Brass is one of the most valuable non-ferrous metals recovered from buildings, plants and workshops in the UAE. Every old valve, tap, chiller fitting and machined part carries real copper value, and that value rises and falls with the global copper market.
If your company holds brass scrap in Abu Dhabi, the result of a sale usually comes down to three things:
- Your grade: Knowing exactly what type of brass you have.
- Cleanliness: Keeping the brass free of steel, plastic and other metals.
- The buyer: Selling to a licensed buyer who prices by the ton.
This guide explains what brass scrap is and where it comes from in Abu Dhabi. It also covers the grades buyers use, how brass scrap prices in the UAE are worked out and how bulk sellers can get the best rate.
Brass scrap in Abu Dhabi is priced by the ton against the LME copper price, with red brass (Ebony) paying the most, followed by hard brass and yellow brass solids (Honey). Its value depends on copper content, cleanliness, plating, volume and site access, so sorting brass by grade and removing steel, plastic and rubber attachments can raise the rate by thousands of dirhams per ton. Companies should only sell to licensed buyers holding an Abu Dhabi trade licence, EAD waste permit and Tadweer approval, such as Global Scrap Trading, which buys bulk brass scrap across the UAE with full documentation.
What Is Brass Scrap?
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Some grades also contain small amounts of lead, tin or other metals to improve strength or machining.
Depending on the grade, brass scrap usually contains between 58% and 85% copper. That copper share is the main reason it trades at a much higher price than steel or aluminium.
Key facts about brass scrap:
- Colour: Yellow to gold for common brass, with a reddish tone in high copper red brass.
- Magnetism: Brass is non-magnetic, so a magnet will only stick to steel parts attached to it.
- Recycling: Brass can be melted and recast many times without losing its properties.
- Customs code: Brass scrap is traded under HS Code 7404, which covers copper alloy waste and scrap.
Brass is often confused with copper and bronze. Bronze is mainly copper and tin, while copper scrap is close to pure copper. We explain the price gap in detail in our guide on brass vs copper scrap.
Common Sources of Brass Scrap in Abu Dhabi
Brass scrap in Abu Dhabi comes mostly from commercial, government and industrial sites rather than households. The source matters because it tells a buyer what grade to expect.
Buildings and Plumbing Systems
Taps, mixers, valves, water meters, pipe fittings and manifolds are the most common brass items in villas, towers and hotels.
Many UAE plumbing systems use dezincification resistant (DZR) brass fittings, which are made to cope with local water conditions. During refurbishment or strip out, these fittings come out in large volumes.
HVAC, Chillers and Fire Systems
Chiller plants, pump rooms and fire fighting systems contain brass and gunmetal parts, including valves, strainers, sprinkler heads and landing valves.
When a facility replaces old AC units or chillers, the brass components are usually separated from the copper coils and steel frames. Our guides on HVAC scrap in Abu Dhabi and AC scrap in Abu Dhabi cover these jobs in more detail.
Oil and Gas and Marine Facilities
Refineries, gas plants and port facilities use brass in valves, gauges, pump parts and heat exchanger tubes. Naval brass and admiralty brass are common in cooling systems exposed to seawater.
These sites often sit inside restricted zones, so the buyer needs the right access permits before collection.
Workshops and Manufacturing
Machining workshops produce brass turnings, borings and rod ends as daily waste. Electrical panel makers and fitting manufacturers also generate clean brass offcuts. This scrap is steady in volume and easy to grade when kept separate.
Demolition and Decommissioning Projects
When a building or plant is taken down, brass is recovered alongside steel, copper and aluminium.
Hiring an experienced demolition company in Abu Dhabi that also buys scrap has a clear benefit. The brass value can be counted against the project cost instead of going to waste.
Brass Scrap Grades Used by Buyers in the UAE
UAE scrap buyers and exporters follow the international ISRI grading system, which gives each brass grade a code name. Your grade decides your price more than anything else, so it is worth knowing the main ones.
- Ebony (red brass or composition): Valves, pumps, machinery bearings and castings. About 80% to 85% copper. The highest paying brass grade.
- Engel (hard brass solids): Machinery parts, bushings and liners. Up to about 75% copper. High value.
- Honey (yellow brass solids): Fittings, taps, castings, rod, tubing and plated brass. About 60% to 68% copper. The standard benchmark grade.
- Label (new brass clippings): Clean offcuts of new unleaded brass sheet. High value because it is clean and uniform.
- Noble (yellow brass rod ends): Clean rod ends from machining. Good value when free of other alloys.
- Melon (brass pipe): Old and new brass pipe. Mid range value.
- Nomad and Night (brass turnings): Machining turnings. Lower value because of oil, moisture and iron content.
- Ocean (mixed unsweated auto radiators): Old radiators with iron and solder. Lower value, with the iron weight deducted.
Some supplier websites list Ocean as yellow brass, but that is a mistake. Under ISRI, Ocean refers to mixed auto radiators, and yellow brass solids fall under Honey.
ISRI also states that Honey must be free of manganese bronze, aluminium bronze, radiators, iron and munitions. Mixing any of these into a Honey lot will pull the whole load down to a lower grade.
Brass Scrap Price in UAE: How Per Ton Rates Are Set
Brass scrap prices in the UAE are not fixed. Every serious buyer starts from the London Metal Exchange (LME) copper price, which is quoted in US dollars per tonne, and converts it to dirhams. The rate is then adjusted for the factors below:
- Copper content: Red brass pays more than yellow brass because it holds more copper.
- Cleanliness: Steel screws, plastic handles, rubber seals and paint all reduce the rate.
- Plating: Chrome or nickel plated taps are accepted, but heavy plating can lower the grade.
