The UAE has cemented its industrial ambitions, closing the fifth edition of the Make It In The Emirates forum with AED 171 billion in announced agreements. The four-day event, organized by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) in Abu Dhabi, brought together over 1,200 exhibitors and underscored the country’s strategic push to localize advanced manufacturing as part of its Operation 300bn national strategy.
Quick Facts
- AED 171 billion in total industrial agreements.
- SMEs represented 61% of total exhibitors.
- Localization target for over 5,000 products.
Deconstructing the AED 171 Billion Push
The massive AED 171 billion figure comprises AED 48.5 billion in new industrial investments and AED 19.2 billion in dedicated financing initiatives. More than 200 agreements were signed across strategic sectors including clean energy, healthcare, logistics, defence technologies, and food production.
Financial backing was a major component of the announcements. MoIAT secured AED 18 billion in competitive financing to support manufacturers, with notable commitments including AED 10 billion from Mashreq Bank, AED 2 billion from Dubai Islamic Bank, and AED 6 billion from the Emirates Development Bank (EDB). Major industrial players also signed significant pacts, with Abu Dhabi’s Ta’ziz entering agreements worth billions to expand its industrial chemicals ecosystem and International Holding Company (IHC) signing over 60 deals worth more than AED 40 billion.
Operation 300bn: Building a Resilient Supply Chain
The summit’s deal-making is a direct extension of the UAE’s “Operation 300bn” strategy, which aims to boost the industrial sector’s contribution to the national GDP while enhancing economic resilience. A core focus is on localization to mitigate global supply chain disruptions.
During the event, officials expanded the country’s national procurement opportunities from AED 168 billion to AED 180 billion over the next decade, with a clear target to onshore the manufacturing of over 5,000 products. This strategic shift reflects a growing emphasis on self-sufficiency in critical industries.
Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, framed the country’s industrial goals around sovereignty and competitiveness. “Those who manufacture, own their decisions. Those who build, own their future. And those who combine both … secure their sovereignty and resilience,” Al Jaber stated during the summit.
SMEs Take Center Stage
Significantly, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups were not on the sidelines of the industrial push. These businesses accounted for 61% of all exhibitors, signaling a deliberate government effort to broaden industrial participation beyond large sovereign entities and multinationals.
Initiatives like the Industry NextGen Hub were designed to connect smaller businesses with procurement opportunities, investors, and financing programs. This focus suggests the UAE views industrial development not just as a top-down macroeconomic project but as a vital engine for private-sector growth and entrepreneurial opportunity.
About Make It In The Emirates
Make It In The Emirates is a strategic initiative launched by the UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT). It aims to attract local and international investors, industrialists, and innovators to the UAE’s industrial sector. The initiative is a key pillar of “Operation 300bn,” which seeks to increase the industrial sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP and promote sustainable economic growth through advanced manufacturing and technology adoption.
Source: Gulf Economist
