DesertBoard is a UAE-based manufacturer producing Palm Strand Board (PSB®), an engineered wood alternative made from date palm fronds. Each year, the company upcycles around 165,000 tonnes of palm waste into construction-grade boards, turning a widely available byproduct into a high-performance material at an industrial scale.
The idea is rooted in the region itself. For generations, palm fronds were used to build Barasti homes, offering shelter in harsh desert conditions. DesertBoard has taken that principle and re-engineered it for modern construction, creating what is widely recognized as the world’s first engineered board made entirely from palm biomass.
The concept was first explored in the late 1990s and took more than two decades of research and development to bring to market. Today, the company operates from Abu Dhabi, converting agricultural waste into a material used across construction, interiors, and manufacturing.
Beyond material innovation, DesertBoard sits at the center of a broader shift in how the UAE builds. By manufacturing locally, the firm reduces reliance on imported wood-based panels. By capturing palm waste before it is burned or discarded, DesertBoard helps avoid emissions while storing carbon within the built environment. At scale, this contributes tens of thousands of tonnes of CO₂e being locked into materials each year.
In practical terms, DesertBoard operates at the start of the value chain. Its boards feed into doors, flooring, furniture, and interior systems, giving it a direct role in shaping how materials are sourced and used across the country’s construction sector.
A local alternative (to imports)
The UAE construction sector has long depended on imported wood-based panels. PSB® offers a locally produced alternative, helping to reduce exposure to global supply disruptions; improve the availability of materials within the market; and support manufacturers operating in the UAE. By manufacturing domestically, DesertBoard contributes to national efforts to strengthen industrial self-sufficiency, in line with initiatives such as Operation 300bn and Make it in the Emirates.
From waste to material
DesertBoard uses palm fronds, which are generated in large volumes across the UAE and are often treated as waste. These are processed into engineered boards, with palm material making up the majority of the product composition. The company works with local municipalities and suppliers to secure feedstock, supporting a more structured and sustainable approach to managing agricultural waste.
Supporting sustainability goals
This production model contributes to wider sustainability efforts by reducing agricultural waste and avoiding landfill or burning; lowering reliance on imported timber; and supporting green building frameworks such as LEED and Estidama. Internal assessments indicate that PSB® stores carbon within the material itself, contributing to lower overall environmental impact when compared to conventional panels.
PSB® EcoCore FR
One of DesertBoard’s key products is PSB® EcoCore FR, a fire-rated door core made from palm-based material. The product is designed for use in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, where fire safety standards are a requirement. It has fire ratings of 30, 60, and 90 minutes, is suitable for a range of door systems, and manufactured using palm-based raw material.
The product has been independently tested against leading international fire safety standards in Europe, the UK and the US, and is approved by the UAE Ministry of Interior Civil Defence. This ensures it meets widely recognized benchmarks for fire-rated door performance across global markets. The company has also developed larger-format fire-rated door cores, including 3-metre variants, expanding design possibilities for developers and architects.
Market applications
PSB® is already being used in door manufacturing through partners such as Abanos, with further applications across flooring, interior joinery and furniture and in fit-out and exhibition structures. These applications show how a locally produced material can replace imports while meeting performance and compliance requirements.
Scale and capacity
DesertBoard operates at an industrial scale, upcycling significant volumes of palm raw material annually and producing thousands of boards per day. This capacity allows it to serve both domestic demand and growing export interest. This growing demand is being driven by the construction, interiors, and events sectors within the UAE, alongside increasing interest from regional and international markets, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, India, and Europe.
Technology and manufacturing
DesertBoard uses a combination of continuous press technology and proprietary processes to manufacture PSB®. Its boards are produced without formaldehyde-based adhesives, addressing concerns around indoor air quality associated with traditional wood panels. The engineered wood sector in the Gulf faces several challenges, including reliance on imports, high transport costs, and limited availability of low-emission materials. DesertBoard’s model explicitly addresses these issues through local sourcing, domestic manufacturing, and alternative raw materials.
“As the UAE continues to expand its manufacturing sector, materials like PSB® are expected to play a larger role. DesertBoard’s focus is on scaling production, expanding product applications, and entering new export markets, while continuing to develop bio-based alternatives for the construction industry,” concluded Kamal Farah, Director, DesertBoard.
