GCC Specialty Chemicals Market Size, Companies & Research Insight (2025 - 2034)

GCC Specialty Chemicals Market- Size, Share & Industry Analysis

The gcc specialty chemicals market size was valued at $ 36.89 billion in 2024 and is estimated to reach around USD 55.13 billion by 2034, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.10% during the forecast period 2025 to 2034. Growing industrialization, urbanization, and construction projects increases demand for chemicals in various sectors like agriculture, construction, and water treatment in GCC region, accelerate market expansion.

Key Takeaways

• The Saudi Arabia specialty chemicals market dominated the GCC market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 24.11% in 2024,
  
• The CASE segment dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 40.64% in 2024.
  
• The institutional & industrial cleaners segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.15% over the forecast period

Rapid Urbanization, Industrialization, and Government Initiatives, Drive the Market of GCC Specialty Chemicals

GCC specialty chemicals are chemical products that are designed and manufactured for use in the gulf cooperation council region. These chemicals are used in various industries including automotive, construction, agriculture, and water treatment to enhance the properties of materials and improving their performance. Wide range of GCC specialty chemicals including agrochemicals, polymer additives, construction chemicals, water treatment chemicals, oil field chemicals, and food additives are used in various industries to improve the performance.  

Rising industrialization in the GCC region and expansion of oil gas, automotive, and textile sector increases demand of specialty chemicals to enhance efficiency and product quality. Rising shift towards sustainability demands eco-friendly specialty chemicals which reduces environmental impact. Advancement in material science are developing new and improved specialty chemicals, enhances performance and efficiency, driving the GCC specialty chemicals market.

GCC Specialty Chemicals Market Trends   

• Rapidly developing construction industry
  Significant investment in infrastructure projects like roads and buildings demands large quantities of construction chemicals, drive the market. Incorporation of smart construction technologies which includes self-healing properties and real time monitoring capabilities, further increases demand of advanced construction chemicals.  
• Expansion of Oil and Gas 
  Rapid expansion of oil and gas industry leads to increased demands for specialty chemicals including demulsifiers, corrosion inhibitors, and rheology modifiers used in various stages of oil and gas operations, boost the market. Advancement in enhanced oil recovery and unconventional extraction methods demand for specialized chemicals, drive the GCC specialty chemicals market.
• Automotive Growth
  Automotive industry is experiencing significant growth in GCC region and demands specialty chemicals used in coatings and adhesive to fulfill the need of lightweight material. Rising adoption of electric vehicle   increases demand for specialty chemical used in thermal management and corrosion protection, drive the market.
• Technological Advancements
  Technological enhancement in enhanced oil recovery and unconventional extraction method increases demand of specialized chemicals that improves efficiency and environmental safety. The incorporation of artificial intelligence and digital transformation in oil and gas operation boost the market of specialty chemicals.

Report Scope

GCC Specialty Chemicals Market Opportunities

Expansion of Oil and Gas

The expansion of oil and gas industry shows significant market opportunity for specialty chemicals. The expansion of oil and gas industry requires variety of specialty chemicals used in drilling, cementing, work over, and completion process. Growing oil and gas sector also fuels the growth of construction and manufacturing industries, heavily dependent on specialty chemicals.  Increasing demand for specialty oilfield chemicals is high, drive the market.  Specialty chemicals are crucial for enhanced oil recovery techniques, which aim to increase the recovery of oil from existing reservoirs, may drive the GCC specialty chemicals market in future. 

Water Treatment

Rising demand for clean water and stringent environmental regulation leads to increase use of specialty chemicals for water treatment. The GCC region faces severe water scarity, so it increases investment in advanced water treatment and technologies, driving the GCC specialty chemicals market. The expansion of industries including oil & gas, power generation, and petrochemicals requires large quantities of treated water; boost the market of specialty chemicals. The adoption of innovative technologies including membrane filtration, smart water management, and advanced oxidation processes is creating opportunities for specialty chemical suppliers to offer tailored solutions.

GCC Specialty Chemicals Market Challenge

Raw Material Fluctuations

Specialty chemicals are dependent on variety of raw materials,  so price volatility of raw materials  directly impact of production cost , making harder for companies to stay competitive. High raw material cost can disturb profit margins, eventually reduces profitability for specialty chemicals manufacturer.  If raw material costs become unpredictable or high, it can limit the overall growth of GCC specialty chemicals market. 

Regional Insights 

Saudi Arabia is dominated GCC Specialty Chemicals Market in 2024. Large scale of infrastructure project, strong oil and gas sector, and the government initiative contribute to market growth across this region.  Strong oil, and gas industry in Saudi Arabia provides strong base for specialty chemical demand, including performance chemicals used in various applications.  Additionally, the growth of industries like pharmaceutical, personal electronics and food & beverage also demand specialty chemicals in Saudi Arabia, drive the market.

The availability of wide range formulation chemicals further enhances the market potential in Saudi Arabia. The rising shift towards sustainability and the increasing stringency of environmental regulations are also driving demand for specialty chemicals in the region. The government is also investing in healthcare and social development   with technological and medical advancement, drives the growth of pharmaceutical industry and specialty chemicals, and further drives the market.

