ABU DHABI, 19th May, 2025 (WAM) -- The UAE has officially opened the fourth and most expansive edition of Make it in the Emirates, the nation’s flagship platform to accelerate industrial growth and economic diversification under the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology. The platform, hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), serves as a gateway for investors, manufacturers, and innovators to unlock high-value opportunities in the UAE’s industrial landscape.
Held under the theme “Advanced Industries. Accelerated”, this year’s edition convenes more than 700 exhibitors, showcases over 3,800 locally manufactured products across 68,000 square meters of exhibition space, and anticipates more than 30,000 participants over the four days. The event builds on offtake agreements exceeding AED 168 billion, targeting over 4,800 products across 12 priority sectors.
Opening the event, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, highlighted the UAE’s ambition to lead global industrial transformation. He emphasized the industry’s role in enabling resilience, job creation, and supply chain self-sufficiency. HE Dr. Al Jaber noted the UAE’s strategic advantages — from its geographic location and infrastructure to its advanced financing tools and trade frameworks.
He underscored the significance of the UAE’s 27 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs), which provide manufacturers access to more than three billion consumers, further positioning the UAE as a global hub for industrial investment and production.
The Ministerial Panel: Redefining Industry, Trade and Investment explored how the UAE is fostering a next-generation industrial economy – one that is diversified, resilient, and globally integrated. The discussion between His Excellency Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Ahmed Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), examined the interconnectedness of trade policy, investment incentives, and industrial development frameworks that position the UAE as a competitive and sustainable global hub for industry and investment. Dr. Al Zeyoudi detailed how CEPAs and open trade policies position the UAE as a launchpad for export-led manufacturing. HE Al Zaabi, meanwhile, emphasized the role of targeted policy in attracting investment.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi said, “Trade agreements have demonstrated clear benefits. According to World Bank reports, trade can increase a country’s exports by up to 35% and boost GDP growth by 15%. Recognizing this potential, less than four years ago we concluded a comprehensive seven-year agreement covering multiple continents. To date, 21 agreements are in effect, with several more expected in the coming weeks.”
Al Zaabi added: “The UAE is among the few countries that have successfully modernized its legal framework to serve the industrial sector better. Thirty or forty years ago, employment opportunities in Abu Dhabi were limited. Today, these opportunities are far more abundant, and we actively encourage our citizens to pursue careers in industrial fields. Our capacity is greater than ever, and the future looks promising.”
At the close of the panel, Najla Al Midfa, Vice Chairperson of Sheraa and Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Emirates Growth Fund, introduced the newly launched Emirates Growth Fund — a AED 1 billion initiative under Emirates Development Bank. The fund is designed to empower the next generation of UAE-grown industrial champions, focusing on high-growth ventures across technology, advanced manufacturing, and SME sectors.
Al Midfa said: “We are proud to announce a strategic commitment of AED1 billion to support these companies. And that’s only the beginning. We aim to channel more than AED 10 billion in funding into high-impact sectors such as healthcare, advanced technology, and next-generation industries.” She added: “It is time to make SMEs great again.”
Continuing the day’s emphasis on inclusive industrial transformation, a high-level session titled “Farm to Factory: Growing Agritech in the Emirates” spotlighted the UAE’s growing investment in agricultural technology. The session brought together sector leaders to discuss how agritech is driving food resilience and industrial diversification through local innovation and sustainable practices.
Ahmed Al Suwaidi, CEO of Al Dahra, and Dr Shamal Mohammed, Head of AgriTech at Silal and Head of the Innovation Oasis initiative, shared insights on deploying next-generation technologies to enhance agricultural productivity and competitiveness.
Al Suwaidi said, “Innovation in agriculture is especially important for countries like the UAE, with its hot climate and salinated water. Inspired by the founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who faced doubts about growing anything here but insisted we would grow everything, we now cultivate 56,000 hectares of arable land. We collaborate with investment partners, think tanks, and universities to build an innovation ecosystem that significantly increases crop yields while reducing water use by up to 70%. Our efforts extend beyond the UAE to strategic markets such as the US, Serbia, Romania, Spain, and Egypt, where we focus on agritech solutions to feed more people with fewer resources.”
Dr. Mohammed added: “Emiratis have a mindset that views challenges as opportunities, making the country the right place at the right time for growth. Agricultural engineering has traditionally attracted limited interest among local youth, so we are actively engaging and investing in local talent, having recruited 12 graduate trainees from UAE universities.”
The third edition of the Make it in the Emirates Awards capped the morning’s sessions with a celebration of excellence across the industrial value chain. Categories included Factory of the Future, ICV Champions, Industry Enablers and Strategic Partners, Leadership and Talent Development, and UAE Traditional Crafts. The awards recognize entities and individuals who have contributed exceptionally to the UAE’s industrial transformation.
Opening the ceremony, His Excellency Omar Suwaina Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of MoIAT, said: “These awards honor more than industrial excellence — they recognize the power of collaboration, resilience, and national pride. Every winner is a partner in shaping the future of the UAE industry.”
Winners across each category will be announced in a dedicated release.
As the day unfolded, attendees engaged with breakthrough products such as AI-enabled robotics, sustainable construction materials, and 3D-printed prototypes reimagining transportation, retail, and mobility. Throughout the halls, Emirati SMEs, youth startups, and global industrial leaders stood side by side — a snapshot of the UAE’s evolving manufacturing ecosystem.
The UAE’s industrial sector has grown substantially, contributing AED 210 billion to the GDP in 2024, while industrial exports surged 68 percent to AED 197 billion compared to 2020. Since its launch, the National In-Country Value (ICV) Program has channeled more than AED 347 billion into the national economy and facilitated over 22,000 private sector job opportunities for Emiratis in industry.
Make it in the Emirates 2025 runs until May 22 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. It is hosted by MoIAT, organized by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company Group, and held alongside strategic partners the Ministry of Culture, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), and ADNOC.
The platform reinforces the UAE’s commitment to advancing industry, fostering strategic partnerships, and accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies — building a future that is competitive, connected, and Made in the UAE.