The fifth edition of Make it in the Emirates, held at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from May 4–7, drew more than 1,200 exhibitors across 88,000 square metres, cementing advanced manufacturing as a cornerstone of UAE economic strategy.
The forum generated AED 171 billion in industrial agreements, comprising AED 48.5 billion in investments and AED 19.2 billion in financing initiatives, spanning chemicals, healthcare, logistics, clean energy, and food production. Localisation targets were also expanded, with plans to bring more than 5,000 products onshore while growing procurement opportunities from AED 168 billion to AED 180 billion over the next decade.
SMEs and start-ups represented 61% of exhibitors, signalling a deliberate push to broaden industrial participation beyond sovereign entities. Since Operation 300bn launched in 2021, industrial exports have climbed to AED 262 billion, including AED 92 billion in advanced industrial goods.
Gulf Economist Staff Writer