Abu Dhabi will be Ground Zero for even bigger industrial manufacturing

Global supply chains are being redrawn.

From rising tariffs to energy volatility, the industrial map is changing. In this new reality, scale alone is no longer sufficient. Resilience, sustainability and technological edge will define tomorrow’s industrial landscape.

Amid this global realignment, Abu Dhabi is emerging as a strategic industrial powerhouse, delivering impact.

This shift hasn’t happened by accident. It reflects a bold vision, disciplined execution and targeted investments. Central to this is the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy 2031 (ADIS), which aims to double the sector’s contribution to GDP by 2031.

The goal: to establish the emirate as a globally competitive base for digitally advanced, sustainable manufacturing.

We are already seeing tangible outcomes. In 2024, manufacturing contributed Dh111 billion to GDP, up 2.7%, making Abu Dhabi one of the region’s most productive industrial economies per capita. Non-oil exports rose 15% to Dh107 billion, while active industrial establishments grew 10% to more than 1,100. Industrial by-product recovery, a key circularity measure, surged by 200%. ADIS alone catalysed Dh3.5 billion in additional investment last year.

These figures reflect the strength of Abu Dhabi’s industrial ecosystem. Strategic foresight, sustainability and a focus on high-value capabilities underpin its transformation.

What truly distinguishes Abu Dhabi is its ability to translate ambition into delivery, efficiently and at scale. The emirate offers manufacturers and investors what few places can: world-class infrastructure, competitive operating costs, a stable macroeconomic environment and investor-friendly regulation. 

That advantage is increasingly relevant as global manufacturers seek to position production closer to high-growth markets, aligned with sustainability goals and supported by pro-industry schemes. Abu Dhabi checks every box.

Its integrated industrial zones offer seamless multimodal logistics, reliable utilities and smart digital platforms, simplifying the investor journey and enabling businesses to scale. The energy tariff and land rebate programmes have reduced input costs, accelerating expansion. The In-Country Value (ICV) framework drove Dh48 billion in local supplier spend in 2024 alone, retaining value within the national economy and supporting local capability.

Abu Dhabi is equally future-focused, investing across the entire industrial value chain from integrating Industry 4.0 technologies and shifting to sustainable materials, to enabling R&D and skills development. Clusters including Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI), Health, Endurance, Longevity and Medicine (HELM) and AgriFood Growth & Water Abundance (AGWA), are designed to turn ambition into innovation ecosystems.

Abu Dhabi is open.

Through an expanding CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) network, UAE-based manufacturers gain preferential access to markets representing over 2.5 billion consumers. Combined with a highly rated, stable business environment, $1.7 trillion in sovereign capital and a forward-looking regulatory regime, the emirate offers a rare combination of stability and scale.

We go beyond facilitation at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). We align policy with industry needs, unlock opportunities and support companies from market entry to long-term expansion. Our role is to act as a growth partner, ensuring Abu Dhabi’s industrial momentum matches investor ambition.

The case for Abu Dhabi has never been stronger. It offers global market access, cost efficiency and a connected ecosystem for manufacturers. As this year’s Make it in the Emirates Forum demonstrated, the emirate is not waiting for the future of industry, it is building it decisively and at pace.

The industrial race of the 21^st century is well underway.

The winners will be ecosystems that can turn vision into delivery. Abu Dhabi is ready.

We invite the world’s industrial leaders to grow with us, not just to participate in the future, but to lead it.