Rubber in Abu Dhabi

In UAE rubber is imported from other countries. Each year the country imports rubber worth 604.7 million dollars from Japan and 127.8 million dollars from South Korea. The demand for rubber is high in the capital city of Abu Dhabi, as the country is industrialized and cars are a major mode of transport for the majority. The demand has led to the product being made easily available at various locations in UAE, especially in Mussafah in Abu Dhabi. Tropical countries are the regions where rubber trees are grown and rubber is harvest. India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia and South America are some of the countries where rubber is grown extensively and in exported from these countries to other regions of the world. Rubber is harvested from the rubber trees by making a cut in the bark of the tree. The sticky, milky fluid comes out of the incision in the bark of the tree is called latex and is collected in bowls. This process of harvesting rubber is called tapping. Latex is either used alone or is combined with other elements to manufacture rubber. Rubber is used in the manufacture of various products from car tires to rubber mats. Vulcanized rubber has many uses as compared to uncured rubber. Vulcanized rubber was first invented by heating rubber with sulphur in 1844 by Charles Goodyear. This process made the rubber more resilient and long lasting. Vulcanized rubber is majorly used in the manufacture of tires for vehicles. The elasticity of rubber makes it a product that is suitable to be utilized as shock absorbers and is fitted in machinery to reduce vibration and friction, thereby reducing the wear and tear in the machine. Rubber is a material that is waterproof therefore making it the ideal material to be utilized for as protective cover during rains, driving gear and for medical tubes. Rubber is also resistant to electricity, and so is used in the manufacture of gloves and shoes as protective gear when working with electricity. Rubber is also used to make other products such as balloons, balls and cushions.