UAE plywood prices vary by thickness, grade, source and quantity. An older UAE directory headed 2024 puts an 18 mm MR commercial sheet at AED 78–110 retail and AED 48–68 for 500+ sheets; these are historical reference bands, not live November 2026 quotes. Compare dated local sellers, VAT and delivery costs before choosing. Container importers also check freight, duty and 5% VAT. Qualifying Vietnamese-origin goods may obtain UAE–Vietnam CEPA preferences at the rate for the correct tariff line and proof of origin.
What is the average price of plywood in the UAE?
There is no reliable single average price for all plywood in the UAE: thickness, glue, grade, origin and order size change the quote. The table below comes from a public directory headed 2024, not a live November 2026 nationwide survey. Check current seller listings, stock, VAT and delivery before comparing import offers.
| 8 × 4 ft sheet | Grade | Usual origin | Retail, 1–9 | Wholesale, 50+ | Bulk, 500+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 mm | MR commercial | India, China | AED 25–38 | AED 18–28 | AED 14–22 |
| 6 mm | MR commercial | India, China | AED 38–55 | AED 28–42 | AED 22–35 |
| 9 mm | MR commercial | India, China | AED 50–72 | AED 38–55 | AED 30–45 |
| 12 mm | MR commercial | India, China | AED 62–88 | AED 48–68 | AED 38–55 |
| 12 mm | BWP waterproof | India | AED 82–110 | AED 65–88 | AED 52–72 |
| 12 mm | Film-faced shuttering | China, Malaysia | AED 55–75 | AED 42–60 | AED 34–50 |
| 18 mm | MR commercial | India, China | AED 78–110 | AED 60–85 | AED 48–68 |
| 18 mm | BWP waterproof | India | AED 100–140 | AED 80–115 | AED 65–95 |
| 18 mm | BS 1088 marine | Finland, Malaysia | AED 160–220 | AED 130–175 | AED 110–155 |
| 18 mm | Teak or oak veneer face | India, Germany | AED 180–280 | AED 145–225 | AED 120–185 |
| 25 mm | MR commercial | India, China | AED 110–155 | AED 88–125 | AED 72–100 |
Source: historical price benchmark table of the Yellow Pages UAE plywood and veneers guide, headed 2024, retrieved on 20 October 2026. The prices are reference bands, not November 2026 selling rates.
Newer seller cross-check (observed 3 November 2026): Wood Supply UAE’s 18 mm catalogue displayed 1220 × 2440 mm commercial plywood from China at AED 70 and Indonesia at AED 90 per sheet. The FEPY buyer guide updated 20 April 2026 quoted an indicative AED 85–140 band for 18 mm MR plywood. Different origin and grade definitions, taxes and delivery can explain divergent prices. These are dated observations and a retailer guide, not verified stock or November checkout prices.
A quote for your exact build, quantity, VAT treatment and delivery point is the price that counts. Neither a 2024 directory ceiling nor a single vendor listing is a national average.
18 mm plywood price in the UAE
The 2024 directory benchmark, not a current national quotation, puts an 18 mm MR commercial sheet at AED 78–110 retail, AED 60–85 for 50+ sheets and AED 48–68 for 500+ sheets. For a more recent retail comparison, see the linked 2026 local seller observations above. The 18 mm thickness is used for cabinets, wardrobes, shopfitting, partitions and site work.
The grade moves the price more than the quantity does. 18 mm BWP waterproof plywood costs AED 100–140 retail, about 1.3 times MR board. 18 mm BS 1088 marine costs AED 160–220, about twice MR. A veneer-faced 18 mm panel with a teak or oak face costs AED 180–280, because the face veneer is the expensive layer.
An 18 mm 8 × 4 sheet holds 0.0536 m³ (1.22 × 2.44 × 0.018 m), so price per sheet and price per cubic metre convert with one number. Importers quote per cubic metre; retailers price per sheet.
What do live UAE shop listings show for 18 mm plywood?
