Qatar National Cement Company
Qatar National Cement Company is a Qatari cement and building-materials producer based in Umm Bab.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Qatar National Cement Company is a cement manufacturer headquartered in Umm Bab in western Qatar. It was established in 1965 and is described as the first cement company founded in the State of Qatar, as well as one of the country's earliest major non-oil industrial ventures. Its plant location was selected because Umm Bab is one of the two Qatari areas identified as having substantial, readily accessible deposits of limestone and clay, the principal raw materials needed for cement production. The company originated from planning work for a domestic cement industry that began in 1956, followed by a preliminary geological and industrial survey in 1963. At formation, the business had starting capital of QR5 million and an ownership structure combining public and private interests. The government of Dubai was among its early private stakeholders. Its first board, appointed in 1965, had nine members: two Qatari government officials, one representative of the Dubai government, and six founding members. The Dubai representative later left the board in 1972. In 1980, the board was reorganized to increase Qatari government representation. The Qatari government was reported to own approximately 43% of the company in 2010. Construction and installation of the company's initial production facilities began in 1967. The first plant was inaugurated in May 1969 with annual cement capacity of 100,000 tonnes. Additional facilities followed in 1974 and 1976, reflecting the growth of domestic demand. The company initially focused on Portland cement, but market requirements led it to add salt-resistant cement, a product suited to applications where cement may be exposed to saline conditions. Its reported daily production capacity increased from 271 tonnes in 1970 to approximately 575 tonnes in 1980 and 14,750 tonnes by 2015, including daily clinker capacity of 11,900 tonnes. Qatar National Cement Company also expanded beyond ordinary cement manufacturing. A lime calcination plant was completed in 1978 with capacity of 100 tonnes per day, and a hydrated lime plant was established in 1985 with capacity of 240 tonnes per day. These facilities broadened its role in supplying construction and industrial materials. In 1976, the government created separate departments for cement exports and domestic sales supervision, but both were discontinued after proving ineffective. The company serves the Qatari construction market and has claimed to supply about 70% of local cement demand. Its strategic importance is therefore linked to Qatar's domestic infrastructure and building activity, rather than to a widely international consumer-facing brand. Publicly available reference material identifies the company primarily as a national industrial producer; detailed information on its current management, ownership beyond the historical government stake, website, financial performance, and international operations is not established in the supplied sources.
History
Planning for a cement industry in Qatar began in 1956, when the country started considering domestic production of a basic construction material previously dependent on external supply. A preliminary survey followed in 1963. Umm Bab was selected as the industrial site because it was one of two areas in Qatar known to contain substantial deposits of limestone and clay, allowing the company to locate production close to important raw materials. Qatar National Cement Company was established in 1965 with starting capital of QR5 million. It became the first cement company established in Qatar and one of the first significant non-oil industries commissioned in the country. Its original ownership model combined state and private participation. The government of Dubai was an early private stakeholder, while the company's first nine-member board included Qatari government officials, a Dubai government representative, and founding members. The Dubai representative withdrew from the board in 1972. The company began installing its facilities in 1967. Its first production complex was inaugurated in May 1969 with annual capacity of 100,000 tonnes. A second facility was built in 1974, followed by a third in 1976. The production system was initially designed around Portland cement, but rising domestic demand encouraged the company to add salt-resistant cement. Production capacity was reported at 271 tonnes per day in 1970 and about 575 tonnes per day in 1980. The government attempted to organize the company's commercial functions in 1976 by creating separate departments for cement exports and for supervision of domestic cement sales. Both departments were later abolished because they were considered ineffective. In 1978, the company completed a lime calcination plant with capacity of 100 tonnes per day. A hydrated lime plant followed in 1985, with reported capacity of 240 tonnes per day. These additions extended the company's product range beyond cement into related lime materials. Corporate governance changed in 1980, when the board was restructured to provide greater representation to the Qatari government. A 2010 reference reported that the government owned 43% of the company. By 2015, reported daily cement production capacity had reached 14,750 tonnes, while daily clinker capacity stood at 11,900 tonnes. The company has claimed to meet approximately 70% of Qatar's local cement requirements. Its historical development therefore follows Qatar's broader industrialization: it began as a mixed-ownership national industrial project and developed into a large domestic supplier of cement and related materials for the country's construction sector.
- 2015
Reported capacity expansion
[1]Reported daily cement capacity reached 14,750 tonnes, with clinker capacity of 11,900 tonnes per day.
- 1985
Hydrated lime plant established
[1]A hydrated lime plant was established with reported capacity of 240 tonnes per day.
- 1980
Board restructured
[1]The board was reorganized to give the Qatari government greater representation.
- 1978
Lime calcination plant completed
[1]The company completed a lime calcination plant rated at 100 tonnes per day.
- 1976
Third facility and sales departments
[1]A third facility was constructed, while the government created separate departments for exports and domestic cement-sales supervision.
- 1974
Second facility constructed
[1]The company added a second production facility to expand cement capacity.
- 1969
First plant inaugurated
[1]The initial facility opened in May with annual production capacity of 100,000 tonnes.
- 1967
Initial facilities installed
[1]Installation of the company's first production facilities began at Umm Bab.
- 1965
Company established
[1]Qatar National Cement Company was founded with starting capital of QR5 million and became Qatar's first cement company.
- 1963
Preliminary survey conducted
[1]A preliminary survey examined the basis for establishing cement production in Qatar.
Products and positioning
A nationally significant Qatari producer of cement, clinker, and lime products serving domestic construction demand and supporting the country's building-materials supply chain.
Cement · 1969
Portland cement
Portland cement was the company's original principal product. The initial facilities were designed to manufacture this standard cement for Qatar's construction market. It remains the core product category associated with the company's historical development and domestic supply role.
Specialty cement
Salt-resistant cement
Salt-resistant cement was added after demand expanded beyond the company's original Portland-cement design. The product is intended for construction conditions where cement may face saline exposure, making it relevant to infrastructure and building projects in a Gulf environment.
Cement intermediate
Clinker
Clinker is the kiln-produced intermediate used to make cement. The company's reported 2015 clinker capacity indicates that clinker production formed a substantial part of its integrated manufacturing operations at Umm Bab.
Lime · 1978
Quicklime
Quicklime was produced through the company's lime calcination operations. A calcination plant completed in 1978 was reported to have capacity of 100 tonnes per day, extending the business into a related mineral product.
Lime · 1985
Hydrated lime
Hydrated lime became part of the company's portfolio after a dedicated plant was established in 1985. The plant was reported at 240 tonnes per day and broadened the company's supply of construction and industrial lime products.
Brand decisions
1980
Governance restructuredStrategyBackground
The company continued to operate as a mixed public-private industrial enterprise, with the Qatari state seeking a stronger role in governance.
Action taken
The board was restructured to increase representation of the Qatari government.
Aftermath
The change strengthened the state's institutional presence in the company's governance.
1976
Separate export and domestic-sales departments createdStrategyBackground
The government sought to organize the company's commercial activities as cement production and domestic demand expanded.
Action taken
Separate departments were established for cement exports and supervision of cement sales within Qatar.
Aftermath
Both departments were later discontinued after being judged ineffective.
Sources1 sources
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