emirates7 - The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is set to spotlight the city's vibrant manufacturing sector at the upcoming ‘Make it in the Emirates’ forum, taking place from 19th to 22nd May 2025 at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi.
This flagship event brings together key players from the government, investment community, and manufacturing industries to support the UAE’s broader goals for industrial advancement and export development. DET’s involvement is in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to establish Dubai as a top destination for future-focused industrial investment.
The Dubai Pavilion will serve as a key hub at the event, showcasing the collaborative efforts of several major industrial stakeholders, including Dubai Industrial City (DIC), National Industries Park (NIP), Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), Dubai Chambers, and Dubai South.
This coordinated approach offers both established manufacturers and new investors valuable access to resources, strategic insights, and growth opportunities. It also highlights the competitive edge Dubai provides through its pro-business policies and innovation-friendly ecosystem.
Manufacturing plays a significant role in Dubai’s economy, supported by forward-looking government policies designed to boost global competitiveness and ensure long-term growth. Dubai has drawn substantial investment into the sector, focusing on advanced technologies and building domestic capabilities to serve international markets. In the first three quarters of 2024, the sector contributed AED28.3 billion to the emirate’s GDP.
Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC)—DET’s economic development arm—remarked, “Dubai’s manufacturing sector is advancing rapidly because we’ve laid the groundwork for long-term industrial success. From infrastructure and regulation to global connectivity, everything has been thoughtfully planned. This progress reflects our leadership’s vision and the strategic objectives of the D33 Agenda. Dubai offers an environment where manufacturers can confidently innovate, grow, and export.”
Badri emphasized that DET’s participation in the forum underlines Dubai’s alignment with the national strategy for economic diversification and supports the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology’s (MoIAT) mission to strengthen the industrial base.
DET will use the event to showcase how Dubai’s integrated industrial ecosystem provides manufacturers with access to top-tier infrastructure, attractive business incentives, and robust export support. Today, companies in Dubai supply key products to government entities and export to over 130 countries, benefiting from Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) that unlock access to high-growth global markets.
Key initiatives to be presented include the Export Assistance Programme (EAP), which helps Dubai-based businesses—especially SMEs—expand internationally through targeted support and a global network of offices. DET will also spotlight the Elite Buyer Programme, designed to position Dubai as a premier global sourcing hub for in-demand products across emerging consumer markets.
Another highlight is the Industry Friendly Power Policy under the D33 Agenda, which promotes sustainable and affordable energy use in the manufacturing, data centre, and agri-tech sectors. This policy includes benefits such as a 25% discount on connection fees, interest-free financing, and support for full on-site renewable energy generation, aligning with Dubai’s net-zero ambitions.
In 2024, Dubai attracted AED52.3 billion ($14.2 billion) in foreign direct investment (FDI), a 33.2% year-on-year increase and the highest FDI inflow ever recorded in the emirate. The year also saw a record 1,117 Greenfield projects and 1,826 total FDI announcements, generating 58,680 jobs.
The manufacturing sector alone attracted AED5.77 billion ($1.57 billion) in FDI in 2024—more than double the AED2.41 billion ($657.1 million) seen in 2023—further affirming the sector’s growing strength. These figures underscore Dubai’s business-friendly environment, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and investor-friendly regulations.
As the UAE continues to drive economic diversification, the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ forum plays a key role in accelerating industrial progress, fostering innovation, and attracting investment. Dubai, through its active support and ambitious strategies, remains a central force in this national effort to shape a competitive, future-ready manufacturing sector.
This flagship event brings together key players from the government, investment community, and manufacturing industries to support the UAE’s broader goals for industrial advancement and export development. DET’s involvement is in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to establish Dubai as a top destination for future-focused industrial investment.
The Dubai Pavilion will serve as a key hub at the event, showcasing the collaborative efforts of several major industrial stakeholders, including Dubai Industrial City (DIC), National Industries Park (NIP), Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), Dubai Chambers, and Dubai South.
This coordinated approach offers both established manufacturers and new investors valuable access to resources, strategic insights, and growth opportunities. It also highlights the competitive edge Dubai provides through its pro-business policies and innovation-friendly ecosystem.
Manufacturing plays a significant role in Dubai’s economy, supported by forward-looking government policies designed to boost global competitiveness and ensure long-term growth. Dubai has drawn substantial investment into the sector, focusing on advanced technologies and building domestic capabilities to serve international markets. In the first three quarters of 2024, the sector contributed AED28.3 billion to the emirate’s GDP.
Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC)—DET’s economic development arm—remarked, “Dubai’s manufacturing sector is advancing rapidly because we’ve laid the groundwork for long-term industrial success. From infrastructure and regulation to global connectivity, everything has been thoughtfully planned. This progress reflects our leadership’s vision and the strategic objectives of the D33 Agenda. Dubai offers an environment where manufacturers can confidently innovate, grow, and export.”
Badri emphasized that DET’s participation in the forum underlines Dubai’s alignment with the national strategy for economic diversification and supports the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology’s (MoIAT) mission to strengthen the industrial base.
DET will use the event to showcase how Dubai’s integrated industrial ecosystem provides manufacturers with access to top-tier infrastructure, attractive business incentives, and robust export support. Today, companies in Dubai supply key products to government entities and export to over 130 countries, benefiting from Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) that unlock access to high-growth global markets.
Key initiatives to be presented include the Export Assistance Programme (EAP), which helps Dubai-based businesses—especially SMEs—expand internationally through targeted support and a global network of offices. DET will also spotlight the Elite Buyer Programme, designed to position Dubai as a premier global sourcing hub for in-demand products across emerging consumer markets.
Another highlight is the Industry Friendly Power Policy under the D33 Agenda, which promotes sustainable and affordable energy use in the manufacturing, data centre, and agri-tech sectors. This policy includes benefits such as a 25% discount on connection fees, interest-free financing, and support for full on-site renewable energy generation, aligning with Dubai’s net-zero ambitions.
In 2024, Dubai attracted AED52.3 billion ($14.2 billion) in foreign direct investment (FDI), a 33.2% year-on-year increase and the highest FDI inflow ever recorded in the emirate. The year also saw a record 1,117 Greenfield projects and 1,826 total FDI announcements, generating 58,680 jobs.
The manufacturing sector alone attracted AED5.77 billion ($1.57 billion) in FDI in 2024—more than double the AED2.41 billion ($657.1 million) seen in 2023—further affirming the sector’s growing strength. These figures underscore Dubai’s business-friendly environment, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and investor-friendly regulations.
As the UAE continues to drive economic diversification, the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ forum plays a key role in accelerating industrial progress, fostering innovation, and attracting investment. Dubai, through its active support and ambitious strategies, remains a central force in this national effort to shape a competitive, future-ready manufacturing sector.