UAE online listings observed on 21 October 2026 showed an 18 mm commercial sheet at AED 96–166 and an 18 mm marine-labelled sheet at AED 85–175, depending on origin and brand. These are vendor-specific dated snapshots, not a guarantee that all 2026 online retail prices exceed the 2024 directory bands; other sellers display cheaper 18 mm commercial sheets.
| Listing (4 × 8 ft sheet) | 18 mm price per sheet | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FEPY, Indonesian commercial | AED 145 | Free delivery above AED 200 |
| FEPY, commercial, origin not stated | AED 166 | Same shop |
| MIH Home, Malaysian commercial | AED 158 | Origin stated |
| MIH Home, Indian commercial | AED 105 | Origin stated |
| MIH Home, Chinese commercial | AED 96 | Origin stated |
| MIH Home, commercial block board | AED 89.25 | Block board, not plywood |
| FEPY, marine-labelled brands | AED 85–175 | Eleven brands; most AED 134–150 |
The same listings price thinner and special sheets: a 5 mm bend plywood sheet at AED 110 (MIH Home), a 4 mm veneer-faced sheet at AED 40 (MIH Home), and 4 mm commercial at AED 47.50 and 12 mm at AED 100 (FEPY, origin not stated). The shops do not state whether prices include 5% VAT, so add it when comparing with a quote in the trade.
Origin moves the sheet price more than the thickness does: a Malaysian 18 mm board costs about 1.6 times a Chinese one in the same shop, which matches the core and glue difference. Marine labels on these listings carry brand names and no BS 1088 certificate, so treat them as WBP exterior panels unless the mill’s certificate is shown. A one-product store lists a 12 mm marine 4 × 8 ft sheet at AED 105 with VAT included (Blue Rhine); that is the retail level a container importer should plan to undercut.
Retail listings are what a shopper pays today; a container importer buys at a trade price below them. Work from the trade bands above and from the container-to-sheet price walk below.
12 mm and 6 mm plywood price in the UAE
A 12 mm MR commercial sheet costs AED 62–88 retail in the UAE and AED 38–55 for 500+ sheets; a 6 mm sheet costs AED 38–55 retail and AED 22–35 in bulk. Thin sheets cost more per cubic metre than thick ones, because each sheet still needs its glue lines, pressing and handling.
| Thickness, MR commercial | Retail per sheet | Volume per sheet | Retail per m³ (low end) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 mm | AED 38–55 | 0.0179 m³ | about AED 2,130 |
| 12 mm | AED 62–88 | 0.0357 m³ | about AED 1,740 |
| 18 mm | AED 78–110 | 0.0536 m³ | about AED 1,460 |
The per-cubic-metre column divides the lowest retail price by the sheet volume (1.22 × 2.44 m × thickness). It shows why a buyer who needs thin panels should compare by the sheet, and a buyer who can choose the thickness should compare by the cubic metre.
12 mm BWP waterproof sheets cost AED 82–110 retail. For thickness-by-thickness detail outside the UAE, see plywood price by thickness.
Marine plywood price in the UAE and Dubai
Marine plywood in the UAE costs AED 160–220 for an 18 mm BS 1088 sheet retail, AED 130–175 for 50+ sheets and AED 110–155 for 500+ sheets. The guide lists Finland and Malaysia as the usual origins.
The marine price buys four things: durable species, a core without gaps, a phenolic bond that survives boiling, and a BS 1088 certificate in the producing mill’s name. Sheets sold as “marine grade” without that certificate are usually WBP-bonded exterior panels. They can suit exterior joinery or site work, and they should be priced and invoiced as what they are.
For boats, pontoons and certified marine work, buy BS 1088 with its certificate. For bathrooms, kitchens and exterior joinery, a BWP or WBP panel is usually the better value. Our full breakdown is in marine plywood price.
Shuttering and film-faced plywood price in the UAE
A 12 mm film-faced shuttering sheet costs AED 55–75 retail in the UAE, AED 42–60 for 50+ sheets and AED 34–50 for 500+ sheets; the guide lists China and Malaysia as usual origins. Contractors usually buy 12 mm, 15 mm or 18 mm film-faced plywood by the container for concrete formwork.
The film, the core and the glue decide what a shuttering sheet is worth. Film is usually about 120–135 g/m², with premium film from 135 g/m². The reuse count depends on the glue: about 12–15 pours with a melamine bond and up to about 25 with a phenolic bond, with proper handling, release agent and edge sealing.
Price per pour is the number that matters on site. A sheet that costs 20% more and lasts twice as many pours is the lower-cost sheet. Film-faced and anti-slip plywood use acacia or eucalyptus cores. See film-faced plywood price and shuttering plywood price for the formwork detail.
Why do plywood prices differ between Dubai and Sharjah?
