Steel in NEOM: What Types of Rebar and Profiles Are Powering Saudi's Giga-Projects?

If you stand on the edge of the Tabuk province today, looking out over the Red Sea, you aren't just looking at sand and water anymore. You are looking at the largest active construction site the world has arguably ever seen.

We are talking about NEOM.

You have seen the futuristic renders. The mirror city cutting through the mountains. The floating industrial port. But let’s strip away the sci-fi gloss for a minute. Let’s talk about what is actually happening on the ground. Beneath the marketing hype, NEOM is a beast of engineering that is hungry for one thing above all else: Steel.

Millions of tons of it.

For anyone in the steel trade—whether you are a procurement officer, a trader, or a fabricator—NEOM isn't just a project. It is a market-moving event. It is reshaping supply chains across the entire Middle East. However, there is a catch: you cannot simply dump standard commercial-grade metal in the desert and hope for the best. The engineering requirements here are off the charts. The climate is aggressive. The timelines are tight.

So, what exactly isbeing planted in the ground? What are NEOM steel suppliers scrambling to provide? And how do you separate the reality from the rumors?

Let’s dig in.

Is Neom using 20% of the world's steel?

You might have seen the headlines floating around social media. There was a viral claim recently stating that NEOM is consuming 20% of the entire world's steel production.

Let’s pause and think about that number.

Global steel production sits at roughly 1.8 to 1.9 billion tons per year. Twenty percent of that would be nearly 400 million tons. To put that in perspective, that is roughly four times the total annual steel output of the United States.

So, is the headline true? Not exactly. It is a bit of a misunderstanding of the data, but the reality is still staggering.

The "20%" figure likely refers to specific types of logistics steel, or it is a projection of the regional capacity being directed solely at this project over a specific intense phase of construction. It effectively means that for certain specialized materials—like high-strength piling or specific structural beams—NEOM is sucking up every available spare ton in the global market.

What is actually happening is that NEOM steel suppliers are booking capacity years in advance. We are seeing a "steel vacuum." The project is so massive that it is affecting prices in Riyadh, Dubai, and even as far away as Cairo and Istanbul. If you are buying steel in the GCC right now, you are competing with NEOM, whether you know it or not. The project has become the "whale" in the swimming pool. When it moves, everyone else gets splashed.

This massive demand creates a unique opportunity. The local mills in Saudi Arabia, like Hadeed, are running full tilt. But they can’t do it alone. The door is wide open for international importers and specialized traders who can bring high-grade material to the table.

Green epoxy-coated rebar installed at NEOM coastal site to prevent corrosion from Red Sea salt.

The Backbone of The Line: Specialized Rebar

Let’s talk about the most fundamental element: Rebar.

In a normal project, you order Grade 60 (or 420 MPa) rebar, pour the concrete, and move on. NEOM is different. We are talking about "The Line"—a structure designed to be 500 meters tall and stretching for kilometers. The foundation loads are immense.

The rebar going into NEOM isn't your average garden-variety steel.

First, there is the issue of High-Strength Grades. Engineers are pushing for higher yield strengths to reduce the sheer volume of steel congestion in the concrete. If you use standard bars, you would need so many of them that there would be no room for the concrete to flow. We are seeing huge demand for Grade B500B and even higher tensile variants. These bars allow for slimmer columns and lighter structures, which is critical when you are building a vertical city.

Then, there is the Corrosion Factor.

This is the big one. A huge chunk of NEOM, specifically the Oxagon industrial city and the Sindalah island resort, sits directly in the "splash zone" of the Red Sea. The air is thick with salt. The soil is saline. If you put untreated black steel in that ground, it will begin to rust before the building is even finished.

To fight this, NEOM steel suppliers are shipping massive quantities of Epoxy-Coated Rebar. You know the stuff—it’s the bright green bars. That green skin is a fusion-bonded epoxy that stops the salt from touching the steel. It acts as a shield.

But it goes even further. For the most critical, unmaintainable underground sections, we are seeing specifications for Stainless Steel Rebar (grades 316L or Duplex). Yes, it is expensive. It costs many times more than carbon steel. But when you are building a foundation that is supposed to last 100 years in a salt bath, the choice is clear. This is the exact scenario that explains Why Choose Stainless Steel Rebar for Saudi Projects—it’s an investment in longevity, not just a material cost.

