Dubai: Building helicopters and aircraft in a country that is not known to manufacture even motor cars might raise eyebrows among many industry watchers. I wouldn't be surprised if some still have doubts.

It is difficult, but not impossible, especially where leaders drive economic growth through vision.

Although the UAE is not a major industrial nation, it is ranked the 19th biggest exporter in the world with $235 billion worth of exports and re-exports, according to the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) latest global ranking, ahead of India, Australia and Brazil.

On the other hand, the country is the world's 25th biggest importer with an import bill touching $170 billion. The UAE's total foreign trade, currently at $405 billion (Dh1.48 trillion) outshines the country's gross domestic product, which hovers around Dh1 trillion.

That's why the country, which long has been one of the biggest buyers of aircraft, has started building them.

The process of developing an aerospace cluster started in 2006 when the Dubai Government set up a $15 billion Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) that was to bring investment and businesses to the $30 billion Dubai World Central (DWC), the world's biggest greenfield airport city development spanning 140 square kilometres.

The business plan for DWC involves the transfer of aviation technology, knowhow and the development of local talents to build the capability of the UAE to be part of the global aviation supply chain.

Accordingly, the DAE had begun to put the pieces of the puzzle together until the global financial crisis of 2008 put a temporary brake on the plan.

Mubadala Aerospace, the aviation investment and development arm of Mubadala Development Company, is currently at the forefront of the UAE's drive to develop an aerospace cluster which will develop local technology, create employment and help support the global aviation industry.

It will turn the country from a user and consumer of aircraft to a developer of planes.

The company has already signed a series of agreements in recent years with major companies such as Boeing and Airbus to manufacture spare parts and become a partner in the global aircraft supply chain.

Boeing and Mubadala Aerospace on Monday announced agreements to advance the commercial and military aviation industry in the UAE. These milestones further strengthen the UAE's plans to become a global aerospace hub, a key part of the emirate's economic diversification plans.

Strategic roadmap

The agreements, contracts signed over the last few years and the development of the factories and associated facilities are gradually becoming visible in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain where Mubadala Aerospace is building an aviation cluster which is expected to be connected directly by highway and rail to the Taweelah port for the smooth transportation of aircraft components manufactured in Al Ain.

Meanwhile, Boeing and Strata Manufacturing, Mubadala Aerospace's advanced composite aerostructures facility in Al Ain, agreed to make Strata a composite aerostructures supplier to Boeing. The agreement also defines a strategic roadmap whereby through performance and competitiveness, Strata stands to become a major Tier 1 supplier to Boeing.

In addition to Mubadala, private investors are also playing their role in developing the sector. A UAE investor is developing a helicopter which will be manufactured in Umm Al Quwain.

Although the UAE is still a few years away from developing spare parts and components for aircraft, the country is no doubt on the right track in achieving its target of manufacturing the first helicopter by 2014 and first aircraft by 2018.

If the country achieves those milestones, it will be due to the visionary leadership of the country and their missionary zeal to achieve goals.