-length to ± 5 mm, beam-line CNC drilling, surface preparation Sa 2½ shot-blast and shop primer or full ISO 12944 paint system to the project specification. Heat-numbered piece-marking and consultant-approved colour codes are arranged direct from mill or via local partner fabricators.

Which Turkish mills does TIC Dubai source from?

Kocaer Çelik, Erdemir, Kardemir, ICDAS, MMK Metalurji, Çolakoğlu Metalurji and Çemtaş, all CE-marked for EN 10025 / 10210 / 10219 production, with regular weekly vessel sailings to Jebel Ali, Jeddah, Dammam, Hamad and Sohar.

Which Chinese mills do you work with?

Hesteel (Hebei Iron & Steel), Baowu Group (Baosteel + Wuhan + Maanshan), Shagang, Shandong Iron & Steel, Anshan Iron & Steel, Jianlong, Rizhao Steel, covering Q235B, Q355B, Q420 and Q460 to GB/T 1591, plus dual-certified EN 10025 and ASTM A572 / A992 production.

Retail, spot & same-day pick-ups.

• Retail-quantity purchases
• Same-day requirements
• Spot warehouse pick-ups

If your requirement sits on the right, a local stockist is likely to serve you faster. We're happy to point you in the right direction.

Do you keep stock in Dubai?

TIC Dubai is a mill representation and international procurement company. Rather than holding warehouse stock, we coordinate factory-direct shipments sized to your project and consolidate deliveries against your programme.

Can I buy a few sheets or a single length?

Our supply model is built around container-load and project quantities. For small retail requirements, a local stockist will serve you faster; for bulk, project or recurring procurement, we're the right partner.

Do you supply containers directly from the factory?

Yes. Every enquiry is quoted mill-direct, with forward production booking, third-party inspection and shipment coordinated by our procurement team, from FOB origin through to your discharge port.

Can you support recurring procurement?

Yes. Long-term supply agreements and forward production bookings are the core of what we do for importers, contractors, distributors and EPC firms across the GCC and wider Middle East.

What is your minimum order?

Typically one FCL container per specification, though this varies by product and mill. Share your requirement and we'll confirm the mill's MOQ, lead time and indicative pricing.