Crane lifting massive structural steel H-beam for modular construction at NEOM project.

Heavy Lifting: Structural Profiles and Beams

While rebar holds the concrete together, structural steel profiles hold up the sky.

The construction methodology at NEOM, particularly for The Line, leans heavily on Modular Construction. The idea is to build fast. You don't want thousands of welders hanging off the side of a cliff in the heat. You want to build giant "modules" in a factory, truck them to the site, and bolt them together like a giant Lego set.

This method relies entirely on high-precision profiles. Whether using H-Beam vs. I-Beam, the structural integrity required for these massive modules demands heavy, wide-flange sections often sourced from top-tier mills.

We are seeing a surge in demand for Heavy Wide Flange Beams. These aren't the small beams you put in a residential villa. These are massive, heavy-section profiles often sourced from Japan, South Korea, or top-tier European mills. They need to handle incredible dynamic loads (wind, seismic activity) because the structure is so tall and narrow.

The grade of choice here is often S355JR or S355J2, but for the lower, high-stress sections, engineers are specifying S460. This is high-strength structural steel. It allows the beams to be strong but slightly lighter.

Why does weight matter? Because every single steel piece has to be lifted by a crane. Lighter steel means less crane time, faster assembly, and safer lifts.

Also, do not overlook Hollow Sections (RHS and SHS). These square and rectangular tubes are being used extensively for the secondary framing—the facades, the support structures for solar panels, and the architectural features. Because NEOM has a huge focus on aesthetics, these profiles often need to be visually perfect, requiring high-grade surface finishes.

Who is the main contractor for the Neom project?

This is a question we get asked constantly. Everyone wants to know who holds the "Golden Ticket."

The truth is, asking "Who is the main contractor?" is the wrong question. NEOM is too big for one company. It is too big for ten companies. It is an ecosystem.

Instead of one main contractor, NEOM is broken down into massive packages, and the list of players reads like a "Who's Who" of global construction.

For the piling and foundation work on The Line—the people currently burying all that steel we just talked about—you have a joint venture involving Keller and Bauer. These are the titans of the geotechnical world. They are drilling thousands of piles into the desert floor.

For the tunneling and infrastructure, you have consortia involving Webuild (from Italy), Shibh Al Jazira Contracting, and FCC Construction.

Then you have the local heavyweights like Nesma & Partners and Almabani. These Saudi firms have been instrumental in the early earthworks and airport construction.

Why does this matter to you as a steel buyer or supplier?

Because these are the people you need to impress. These contractors have strict "Vendor Lists." You cannot just show up with a truckload of beams and ask for a check. You need to be pre-qualified. You need to prove your supply chain is robust. You need to show that your mill test certificates (MTCs) are legitimate.

The NEOM steel suppliers who are winning right now are the ones who have built relationships with these specific consortia. They understand that Webuild has different documentation requirements than Nesma. They know that Bauer needs steel now, not in six weeks. It is about navigating this web of contractors, not just finding one "boss."

Why did the Neom project fail?

Let’s address the elephant in the room.

If you type NEOM into Google, one of the first questions that pops up is: "Why did the Neom project fail?"

This is a classic case of internet rumors moving faster than dump trucks.

Let’s be clear: NEOM has not failed.

However, the plan has changed. And in construction, change is normal. The rumors started because reports came out that the first phase of "The Line" was being scaled back. Originally, the talk was about 170 kilometers by 2030. Now, the realistic target for the first phase is closer to 2.4 kilometers.

People saw "scaling back" and screamed "failure."

But if you are in the steel business, you know that 2.4 kilometers of The Line is still a construction project bigger than most cities. We are talking about a structure 500 meters tall and over two kilometers long. The amount of steel required for just this "small" section is astronomical.

This isn't a failure; it is a realignment with reality. It is a pivot.