Plywood prices differ between Dubai and Sharjah mainly because of overheads and delivery: a Dubai plywood price for a bulk order often sits above the Sharjah price for the same sheet. The UAE guide says Sharjah wholesalers often price bulk orders about 5–15% below Dubai, helped by lower overheads, and that delivery to a Dubai site typically costs AED 80–200 per trip, with free delivery common above 100 sheets.
Three other things explain gaps between two shops in the same city:
- Different panels under the same name. “18 mm commercial” can mean a mixed core with gaps or a graded core with a better face.
- Different real thickness. A sheet sold as 18 mm can measure less; ask for the tolerance.
- Different services. Cutting usually adds about AED 3–8 per cut, and edge banding or delivery adds more.
Compare the build, the real thickness and the services before comparing two shelf prices.
What drives the plywood price in the UAE?
The plywood price in the UAE is driven by the panel’s build, the quantity, and the cost of getting it from the mill to the yard. Each line below should be written on a quote, because a change in any one of them changes the price.
| Price driver | What changes | Effect on price |
|---|---|---|
| Face | Species, veneer thickness, grade, sanding | Clear or decorative faces cost most |
| Core | Species, grade, stitched or loose-laid, ply count | Graded, stitched cores cost more and stay flat |
| Glue and emission | MR (UF), melamine-fortified, phenolic WBP; E2, E1, E0 | Phenolic and low-emission cost more |
| Thickness | 3–40 mm | Per sheet rises with thickness; per m³ falls |
| Size | 1220 × 2440, 1250 × 2500 mm, custom | Custom and cut-to-size cost more |
| Quantity | Sheets, packs, full 40HC | Container quantities carry the lowest unit cost |
| Delivery term | FOB, CFR, CIF, ex-warehouse | Freight, insurance, duty and storage move in |
The UAE dirham is pegged to the US dollar at AED 3.6725 per US$1, so a factory price in US dollars converts to dirhams at a fixed rate. Freight rates, veneer and resin costs move; the exchange rate does not.
How a container price becomes a UAE sheet price
A container price becomes a UAE sheet price in seven steps. Each step adds a cost; only the first one comes from the mill.
- FOB price. The mill’s price per cubic metre, loaded on board at Hai Phong.
- Sea freight and insurance. CFR adds freight to the UAE port; CIF adds insurance too. Typical days at sea from Hai Phong to the Middle East are 15–25.
- Customs duty. Check the exact tariff line and origin preference before applying the standard CIF-based duty. The UAE–Vietnam CEPA took effect on 3 February 2026; qualifying Vietnamese-origin goods can receive preferential treatment under its tariff schedule and origin rules (UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism). Before quoting a preferential landed price, obtain the customs tariff line, the rate for that line on the entry date, and origin evidence under the applicable rules (Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade, Circular 24/2026/TT-BCT, effective 5 May 2026).
- Import VAT. 5% on the import customs value including customs duty. VAT-registered importers may recover eligible input VAT subject to the FTA conditions (Federal Tax Authority VAT returns guide).
- Port, clearance and trucking. Terminal handling, the clearing agent and the truck to the yard.
- Storage and losses. Warehouse time, damaged sheets and stock that waits for buyers.
- Margin and sales costs. The importer’s and the retailer’s margin, cutting and delivery to site.
In a simplified example with 5% duty, 5% VAT and no other valuation additions, the combined tax is 10.25% of CIF (1.05 × 1.05 = 1.1025). Use the actual preferential duty rate when the goods qualify, rather than applying this example to every Vietnamese shipment.
A buyer who imports a full 40HC pays steps 1–5 and keeps steps 6–7 in house. A buyer who buys 50 sheets from a yard pays all seven. That is why the wholesale and bulk columns of the UAE table sit well below the retail column.
How many sheets fit in a 40HC to the UAE?
At 18 mm and 1220 × 2440 mm, a 40HC carries 990 sheets on a Styrax core (55 sheets × 18 packs, about 53 m³), 880 on acacia (55 × 16, about 47 m³) and 795 on eucalyptus (53 × 15, about 43 m³). Those counts are capped by weight, within a 28,000 kg planning payload unless the booking is lower.
Sheets per container decide freight per sheet. A lighter core puts more cubic metres in the same box, so freight and duty-paid cost per cubic metre fall. Heavier acacia and eucalyptus cores give a heavier, stiffer sheet for site and commercial use.
