Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries like the UAE are importing construction-grade sand from countries including Australia due to the poor quality of desert sand. Desert sand is too smooth and round, making it unsuitable for concrete. Concrete needs angular, coarse sand to ensure strength. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 projects, such as NEOM and The Line, rely on this imported sand to meet strict building standards. In 2023, Australia exported $273 million worth of sand and ranked as the world’s second largest sand exporter. Saudi Arabia alone imported about $140,000 of construction-grade sand from Australia. The UAE also imports sand to build skyscrapers like the Burj Khalifa and create artificial islands such as The Palm Jumeirah. The UN reports construction sand is the most extracted solid material globally, with 50 billion tonnes used yearly. The demand is causing environmental concerns like riverbed erosion. Some countries are exploring alternatives like manufactured sand and recycling waste. Saudi Arabia might adopt such solutions eventually, but for now, imported sand remains key to its urban development.