The prices of building materials across Abu Dhabi, UAE, hit a new high in July compared to the same period last year mainly led by diesel and electrical wires which posted the largest jump recorded in materials of construction sector, said state news agnecy Wam, citing data by Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD).

The report presents an analysis of movements in the prices of the 21 main groups of building materials and is of special significance for planning, decision support and policy making in the construction activity and related sectors.

As SCAD’s report finds, the average prices of ‘construction labour’ advanced by 1.8 per cent, concrete by 1.6 per cent and the ‘aggregates and sand’ group by 0.3 per cent last month compared to June. However, price falls were recorded over the same period of comparison for power cables by 4.8 per cent, diesel by 1.8 per cent and the ‘tiles and marble’ group by 1.7 per cent, stated the Wam report.

A year-over-year comparison of the average prices of building materials for July revealed increases in the price of diesel (up 44.6 per cent), wires for apartments (up 23.9 per cent) and wires for small buildings (up 16.2 per cent).

Meanwhile, the average prices of ‘the ‘tiles and marble’ group decreased by 0.7 per cent and concrete by 0.5 per cent, it added.