The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism is showcasing the city’s dynamic manufacturing sector at Make it in the Emirates 2025, which is taking place from May 19-22 at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.
As one of the UAE’s flagship industrial events, the forum brings together government entities, investors and manufacturers to advance the nation’s industrial and export ambitions. Dubai DET’s participation aligns with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to position the emirate as a leading destination for future-ready industrial investment.
“Dubai’s manufacturing sector is gaining momentum because we have built the fundamentals for sustained industrial growth, competitive infrastructure, smart regulation and access to global markets. What we are seeing today is the result of long-term planning, public-private collaboration and a clear ambition under our wise leadership and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. This is a market where manufacturers can innovate, scale and export with confidence,” stated Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), the economic development arm of the DET.
Dubai Pavilion to ease investor access
The Dubai Pavilion at Make it in the Emirates 2025 serves as a central platform that brings together the emirate’s key enablers of industrial growth, including Dubai Industrial City (DIC), National Industries Park (NIP), Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), Dubai Chambers, and Dubai South.
This strategic collaboration provides both existing manufacturers and prospective investors with direct access to comprehensive insights, resources and opportunities – empowering them to explore and capitalize on the competitive advantages that Dubai offers to modern industrial enterprises.
Dubai’s manufacturing sector is a vital contributor to the emirate’s economic development, backed by a range of government initiatives aimed at enhancing its global competitiveness and ensuring sustained growth. The emirate has successfully attracted new investment into manufacturing, supported by an industrial strategy that prioritises advanced manufacturing technologies and the development of local capacity to serve global markets.
In the first nine months of 2024, the manufacturing sector in Dubai recorded a GDP of AED28.3 billion.
DET to spotlight initiatives driving Dubai’s industrial growth
At Make it in the Emirates 2025, DET will showcase how Dubai’s unified industrial landscape provides manufacturers with integrated access to world-class infrastructure, business incentives and export support. Today, Dubai-based manufacturers supply critical goods to the UAE government and export to more than 130 countries, capitalizing on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) to access high-growth markets competitively.
As part of its participation in Make it in the Emirates 2025, DET will present a range of initiatives driving Dubai’s industrial growth, including the Export Assistance Program (EAP), which encourages Dubai-based companies to pursue export promotion activities in foreign markets, offering support to qualifying small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through a network of international offices.
DET will also highlight the Elite Buyer Program at Make it in the Emirates 2025, which supports Dubai’s strategy to position the city as a leading global sourcing hub for high-demand products in fast-growing consumer markets.
The pavilion will also highlight the Industry Friendly Power Policy that Dubai has introduced as part of the D33 Agenda, aimed at promoting green and cost-efficient energy use across the manufacturing, data center and agri-tech sectors. The policy offers incentives such as a 25 percent reduction in connection charges, interest-free credit, and support for 100 percent onsite renewable generation, aligning with the emirate’s net-zero goals.
Read: Make it in the Emirates launches in Abu Dhabi with focus on AI-driven manufacturing
Manufacturing drives Dubai’s FDI growth
In 2024, Dubai attracted AED52.3 billion ($14.2 billion) in FDI, a 33.2 percent increase from the previous year, marking the highest FDI value ever recorded in a single year. Dubai also saw a record 1,117 Greenfield FDI projects and 1,826 announced FDI projects, creating 58,680 jobs.
Manufacturing continued its strong momentum with AED5,767 million in FDI capital, up from AED2,411 million compared to 2023. The city’s impressive performance underscores its thriving business environment, world-class infrastructure and favorable regulations.
Make it in the Emirates 2025 serves as an important step towards advancing the manufacturing sector in Dubai and the UAE as it plays a crucial role in encouraging innovation and boosting investment. As the country continues to diversify its economy, Dubai remains at the forefront in its support for the industrial sector, ensuring it continues to evolve to meet global standards and contribute to the UAE’s economic growth.
