Eleven trailblazers driving industrial excellence in the UAE were honored today at the Make it in the Emirates Awards 2025, a flagship activation of the country’s premier industrial platform, Make it in the Emirates 2025, held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
The awards ceremony celebrated individuals and organizations that have made exceptional contributions to local manufacturing, advanced technology adoption, Emiratization, and national industrial competitiveness.
Award winners were recognized by Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE minister of Industry and Advanced Technology; Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE minister of Energy and Infrastructure; H.E Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi, UAE minister of Climate Change and Environment; Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE minister of State for Foreign Trade; H.E Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi, UAE minister of State for Youth Affairs; Faisal Al Bannai, adviser to the President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs and Secretary General of ATRC; and Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.
Launched by MoIAT in 2023, the Make it in the Emirates Awards recognize excellence across the national industrial ecosystem. The awards spotlight leadership in areas such as advanced manufacturing, sustainability, talent development, and support for the National In-Country Value Program—core pillars of the UAE’s vision for a diversified, knowledge-based economy.
Esteemed judging panel
The 2025 edition received a record number of nominations across nine categories, evaluated under five strategic pillars: In-Country Value, Factory of the Future, Industry Enablers, Leadership and Talent, and UAE Traditional Crafts. These submissions highlighted the growing industrial innovation and leadership within the UAE.
The judging panel for the 2025 Make it in the Emirates Awards brought together an esteemed group of leaders from government, industry, and academia.
It included Sultan Al Nayadi, UAE minister of Youth; Al Suwaidi, who also served as chairperson of the Awards; Dr. Farah Ali Al Zarooni, assistant undersecretary for the Standards and Regulations Sector at MoIAT; Ibrahim Salman Al Hammadi, executive director of the Government Performance and Excellence Sector; Hamad Al Marar, CEO of Edge Group; Shaista Asif, Group CEO of PureHealth; Norinao Sato, president & CEO of Yokogawa Middle East & Africa; Prof. Steve Liu, associate vice president for Research at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI); Ahmed Rahma Al Masaood, board director of Al Masaood Group; and Samia Bouazza, group CEO & managing director of Multiply Group. Technical evaluations were conducted in partnership with the University of Cambridge, ensuring a rigorous, transparent, and globally benchmarked assessment process.
Winners of the Make it in the Emirates Awards 2025 include:
• Quality Standards Award: Globalpharma
Recognising excellence in implementing quality systems and delivering high-standard, trusted products.
• Inspirational Leader Award: Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi – Group CEO, EMSTEEL
Honoring a leader whose innovation, resilience, and vision inspire industry-wide transformation.
• Young Talent of the Year Award: Mariam Mohammad Ali Abdulrahman Alharmoodi
Awarding an emerging Emirati industrial leader aged 19–35 for outstanding early-career impact.
• Industrial Strategic Partner Award: Emirates Development Bank
Celebrating a key partner strengthening the UAE’s industrial ecosystem through investment and collaboration.
• Smart Manufacturer Award: Emirates Global Aluminium
Highlighting a company leveraging digital technologies to enhance manufacturing excellence.
• Sustainable Manufacturing Award: Nutridor Dairy Manufacturing
Awarding companies integrating sustainability deeply into their operations and supply chains.
• Excellence in Innovation Award: Borouge
Recognising organisations pioneering innovation in research, development, and technology adoption.
• UAE Traditional Crafts Award (Companies): ASATEER
Honoring artisans and leaders preserving traditional UAE crafts with modern relevance.
• UAE Traditional Crafts Award (Individuals): Ghars Center
Honoring artisans and leaders preserving traditional UAE crafts with modern relevance.
• ICV Excellence – Private Sector Manufacturers Award: RAK Ceramics
Celebrating private manufacturers advancing the National In-Country Value Program.
• ICV Excellence – Semi-Government Manufacturers Award: NMDC Energy PJSC
Recognizing semi-government manufacturers driving national capabilities and local sourcing.
• ICV Excellence – Service Providers Award: Emirates Telecommunications Group Company (e&)
Honoring service providers investing in national talent and enabling local industrial growth.
Celebrating industrial achievements
The ceremony concluded with a group photo of the winners and recognition of the event’s sponsors, including Emirates Development Bank, Dubai Industrial City, Mubadala, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Mashreq, and others. The Make it in the Emirates Awards continue to spotlight bold achievements shaping the UAE’s industrial future, celebrating the visionaries building a more sustainable, competitive, and resilient economy for generations to come.
Held under the theme “Advanced Industries. Accelerated,” Make it in the Emirates 2025 is hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), organized by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company Group, and held alongside strategic partners such as the Ministry of Culture, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), and ADNOC. The event reinforces the UAE’s commitment to advancing industry, fostering strategic partnerships, and accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies.