Packs are about 1,000 mm high, with sheets per pack set by thickness and capped by weight. Every Minh Thanh shipment is photographed and filmed before loading, and buyers get the photos and video. Work out your own load in the packing calculator.
Importing plywood from Vietnam vs China for the UAE
Both Vietnam and China supply the UAE, and the right choice depends on the build you need. The UAE price guide lists India and China as the usual origins for commercial board, and China and Malaysia for shuttering; Vietnamese mills compete on the same products.
| Point | Vietnam | China |
|---|---|---|
| Core species | Acacia, eucalyptus, Styrax (white core), mixed | Poplar, eucalyptus, mixed hardwood |
| Strength in the UAE market | Furniture, commercial, film-faced, exterior | Commercial, film-faced, decorative faces |
| Faces | EV, poplar, birch, okoume, pine and more | Wide range of faces |
| Transit to the Middle East | 15–25 days at sea from Hai Phong | Varies by port |
| Duty in the UAE | CEPA preference where the tariff line and origin evidence qualify | Check the tariff line and applicable origin treatment |
Compare the landed quotes using the duty rate confirmed for each shipment, as well as the build, price and supplier. Vietnamese plantation cores give a range of weights: Styrax for light, flat furniture panels, acacia and eucalyptus for heavier commercial and film-faced panels. Ask any mill for the core species, ply count, glue and tolerance in writing, and compare like with like. Our guide to how to import plywood from Vietnam walks through the order from quote to arrival.
Re-export from the UAE to Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia
Many UAE importers sell on to Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and to East Africa. The GCC states share a common customs framework, but the destination tariff line and origin treatment still need checking. A UAE–Vietnam CEPA preference does not by itself establish the duty payable in another destination.
Free-zone storage at Jebel Ali lets an importer hold stock without paying mainland duty until the goods enter the UAE market, then re-export to neighbouring countries. That is why Dubai yards stock many thicknesses and grades: they supply the whole region.
Saudi Arabia has its own technical rules and registration for regulated products, and a Saudi buyer should agree the documents before shipment. Our 18 mm plywood price in Saudi Arabia and GCC plywood import requirements guides cover the neighbouring markets.
Ordinary vs marine plywood price in the UAE
Ordinary MR commercial plywood costs about half as much as BS 1088 marine plywood in the UAE: AED 78–110 against AED 160–220 for an 18 mm sheet retail. BWP waterproof plywood, at AED 100–140, sits in between.
| 18 mm sheet, retail | Bond | Core | Certificate | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MR commercial, AED 78–110 | Urea-formaldehyde (MR) | Mixed, gaps possible | None | Interior furniture, partitions, shopfitting |
| BWP waterproof, AED 100–140 | Phenolic or melamine WBP | Graded hardwood | Mill test | Kitchens, bathrooms, exterior joinery |
| BS 1088 marine, AED 160–220 | Phenolic WBP, boil-tested | Gap-free | BS 1088 | Boats, pontoons, certified marine work |
Most interior jobs in the UAE need MR or BWP, not marine. Buy the bond your use needs, then the face your client sees.
What Minh Thanh Plywood offers UAE buyers
Minh Thanh Plywood is a manufacturer in Ha Hoa, Phu Tho, Vietnam, with 50,000+ m³ of annual capacity and over 20 years of plywood-making experience. For UAE importers and distributors we make furniture and interior plywood, commercial and packing plywood, film-faced and exterior panels.
- Indicative starting prices, October 2026: commercial plywood from US$250/m³ and furniture/interior plywood from US$350/m³; the final price depends on face, core, glue, thickness, size, quantity and delivery term.
- Build: Styrax or eucalyptus cores as standard, acacia and pine on order; core layers stitched horizontally and vertically; furniture panels pressed twice; sanded furniture panels to ±0.2–0.3 mm.
- Glue and emission: UF glue at E0 emission for furniture panels; melamine-fortified or phenolic WBP bonds to your specification. CARB P2 / TSCA Title VI certified (ICTT mill no. 23024); see our certification details.
- Faces: 10+ face veneers, mostly EV, poplar, birch, okoume and pine.
- Sizes: 1220 × 2440 and 1250 × 2500 mm, plus custom sizes and cut-to-size.
- Terms: MOQ one 40HC with mixed specifications by agreement; 15–45 days after the 30% deposit; 70% against the scanned B/L or an irrevocable L/C at sight; FOB Hai Phong, CFR or CIF to Jebel Ali or your port; free samples.
