UAE sees rise in number of small factories

Dubai: The number of small and medium-size factories in the UAE has grown 68 per cent over the last five years, registering the strongest growth in the region, the Gulf Organisation for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) said.

The UAE had 3,828 factories in 2007 compared with 2,282 factories in 2002, the Qatar-based regional industrial promotion agency said.

Saudi Arabia ranked second as the number small and medium industrial units increased from 2,546 to 3,323 for the same period.

Industrial units in the Gulf have grown at an average annual rate of 7.4 per cent since 2002, GOIC said in a statement announcing the 'International Experiences in Industrial Clusters Development' forum in Doha on June 1.