The project is very much alive. The sheer volume of steel orders being processed right now proves it. Sindalah (the island resort) is practically finished and will open soon. The industrial city, Oxagon, is moving earth. The mountainous ski resort, Trojena, is blasting tunnels for the 2029 Asian Winter Games.

For a steel supplier, this "scaling back" is actually good news. It means the project is stabilizing. It is becoming more realistic, which means payment schedules are likely to be more reliable and timelines more achievable. A fantasy project buys no steel. A realistic project buys millions of tons. The "failure" narrative is just noise. The contracts are real.

Stainless steel seamless pipes and cryogenic tanks at NEOM green hydrogen energy facility.

The Hidden Steel: Green Energy and Hydrogen

There is another type of steel demand in NEOM that people often overlook. It isn't for buildings. It's for energy.

NEOM is building the world’s largest green hydrogen plant (the Helios project). This facility is a monster. It requires kilometers of specialized piping, high-pressure vessels, and storage tanks.

This brings a totally different set of steel specs into play.

We are talking about Carbon Steel Seamless Pipes for high-pressure transport. We are talking about Cryogenic Steel—steel that can stay tough even when it is frozen to extremely low temperatures for liquid hydrogen storage. Regular steel shatters like glass at those temperatures. You need special nickel-alloyed steel plates to handle it.

And let’s not forget the solar and wind farms powering this plant. The wind turbines need massive steel towers. The solar fields need thousands of tons of galvanized steel mounting structures (usually light gauge steel or LGS).

If you are a supplier who focuses only on rebar, you are missing half the picture. The energy infrastructure of NEOM is a steel market all on its own.

How to Become a Supplier (The "A" Game)

So, you have the steel. You know the specs. How do you actually get your metal into NEOM?

It is not as simple as sending an email. The vetting process is intense. NEOM is building a reputation for sustainability and high-tech governance, and they expect their supply chain to match that.

1. Traceability is King: You cannot sell mystery metal here. Every single beam needs a digital passport. They want to trace the steel back to the furnace. If your paperwork (MTCs) is sloppy, you are out.This is a prime example of Why MTC (Mill Test Certificates) Are Non-Negotiable for high-stakes importers in 2025.

2. Sustainability Matters: NEOM is pushing for "Green Steel." They want to know the carbon footprint of the metal. If you are unfamiliar with this shift, you need to understand What Is Green Steel? and how it impacts your export potential.

3. Local Content (ICT): Saudi Arabia has a program called IKTVA (In-Kingdom Total Value Add). Basically, they prefer suppliers who add value locally. If you can warehouse the steel in Saudi, cut and bend it in Tabuk, or fabricate it in Dammam, you are far more likely to get the contract than if you are just shipping it direct from a foreign port.

Quick Summary

If you are skimming, here is the bottom line on steel in NEOM:

• The "20% of World Steel" Myth: It’s an exaggeration of global production, but true for specific supply chain bottlenecks. NEOM is the biggest buyer in the region.
• Rebar: It’s all about high strength (Grade B500B) and corrosion protection (Epoxy-coated and Stainless Steel) because of the Red Sea salt.
• Profiles: Massive H-beams and I-beams are driving the modular construction of The Line.
• The "Failure": The project hasn't failed; it has scaled back to a realistic Phase 1. Construction is active and hungry for material.
• Contractors: It’s a network of giants like Webuild, Keller, and Nesma. You need to be on their vendor lists.

Final Thoughts: The Opportunity of a Lifetime

NEOM is more than just a construction site. It is a stress test for the global steel industry. It is demanding better materials, faster logistics, and greener production.

For buyers and traders, this is the wave you want to be riding. But you have to respect the technical depth of this project. You can't fake it with NEOM. You need the right grades, the right documentation, and the right partners.

Don't get distracted by the clickbait headlines about failure. Look at the purchase orders. The steel is moving. The cranes are turning. The city is rising.

Are you ready to supply the project of the century?

We understand the complexity of these giga-projects. From sourcing hard-to-find cryogenic plates for hydrogen plants to delivering massive quantities of epoxy-coated rebar for coastal foundations, we know the specs and we know the logistics.

Don't watch the opportunity pass you by. Contact our team today to discuss how we can align your supply chain with the massive demands of the Saudi market.