Summary for July 2026
- Rebar: most sizes down about 3.5% on the previous month, and still about 18 to 20% above July 2025. A tonne of 12 mm rebar is about 3,163 SAR.
- Ready-mix concrete, block and cement: almost flat month on month, with yearly changes between -2.6% and -0.3%.
- Wire and cable: yearly changes between +22% and +26%, aluminium frame sections +17%.
Price table
National averages in SAR excluding VAT, from the Saudi Contractors Authority monthly bulletin built on GASTAT data (July 2026 bulletin, PDF). Actual Riyadh prices vary a little with supplier, quantity and delivery.
National rebar
| Item | Unit | Price July 2026 (SAR) | vs June 2026 | vs July 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 mm | tonne | 3,181.84 | -3.88% | +17.73% |
| 10 mm | tonne | 3,242.62 | -3.46% | +17.90% |
| 12 mm | tonne | 3,163.36 | -3.54% | +19.67% |
| 16 mm | tonne | 3,166.48 | -3.53% | +19.52% |
| 6 mm | tonne | 4,110.92 | -0.83% | +4.73% |
Ready-mix concrete
| Item | Unit | Price July 2026 (SAR) | vs June 2026 | vs July 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulphate resisting, 350 kg | m³ | 224.90 | +0.23% | -2.28% |
| Sulphate resisting, 250 kg | m³ | 203.73 | -0.25% | -2.61% |
| Ordinary, 350 kg | m³ | 215.42 | +0.50% | -2.20% |
| Ordinary, 250 kg | m³ | 195.66 | +0.03% | -2.46% |
Cement, block and sand
| Item | Unit | Price July 2026 (SAR) | vs June 2026 | vs July 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grey cement, national | 50 kg bag | 15.53 | -1.21% | -0.26% |
| White cement, national | 50 kg bag | 37.73 | -2.30% | -1.10% |
| Concrete block 20 cm | 1,000 blocks | 1,735.87 | +0.18% | -1.13% |
| Concrete block 15 cm | 1,000 blocks | 1,678.04 | +0.10% | -1.55% |
| Fine white sand | m³ | 77.58 | +0.86% | +0.35% |
| Sand and gravel mix | m³ | 52.82 | +0.88% | +0.72% |
| Red sand | m³ | 38.58 | +1.47% | -0.67% |
Electrical
| Item | Unit | Price July 2026 (SAR) | vs June 2026 | vs July 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wire 2.5 mm, national | m | 1.47 | +1.38% | +22.50% |
| Wire 4 mm, national | m | 2.16 | +0.47% | +22.03% |
| Cable 10 mm, national | m | 26.90 | +0.86% | +24.31% |
| Cable 35 mm, national | m | 78.82 | +1.22% | +26.21% |
Finishing and timber
| Item | Unit | Price July 2026 (SAR) | vs June 2026 | vs July 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium frame section, Saudi | 5.8 m length | 105.12 | +1.47% | +16.63% |
| Gypsum, national | 40 kg bag | 15.76 | -0.51% | -0.13% |
| Terrazzo chip tile, local | m² | 23.06 | -0.73% | -2.86% |
| Romanian timber | m³ | 1,631.11 | -1.84% | +10.04% |
| Indonesian plywood | m³ | 3,150.49 | -1.49% | +0.34% |
What this means for a 700 m2 villa
A residential villa needs roughly 45 to 55 kg of rebar per m2 of built-up area, about 35 tonnes for 700 m2. The 12 mm rebar price moved about 520 SAR per tonne between July 2025 and July 2026, about 18,000 SAR more on steel alone. Sulphate resisting concrete moved about 5 SAR per m3, about 1,800 SAR less on some 350 m3. Cable and wire weigh on the electrical package, so fix their price in the contract or buy early when they rise. For a full estimate try the villa cost calculator.
The steel and concrete quantities per m2 are estimates from past villa projects; exact figures come from the bar bending schedule and take-off of your drawings.
Construction cost index: September 2026
According to GASTAT, the construction cost index changed +2.2% in September 2026 against the same month a year earlier. Residential +2.1% and non-residential +2.6%. In residential: basic materials +1.7%, labour +1.5%, equipment hire +4.1% (+5.5% with operator) and energy +3.0%. The index covers 51 items priced monthly across 13 regions, base year 2023.
Forecast for August 2026
The Saudi Contractors Authority published expected ranges for some materials, based on historical data only:
| Material | July 2026 | Expected range, August |
|---|---|---|
| Rebar 8 mm (tonne) | 3,181.84 | 2,906.86 to 3,212.85 |
| Sulphate resisting concrete 350 (m³) | 224.90 | 211.90 to 234.21 |
| Concrete block 15 cm (1,000) | 1,678.04 | 1,582.97 to 1,749.60 |
| Grey cement (bag) | 15.53 | 14.87 to 16.43 |
How to use these prices
- Use them to check material prices in contractor offers, not to price a whole item: an item price adds labour, plant, waste, overheads and profit. Read how an item price is built up.
- On long contracts, discuss a price adjustment clause for rebar and cable linked to this index.
- For the full picture see villa construction cost in Riyadh 2026.
Sources
- Saudi Contractors Authority: building material prices bulletin, July 2026 (PDF, Arabic)
- GASTAT: construction cost index, September 2026 (PDF, Arabic)
Frequently asked questions
What does a tonne of rebar cost in Saudi Arabia in July 2026?
The national average for 12 mm national rebar is about 3,163 SAR per tonne and 8 mm about 3,182 SAR, per the Saudi Contractors Authority bulletin built on GASTAT data.
What does ready-mix concrete cost per m3?
Ordinary 250 kg concrete is about 196 SAR per m3 and sulphate resisting 350 kg about 225 SAR, national average excluding VAT in July 2026.
What does a concrete block cost?
20 cm block is about 1,736 SAR per 1,000 blocks and 15 cm about 1,678 SAR in July 2026.
Are construction costs rising?
The construction cost index changed +2.2% year on year in September 2026, according to GASTAT.
