Expansion of the Brazilian presence in the Middle East

Since 2021, when the sectoral project carried out its first initiative in Dubai, the Brazilian natural stone industry has been consistently expanding its presence in the Middle East. The Arab market has become a strategic piece of the map for Brazil’s international promotion, with yearly actions highlighting that the country is a global supplier of high-quality materials.

Between 2021 and 2024, the industry participated in the trade fair Big 5 Global with a combination of lectures, meetings with architects and institutional booths, strengthening relationships with opinion formers and buyers in the region.

In 2025, this path expands with Brazil Stone Collection | Middle East Edition, which comprises a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates and an unprecedented prospective mission to Saudi Arabia, marking a new phase of establishment and growth of the Brazilian presence in the Middle East.

This continued presence has been directly reflected in commercial results. Between January and October 2025, Brazil exported US$20.7 million in natural stones to the Middle East, a growth of 146.5% compared to the same period in the previous year. With US$13.5 million and an increase of 295.8%, the United Arab Emirates is firmly positioned as the main destination, followed by Israel (US$4.2 million; >99.7%) and Saudi Arabia (US$889.7 thousand). 

Brazilian quartzites are the main product exported to the region, accounting for 63.3% of the total (US$13.1 million; >197.3%), followed by granites (30.2%) and marbles (5.7%). 

The significant growth and the strengthening of the institutional schedule turn the Middle East into one of the most promising markets for the expansion of Brazilian natural stones, combining high demand for luxury materials and the improvement of diplomatic and commercial relations between Brazil and Arab countries.

Carried out between November 18 and 28, the program includes a prospective mission, a workshop for architects, rounds of negotiations and institutional meetings, making Brazil a global point of reference in quality, design and sustainability in the natural stone industry.

The Brazilian delegation will consist of representatives from Centrorochas and the project It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone, responsible for being involved in all stages of the mission in the Middle East. Brazilian companies supported by the project will take part in the Dubai stage, which will consist of commercial and promotional activities, including rounds of negotiations and participation in the Big 5 Global trade fair. The delegation includes the vice-president of Centrorochas, Fábio Cruz; the manager of the project It’s Natural, Thiago Fukuda; and the head of communications of the association and the sectoral project, Karina Porto-Firme. The coordinator of Industry and Services at ApexBrasil, Paulo Roberto da Silva, will be part of the delegation for some moments of the official program.

Prospective Mission – Saudi Arabia

The schedule of the mission will begin in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, where a series of institutional and technical visits will be held between November 18 and 20. They aim to strengthen bilateral relations and explore new business opportunities for the Brazilian natural stone industry.

The program includes meetings at the local Brazilian Embassy, where the delegation will be received by Ambassador Paulo Uchôa, as well as appointments with strategic companies in the Saudi market. They include a visit to Meras, a company of the Al Bawani group, and gatherings with executives from Al Bawani itself, intensifying the dialogue with one of the largest multisectoral groups in the country.

Visits to Al Takadom, Middle East Investment Company and the Obaji office are also confirmed, expanding relationships with key sectors such as investment, architecture and interior design. The program also encompasses a visit to Union Source Marble & Granite (UMG), a leading supplier of high-quality stone products.

The activities in Riyadh will conclude on November 20th, when the delegation will travel to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, to continue the international actions planned by the industry. Conducted with the support of the local ApexBrasil office, the prospective mission aims to deepen institutional and commercial relationships with the Saudi market -- one of the most promising markets for the expansion of Brazilian exports of natural stones.

Workshop for architects at Ornare, in Dubai

On November 21st, the project It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone will host a workshop for 30 local architects and designers at the new showroom of Ornare Dubai, one of the most sophisticated addresses in the Middle Eastern design segment.

Renowned as a remarkable case of internationalization, Ornare is a Brazilian manufacturer of high-end custom-made furniture, with over 37 years of experience in the luxury design and architecture market. The brand has successfully expanded its global presence, particularly in the U.S. and the Middle East, where it cemented its operations with a franchise in Dubai.

Ornare’s strategy relies on a bespoke luxury model, geared towards customers who value exclusivity and sophistication, concepts that directly resonate with Brazilian natural stones, which are unique materials by nature, whose aesthetic singularity transforms each project into an exclusively original piece.

The meeting will aim to bring the Brazilian natural stone industry closer to the architecture and interior design community in the United Arab Emirates, further positioning the country as a leading global point of reference in design, sustainability and excellence in natural materials.

Round of Negotiations – Dubai 

On November 24th and 25th, the hotel Conrad Dubai will host the round of negotiations “Brazil Stone Connection – Middle East,” which will bring together 15 Brazilian companies and international buyers from the region. Brazilian companies whose presence is confirmed include Amagran, Atlas Mármores, Bramagran, Brasigran, Gramil, Magban, Magnitos, Marcel, MG2, MGA, Milanezi, Monte Negro, Pedra do Frade, Poliex, and Yellow Stone.

Designed to create high-quality business connections, the initiative relies on specialized matchmaking services, which mapped the profile of each Brazilian company to select buyers with compatible interests and demands. “This custom curation will ensure strategic meetings and further expand the potential results of these negotiations,” said Fukuda.

Over two days devoted exclusively to business deals, Brazilian companies will participate in 30-minute individual meetings with selected buyers. Between 60 and 75 business-to-business (B2B) meetings are expected to take place, promoting strategic connections and new sales opportunities.

Lecture at Big 5 Global

Also on November 25th, the project will participate in the official schedule of Everything Architecture & Design Impact Talks, within Big 5 Global, the largest construction trade fair in the Middle East, which takes place from November 24th to 27th.

Cruz will give a lecture titled “Brazilian Natural Stones: Inspirational Versatility.” It will highlight the creative potential, sustainability and diversity of Brazilian stones in contemporary architectural projects.

Official Program and Institutional Visits

On the morning of November 25th, Cruz and Porto-Firme will participate in the Big 5 Breaking Briefing, a meeting held by Dubai Chambers geared towards institutional integration and aimed at strengthening dialogue with local leaders.

The program continues running from November 26th to 28th, with official visits and meetings, including a technical visit to the Port of Abu Dhabi, accompanied by the Brazilian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. During the gathering, there are plans for the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the development of the Brazilian Natural Stone Hub in the United Arab Emirates, designed to expand Brazil’s commercial presence in the region.

The hub will be structured as a strategic support point for storage, distribution and initiatives geared towards the visibility of Brazilian companies in the Middle East. The creation of th

is physical base is an essential step to reduce logistical barriers and increase Brazil’s competitiveness in relation to countries such as Italy, Turkey, China and India, which are already geographically close and rely on an extensive infrastructure to serve the Arab market.

The initiative represents a milestone for the internationalization of the industry, expanding access to new markets and associating the brand Brazilian Natural Stone with diversity and exclusivity. 

“The Middle East is a strategic market with great potential for the growth of Brazilian exports of natural stones,” said Cruz. “This year, the schedule combines commercial intelligence, institutional diplomacy and the enhancement of our image as a producer of high-quality materials. Furthermore, the study for the creation of a sectoral hub in the United Arab Emirates promotes our long-term vision and a commitment to establishing a permanent Brazilian presence in the region.”