- Oil and moisture: Wet or oily turnings lose weight value.
- Volume: Large, steady tonnages carry lower handling cost per ton and get better rates.
- Site access: Remote sites, restricted zones and difficult loading affect the final offer.
Copper has been very strong in 2026. The LME copper cash price closed at a record of about USD 14,737 per tonne on 8 September 2026, and that strength has pushed brass scrap prices up across the UAE.
This also explains why rates you see online vary so widely. Many pages still show old prices from when copper was much cheaper. Our article on why scrap metal prices fluctuate in the UAE explains these market swings.
Indicative Brass Scrap Rates per Ton
Brass scrap in Abu Dhabi is currently trading between AED 31,000 and 38,000 per ton, depending on grade and condition. These ranges apply to clean, sorted lots collected in Abu Dhabi and are a guide only. The final rate is confirmed after inspection on the day of sale.
- Red brass (Ebony): AED 36,000 to 38,000 per ton
- Yellow brass solids (Honey): AED 34,000 to 36,000 per ton
- Brass pipe and mixed yellow brass: AED 32,500 to 34,500 per ton
- Brass turnings: AED 31,000 to 32,500 per ton
- Mixed brass with attachments: Priced after sorting and deductions
For comparison with other metals, see our guides on copper scrap price in UAE and aluminium scrap price in UAE.
How to Sort Brass Scrap Before Selling?
A few hours of sorting can raise the value of a brass lot by several thousand dirhams per ton. Before you call a buyer, follow these steps:
- Use a magnet: Pull out anything that sticks, since that is steel or iron.
- Separate by colour: Keep red brass apart from yellow brass.
- Scratch plated items: A light scratch shows whether a tap is solid brass under the chrome.
- Remove attachments: Take off steel handles, plastic parts and rubber seals where possible.
- Keep turnings apart: Store turnings in dry, covered bins away from solid brass.
- Do not mix alloys: Keep bronze, copper and aluminium out of brass loads.
If you are unsure how brass differs from other copper based alloys, our guide on the difference between chemical alloys in scrap material is a helpful starting point.
Rules for Selling Brass Scrap in Abu Dhabi
Companies and government entities in Abu Dhabi should only sell scrap to buyers with the correct licences. A proper buyer should hold:
- Trade licence: A valid Abu Dhabi trade licence that covers scrap trading.
- Environmental permit: A waste management permit from the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD).
- Approvals: Tadweer approval for waste handling and recycling.
- Documentation: Weighbridge tickets, material transfer records and proper payment receipts.
Proper paperwork protects your company during audits and proves the scrap was disposed of legally. Many government and semi government bodies also sell brass scrap through tenders or auctions, where only registered and approved buyers can bid.
Selling Brass Scrap in Bulk to Global Scrap Trading
Global Scrap Trading (GST) is a licensed brass scrap buyer in Abu Dhabi based in Musaffah. We work with facility managers, procurement teams, contractors and government entities. We deal only in tonnage, not small drop offs.
Our process is simple:
- Share details: Send photos, estimated tonnage and site location.
- Site inspection: Our team checks the material and confirms the grade.
- Per ton quote: You get a rate tied to the current copper market.
- Collection: We handle loading, weighing and transport.
- Payment and records: You receive prompt payment with full documentation.
Why companies choose GST for brass scrap in the UAE:
- Licensed and certified: We hold Abu Dhabi Trade Licence CN-3762309 and ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certification.
- Approved for restricted sites: We are an ADNOC approved contractor with CICPA passes for high security oil and gas zones.
- Trusted by major clients: We have completed projects for ADNOC, ENEC, Baker Hughes and Hyundai Engineering and Construction.
- Metals experience: Our work includes the Union Copper Rod LLC scrap project for a copper rod producer.
- Demolition and scrap in one: We dismantle, recover and buy the metal, so scrap value offsets your project cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the price of brass scrap per ton in Abu Dhabi?
In late September 2026, brass scrap in Abu Dhabi is trading at roughly AED 31,000 to 38,000 per ton. Red brass sits at the top of this range, and brass turnings sit at the lower end. The exact rate depends on the LME copper price on the day, the grade and how clean the material is.
Which brass scrap grade pays the most?
Red brass, known as Ebony under ISRI, pays the most because it contains about 80% to 85% copper. Hard brass and clean new brass clippings come next, followed by yellow brass solids (Honey).
Is brass scrap worth more than copper scrap?
No, brass scrap is worth less than copper scrap because it contains less copper. Clean copper is close to pure metal, while brass mixes copper with zinc, which has a much lower market value.
Can GST collect brass scrap from oil and gas or restricted sites?
Yes, GST can collect brass scrap from restricted oil and gas sites. As an ADNOC approved contractor holding CICPA passes, our teams can access high security zones for inspection, dismantling and collection.
Conclusion
Brass scrap in Abu Dhabi is a high value material, and its price moves closely with the copper market. Sellers who know their grade, keep lots clean and sorted, and work with a licensed buyer consistently get better rates per ton.
With copper prices at record levels in 2026, now is a strong time for facilities and contractors to clear stored brass. To get a per ton quote for your brass scrap, contact Global Scrap Trading on +971 2 585 8187 or visit globalscraptrading.org.
About the Author
Ibrahim Khan, CEO of Global Scrap Trading
Ibrahim Khan has more than 10 years of experience in the scrap and demolition industry. He founded Global Scrap Trading in Abu Dhabi in 2020, and he has led scrap recovery and demolition projects for ADNOC, ENEC, Baker Hughes and major UAE government entities. His focus is on transparent per ton pricing, safe site operations and responsible metal recycling across the UAE.