DUBAI - The UAE Contractors Association (UCA) in its efforts to protect the construction sector and fix the prices of cement manufactured by local companies, succeeded in signing a preliminary agreement with UAE cement factories on June 6. The statement issued by the UAE Contractors Association revealed that according to the agreement the cement prices would be decreased starting from June 7. The factories will supply cement directly to contractors ,without going to brokers or through the black market. It was agreed that the price of a cement bag would be decreased to Dh11- Dh17 (Dh220-340 or US$60-92 per tonne). According to the UCA the price of a 50kg cement bag had exceeded Dh25 (US$6.80) during the last few weeks.