• Vision 2030 By Government of Saudi Arabia Creates GCC Specialty Chemicals Market

Opportunities for Specialty Chemicals

Saudi Vision 2030 was developed by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, which is chaired by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.  Aim of this vision is to diversify the Saudi economy away from its dependence on oil, increase the country's non-oil GDP, and improve the quality of life for its citizens. This vision includes establishment of the NEOM project and Investment in renewable energy. This vision significantly boosts the specialty chemicals sector in Saudi Arabia by driving economic diversification, creating jobs, and fostering industrial growth. Vision 2030 promotes strategic partnerships with international players and develops infrastructure to support the growth of the chemicals sector. These initiatives further enhance the opportunities for specialty chemical manufacturers and suppliers

• For Instances In January 2024, Colonial Chemical partnered with Sadeem Investments and Earth Reservoir for Oil & Gas to establish chemicals manufacturing plant in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The plant contributing to the country's IKTVA and Vision 2030 goals. The unit is made for serving the demand for the service companies and formulators in the personal and consumer care.
  (Source: personalcaremagazine )

UAE expects significant growth in GCC specialty chemicals market during the forecast period. Rapid urbanization, booming construction industry and shifting focus on   sustainability demands ecofriendly and innovative chemical solutions across various industries. Foreign investment into the UAE stimulates growth in various sectors, contributing to market growth. Strong demand from various end-user industries like paints and coatings, cosmetics, personal care, automotive, and construction is expected to fuel growth.  

In UAE increasing focus on extensive research and development by manufacturers, may drive the market in future. Rising demand from textile industries, where specialty chemicals are used as bleach activators, expected to drive the market. Government initiatives to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on oil revenue, along with investments in infrastructure projects, expected to further boost the specialty chemicals market

The UAE is actively embracing Industry 4.0 technologies, with initiatives like joint ventures between ADNOC and Group 24 to develop AI products for the energy industry, driving the market.  Bilateral trade agreements like CEPA with global partners are expanding the UAE's reach and facilitating trade in chemicals, further driving the market.

• For Instances, In November 2024, ADNOC launched XRG, it is an international investment company focused on lower-carbon energy and chemicals. XRG is designed to leverage three transformative megatrends including the ongoing transformation of energy, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), and the rise of emerging economies. (Source: chemindigest) 
• For Instances, In July 2023, INPEX, Masdar, and Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation have agreed to conduct a joint feasibility study for a carbon recycle chemicals project in Abu Dhabi. Aim of this project is to produce the world’s first commercial scale polypropylene from CO2 and green hydrogen. (Source: mcgc)

Segmental Insights

Type Insights

The construction chemicals segment held the dominating share of GCC specialty chemicals market in 2024.  booming infrastructure and real estate development contribute to market growth of GCC specialty chemicals. Extreme climatic condition including high temperature and sandstorms across GCC region demands durable construction material, driving the market.

Government is investing on large scale infrastructure and real estate projects, including small cities, airports, and commercial hubs driving the demand of construction chemicals. The increasing focus on sustainable building practices leads to adoption of eco-friendly construction chemicals that enhance energy efficiency. Wide range of products like concrete admixtures, waterproofing agents, protective coatings, and sealants,, contribute to market growth construction chemicals segment.

• For Instances, In May 2024, Bahrain announced 22 strategic infrastructure projects which include construction of five man-made islands. This emphasis on construction is consistent with vision 2030’s economic development strategy. The strategy is mainly to improve the infrastructure, industry and housing. (Source:trade)

The water treatment chemicals segment observed to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. Significant water scarity, increasing desalination capacity, and stricter environmental regulation contribute to market growth of water treatment chemicals segment. The GCC region, including countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE, experiences significant water scarcity due to arid climates and high population growth. Surge in desalination plant capacity increases the need of scale inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors and disinfectant to manage the desalination.

Rapidly growing industrial sector in GCC region, including power generation, oil & gas, food and beverages, requires high amount of treated water for operation efficiency and product quality, further drive the market. Saudi Arabia's substantial investment in desalination and large infrastructure projects including NEOM and King Salman Park has primarily fueled the growth of its renewable energy sector. Strict environmental regulation and sustainability initiative are encouraging industries to adopt water reuse and recycling process, further increases the demand of water treatment chemicals. 

• For Instances, In March 2025, L&T's Water & Effluent Treatment business partnered with Lantana of Spain to build the Ras Mohaisen Desalination plant in Saudi Arabia. The plant is designed to produce 300,000 cubic meters of water per day and will serve Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Al-B. (Source: larsentoubro) 

Recent Developments 

• In February 2025, Nouryon declared the opening of their new office in Al Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. This new office will focus on serving a variety of key end markets, including packaging, polymer specialties, building and construction, oilfield, and personal care. (Source: nouryon )
• In April 2024, Lubrizol has opened a new Global Capability Center (GCC) in Pune, India to accelerate its regional growth and collaboration. With a capacity to accommodate up to 300 employees, the GCC is poised for continued growth and expansion in the coming years. (Source: Lubrizol ) 

Top Companies List

• Arkema Chemicals
• Colonial Chemical
• EVONIK
• Fayfa Chemical Factory
• Halliburton
• Horizon Chemicals
• Huntsman 
• Nouryon
• Professional Specialty Chemicals Factory
• SABIC
• Sadara Chemical Company

Segments Covered in the Report

By Type 

• Agrochemicals
• Polymer Additives
• Construction Chemicals
• Water Treatment Chemicals
• Oil Field Chemicals
• Food Additives
• Surfactants
• Electronic Chemicals
• Specialty Polymers
• Others

By Country

• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• The United Arab Emirates