Residential Construction Dominates the GCC Plasterboard Market, Accounting for Nearly Half of Total Demand
The market share distribution of plasterboard within various applications highlights the structural demand drivers and maturity profile of the GCC plasterboard market. Residential construction has established itself as the leading consumption segment, representing 48.89% of total demand. This significant share illustrates the scale and ongoing nature of housing development in the GCC, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Government-backed housing initiatives, population growth, and urban expansion under Vision 2030 have greatly accelerated residential construction activity.
Plasterboard has emerged as the preferred choice for interior walls and ceilings in modern housing projects, thanks to its quick installation, cost-effectiveness, adaptability to design changes, and increasing acceptance of dry construction methods over traditional masonry. Additionally, the rising renovation and refurbishment activity in the UAE and other mature markets boosts residential demand, as plasterboard facilitates faster retrofits, layout reconfigurations, and compliance with updated fire and acoustic standards.
The dominance of the residential sector also reflects the growing prevalence of mid-rise and high-rise apartment buildings in GCC cities, where plasterboard partitions are crucial for optimizing space and integrating services. The commercial sector follows with the second-largest share at 26.11%, underscoring the significance of offices, retail centers, hotels, and mixed-use developments in sustaining demand for plasterboard within the GCC market. These commercial structures often require higher-specification boards such as fire-resistant, moisture-resistant, and acoustic plasterboards driven by strict building codes, insurance mandates, and occupant comfort expectations. Therefore, while commercial projects comprise a smaller portion of total volume compared to residential construction, they significantly enhance market value due to the higher average selling price of specialty boards.
The continued development of hospitality assets, business districts, shopping malls, and prime office spaces, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, supports robust commercial demand, even during periods of moderating residential construction. Infrastructure applications capture 12.00% of total demand, reflecting the increasing role of plasterboard in large-scale public and transport-related projects, including airports, metro stations, rail terminals, exhibition centers, and government facilities. Traditionally, infrastructure projects in the GCC relied heavily on concrete and masonry; however, modern developments increasingly incorporate plasterboard systems for interior finishes, fire-rated partitions, and acoustic control. This transition is facilitated by faster project timelines, modular construction approaches, and stricter safety regulations, positioning infrastructure as one of the fastest-growing segments within the GCC plasterboard market, despite its smaller initial share.
Institutional applications account for 8.00% of demand, which encompasses healthcare facilities, educational institutions, government buildings, and religious structures. Demand in this segment is closely linked to public sector investment cycles and the development of social infrastructure. Hospitals and healthcare facilities drive the need for fire-resistant, moisture-resistant, and impact-resistant plasterboards because of strict hygiene, durability, and safety requirements. Although educational institutions and government buildings contribute to institutional demand, procurement processes are often cost-sensitive and project-based, which can limit volume scalability compared to residential and commercial segments.
Industrial applications represent the smallest share at 5.00%, reflecting the limited role of plasterboard in heavy industrial construction, where steel and concrete dominate. In industrial settings, plasterboard use tends to be confined to offices, control rooms, laboratories, and fire-rated partitions within warehouses and logistics facilities. Although industrial activity is on the rise across the GCC, particularly in Saudi Arabia’s industrial zones and logistics hubs, plasterboard remains a secondary material, constraining its overall share.
Overall, the application mix of the GCC plasterboard market underscores its foundation in housing-led volume growth while increasingly benefiting from value-driven demand from commercial and infrastructure projects. The strength of residential applications ensures a stable baseline demand for standard plasterboard, while commercial, infrastructure, and institutional segments stimulate the uptake of premium, regulation-compliant products that enhance overall market value. This balanced demand structure fortifies the resilience of the GCC plasterboard market, enabling it to absorb fluctuations in individual construction segments while maintaining long-term growth momentum driven by urbanization, regulatory enforcement, and evolving construction practices in the region.