Cement Types in Saudi Arabia: Ordinary Portland vs Sulfate-Resistant vs White, and When Each Is Required
Ordinary, sulfate-resistant, and white cement compared for Saudi projects, and when sulfate-resistant is required in sabkha soil and saline groundwater in the Eastern Province and Jeddah. Median prices from Almadah's catalog (VAT-inclusive, 08/11/2026).
Short answer: Three types cover most demand: ordinary Portland cement for general concrete and mortar, sulfate-resistant cement when the soil report or groundwater shows harmful sulfates (typical of sabkha ground in the Eastern Province and Jeddah), and white cement for decorative work. The choice is an engineering decision, not a price one. Median in Almadah's catalog: SAR 18.11 for ordinary and SAR 19.32 for sulfate-resistant, VAT included (08/11/2026).
| Cement type | Main use | When it is required |
| Ordinary Portland | Concrete, footings, mortar, and plaster in normal soil | The default when the design specifies nothing else |
| Sulfate-resistant | Foundations, footings, slabs, tanks, and retaining walls in contact with soil or water | When the geotechnical report or structural drawings call out sulfates or harmful salts, and in sabkha soil and saline groundwater |
| White | Terrazzo floors, decorative facades, cast stone, white grout | Never structurally required; chosen for the final color |
| Finishing | Wall plastering and non-structural work | When the manufacturer or contractor specifies it for plaster, not for structural concrete |
What is the difference between ordinary Portland and sulfate-resistant cement?
Ordinary cement is the most widely used and suits concrete and mortar in soil without harmful salts. Sulfate-resistant cement (designated Type V in international specifications) has a chemistry that limits tricalcium aluminate, the compound that reacts with sulfates, so there is less of the expansion and cracking that sulfates cause in buried concrete. In the catalog the two differ little in price but a lot in risk: median SAR 18.11 for ordinary against SAR 19.32 for sulfate-resistant, about SAR 1.21 more per bag.
| Type in the catalog | Price range (SAR) | Median (SAR) |
| Ordinary | 16.91 to 18.11 | 18.11 |
| Sulfate-resistant | 17.50 to 19.32 | 19.32 |
| White | 32.00 to 35.89 | 32.20 |
As of 08/11/2026, VAT-inclusive (15%), for named cement products that are published and approved. Bag weight varies by brand: take it from the product page and compare like for like.
Why do sabkha soil and saline groundwater in the Eastern Province and Jeddah call for sulfate-resistant cement?
Sabkha is salty ground with a shallow water table, common along the coast, including parts of the Eastern Province and Jeddah. When concrete sits in this soil or in water carrying sulfates and chlorides, reactions begin that expand the concrete and flake its surface over the years. The danger is that it happens underground, out of sight. That is why many soil reports and structural drawings for these sites require sulfate-resistant cement in foundations and any concrete in contact with the ground.
Points the engineer settles, not the supplier:
- The authority is the soil report and the structural drawings. Do not decide the type from the district or city alone; sites vary even within one city.
- Cement alone is not enough. Concrete quality (water-cement ratio, compaction, cover, curing) and foundation waterproofing are part of the protection. On chloride-heavy sites the engineer may specify a different mix or admixtures, so sulfate-resistant cement is not a cure-all for every salt.
- Do not mix cement types within one structural element without the supervising engineer's approval.
- Ask the supplier for the product data sheet and conformity certificate when buying for foundations.
For the complementary protection see Waterproofing (Rolls & Liquids) and the thermal and waterproofing guide. The binding reference for all of this is the Saudi Building Code and your project specifications, not this article.
When should I use white cement?
White cement is Portland cement without the iron oxides that make grey cement grey. It is used where color shows: terrazzo floors, cast decorative stone, light facades, and some white grout and putties. It costs roughly double ordinary cement (median SAR 32.20 against SAR 18.11), so there is no reason to use it in foundations or hidden concrete. The price gap comes from color and manufacturing, not structural strength.
Are finishing and pozzolanic cement separate types?
Yes, both appear in the catalog under plant names. Finishing cement is for plastering and non-structural work; catalog products run from SAR 13.46 to SAR 17.51 as of 08/11/2026. Portland pozzolana cement adds a pozzolanic material that improves resistance to some chemical attack and is offered by some plants (example: Tabuk Cement pozzolanic Portland at SAR 17.51). Do not assume it replaces sulfate-resistant cement unless the design says so, and check the product data sheet.
How do I order the right cement, step by step?
- Read the soil report and structural drawings and note the cement type specified for each element (foundations, columns, plaster).
- Work out the quantity and bag weight from the product page.
- Choose a known plant from what is available (Riyadh, Eastern, Saudi, Tabuk, Najran).
- Compare price within the same type and the same weight, and confirm it includes VAT.
- Ask the supplier for proof of the cement type before pouring foundations.
- Store bags off the ground and away from moisture.
For the full category picture see the cement, gypsum, and tile adhesive guide, for products of this type Cement, and for what follows plastering, Tile Adhesives & Grout.
Which brands are most present, and what sells most?
Almadah lists cement from Riyadh, Eastern, Saudi, Tabuk, Najran, Al-Safwa, and Al-Shamaliya. The only product with a visible sales record in this sub-category is Saudi Cement sulfate-resistant, with a single recorded order as of 08/11/2026, a number too small to rank anything on.
FAQ
What is the difference between ordinary and sulfate-resistant cement?
Sulfate-resistant cement is made to reduce the reaction of concrete with sulfates in soil and groundwater, while ordinary suits normal soil. In the catalog the gap is about SAR 1.21 per bag as of 08/11/2026.
Is sulfate-resistant cement mandatory in the Eastern Province and Jeddah?
Not by city alone. It is required when the soil report and structural drawings specify it, which is common in sabkha soil and saline groundwater. The design engineer is the authority.
Can sulfate-resistant cement be used for plaster?
It can, but plaster rarely needs it. It is normally specified for concrete in contact with soil or water.
Why is white cement more expensive?
Because of color and manufacturing, not strength. Its median in the catalog is SAR 32.20 against SAR 18.11 for ordinary as of 08/11/2026.
Can white cement be used in foundations?
There is no structural need and it is not chosen for that; it costs more for no benefit.
Are Almadah's cement prices VAT-inclusive?
Yes, all are inclusive of 15% VAT; no tax is added on top of the displayed price.