For the US emission framework, see EPA’s TSCA Title VI guidance.
See the furniture plywood range, or the pillar plywood price guide for how mill prices are built.
What to send for a UAE plywood quote
Send the use, the build and the delivery point, and we reply within hours with a quote you can set beside a local yard price.
- Application: furniture, kitchens, shopfitting, formwork, packing or exterior use.
- Core: Styrax, eucalyptus or acacia; stitched or not.
- Glue and emission: MR, melamine-fortified or phenolic WBP; E0 or E1; CARB P2 / TSCA if needed.
- Face and back: species and grade pair, sanded or not.
- Size and thickness: 1220 × 2440 or 1250 × 2500 mm, thickness and tolerance, cut-to-size if needed.
- Packing and quantity: pack type, containers per month, Jebel Ali or another port, CFR or CIF.
Write to [email protected] or WhatsApp +84 988 586 601 (Lisa), Monday–Friday, 08:00–17:00 Vietnam time.
Buyer questions, answered
What is the average price of plywood in the UAE?
There is no single UAE plywood average across grades and sellers. A directory table headed 2024 puts 18 mm MR commercial at AED 78–110 retail and AED 48–68 for 500+ sheets, but those are historic reference bands, not verified current store quotations; check today's stock, VAT and delivery separately.
How much is an 18 mm plywood sheet in Dubai online?
On 21 October 2026, live UAE online listings priced an 18 mm commercial sheet from AED 96 for Chinese origin to AED 166, with Indonesian at AED 145 and Malaysian at AED 158. Marine-labelled 18 mm sheets ranged from AED 85 to AED 175 by brand. Trade bands for 50+ and 500+ sheets are lower.
What is the price of 18 mm plywood in the UAE?
An older UAE directory headed 2024 gives 18 mm MR commercial at AED 78–110 retail, AED 60–85 for 50+ sheets and AED 48–68 for 500+ sheets. These are benchmark bands only: November 2026 seller listings and actual delivered quotes must be checked before ordering.
What is the price of 12 mm plywood in the UAE?
A 12 mm MR commercial sheet costs AED 62–88 retail and AED 38–55 for 500+ sheets; 12 mm BWP plywood costs AED 82–110 retail. A 12 mm film-faced shuttering sheet costs AED 55–75 retail.
How much is marine plywood in Dubai?
An 18 mm BS 1088 marine plywood sheet costs AED 160–220 retail in the UAE, AED 130–175 for 50+ sheets and AED 110–155 for 500+ sheets. Sheets sold as "marine grade" without a BS 1088 certificate usually cost less and are a different panel.
What is the price of 6 mm plywood in the UAE?
A 6 mm MR commercial sheet costs AED 38–55 retail, AED 28–42 for 50+ sheets and AED 22–35 for 500+ sheets, from the same public UAE price guide.
What is the difference between ordinary and marine plywood price?
In the UAE, 18 mm BS 1088 marine plywood costs about 2.0–2.3 times 18 mm MR commercial plywood at every order size. The marine panel pays for durable species, a gap-free core, a phenolic bond and certification.
Is plywood cheaper in Sharjah than in Dubai?
Often for bulk orders. Sharjah wholesalers tend to have lower overheads and can price bulk orders around 5–15% below Dubai, while delivery to a Dubai site typically costs AED 80–200 per trip.
What import duty does the UAE charge on plywood?
Check the exact tariff line and origin evidence. Qualifying Vietnamese-origin plywood can receive UAE–Vietnam CEPA preferences. With 5% duty, 5% VAT and no other valuation additions, the combined tax is 10.25% of CIF; that is an example, not a rate for every shipment.
Does core species affect the plywood price?
Yes. The core is most of the panel's volume, so its species and grade move the price more than any other line. It also sets the weight: an 18 mm sheet weighs about 26.8 kg on Styrax, 31.1 kg on acacia and 34.8 kg on eucalyptus, which changes how much fits in a container.
Is Vietnamese plywood good for the UAE market?
Yes. Vietnamese mills supply furniture, commercial, film-faced and exterior plywood on plantation hardwood cores, with Middle East transit of 15–25 days from Hai Phong. Choose the build by use, as with any origin.
How long does shipping take from Vietnam to Jebel Ali?
Typical days at sea from Hai Phong to the Middle East are 15–25, by carrier and route. Production at Minh Thanh Plywood takes 15–45 days after the deposit.