meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

The road ahead for UAE manufacturing

28 October 2022

This article is the first in a series that captures key highlights from the MEED-Mashreq Manufacturing Business Leaders Club held on 29 September in Dubai, discussing the way forward for UAE manufacturing and the role of Operation 300bn in advancing the sector.

Participants at the closed-door event included 30+ manufacturing stakeholders based in the UAE, such as the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Ducab and Global Food Industries.

Enabling a flourishing local industrial and manufacturing economy has long been a strategic priority for the UAE.

Since the formation of the federation, the country has successfully built its base in key focus sectors, including metals, petrochemicals, building materials, pharmaceuticals, and high-value downstream processing sectors.

But arguably, the challenges of recent years and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have driven home the need to further reduce reliance on imports and to enhance the UAE’s manufacturing competitiveness.

“Fundamentally, many of the things happening in the world are in favour of the UAE’s industries and present many opportunities for success,” said Abdullah Alshamsi, assistant undersecretary, Industry Growth Sector, Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MOIAT).

Speaking at the first MEED-Mashreq Manufacturing Business Leaders Club on 29 September, Alshamsi emphasised the UAE government’s seriousness to bolster its manufacturing sector.

“We have embarked on several changes to make the UAE a more attractive place to do business. Operation 300bn is one such example,” he said. “There is more to come, because industry has become a number one priority for our leadership.”

WATCH: Highlights from the MEED-Mashreq Manufacturing Business Leaders Club

Strategic focus

Introduced in March 2021 as the UAE’s national industrial strategy, Operation 300bn aims to expand the contribution of the sector to the GDP from AED133bn currently to AED300bn by 2031 – by no means an easy feat.

Spearheaded by the MOIAT, the programme will see a greater incorporation of advanced technologies, sustainability, and investments in talent to achieve the overarching goal.

The ministry is working closely with the Emirates Development Bank, which has allocated AED30bn to support priority industrial sectors and finance 13,500 large firms and SMEs over a period of five years.

The ministry is further introducing 17 initiatives – including a national in-country value programme, an updated industrial law, a unified digital platform, and establishing an ecosystem for research and development.

More specifically, the programme will target both established industrial sectors in the UAE, such as plastics, metals and petrochemicals, as well as industries of the future including aerospace and biotechnology; and strategic sectors such as food and healthcare.

“Some of the things we are doing through Operation 300bn include the opening of new markets, made possible through the free trade agreements signed with India, Indonesia and Israel recently,” said Alshamsi. “The UAE’s industries can build on this competitive advantage and enter high-growth markets.”

A crucial part of the programme is ensuring its reputation precedes itself. One way the MOIAT is doing this is through the ‘Make It in The Emirates’ campaign, a comprehensive promotional strategy that invites contributions from investors, innovators and developers to Operation 300bn, and highlights the strengths of the programme.

“The government is open to hearing from industries and to learn how we can make business better,” said Alshamsi. “Open dialogue will help us achieve our goals and ambitions.”

The national in-country value (ICV) scheme meanwhile aims to boost the growth of UAE-based industries by redirecting half of government spending on procurements and tender contracts into the national economy by 2031. In 2021, it redirected more than AED41bn of spend into the national economy.

A concern, however, raised by representatives at the Business Leaders Club is that the ICV scheme hasn’t fully created a level-playing field in many cases because the cheapest bid still wins.

“What you’ve seen of ICV so far was just the first phase,” said Alshamsi. “In the next phase, we’ll relaunch it as ICV, which we hope will be more aggressive and impactful, and will address concerns currently raised by industry players.”

By 2025, the ICV scheme aims to increase the number of ICV-certified companies and spend towards Emirati products and services to AED55bn, from AED33bn in 2020.

Making a case

A question to be raised is – why manufacturing?

Since the oil price crash of 2015-2016, the UAE has increased its efforts to counter economic fluctuations by reducing dependence on oil export revenues.

Manufacturing and industrial growth was quickly recognised as a growth driver. As a sector with easy links to several others – skills, transport, research, services – manufacturing supports a broader segment of the economy.

With the rise of Industry 4.0, manufacturing is benefitting from advancement in technology and innovation, areas that the UAE readily compliments with its own strategic visions.

Several factors are already working in favour of the UAE, many of which have been introduced in recent years. These include 100 per cent foreign ownership of specific businesses; favourable tax environment; long-term visa reforms; dual licensing; and a complementary legal system.

Further supporting the business environment is overall political stability; positive credit outlook; favourable bilateral relations and free trade agreements; and strong infrastructure in areas such as transport, logistics and telecommunications.

But that does not mean the manufacturing landscape is bereft of challenges. Rising competition in the region, especially from neighbouring GCC states has meant that manufacturers in the UAE’s ‘open waters’ have had to reassess their strategic priorities.

At the same time, macroeconomic challenges such as inflation, supply chain delays, rising commodity prices and surging fuel rates are hurting producers and their margins.

“Moving forward, the UAE manufacturing industry can differentiate itself from regional players by being recognised for sustainability, quality and advanced technology,” said Alshamsi. “It’s something in our DNA, something so many other countries lack. This can become a true differentiator for us.”

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/10141933/main2159.jpg
Mehak Srivastava

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Dewa opens bids for MBR Solar Park phase seven

    3 August 2026

     

    Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) has opened bids for the seventh phase of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Solar Park.

    According to a source, technical and financial offers were opened last month. The utility received bids on 1 July. 

    Phase seven will add 2,000MW from photovoltaic solar panels and include a 1,400MW battery energy storage system (bess) with a six-hour capacity, providing a total storage capacity of 8,400 megawatt-hours. 

    It is understood that Saudi Arabia’s Acwa, the UAE’s Etihad Water & Electricity and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) are among the companies that submitted bids for the project.

    The winning bidder “is likely” to come from one of those three, a source told MEED.

    As MEED understands, the previously prequalified Electricite de France did not submit a bid for the project.

    Dewa completed the prequalification process for the latest phase of the world’s largest single-site solar park in 2025. 

    As previously reported, 47 firms submitted their responses to Dewa’s expression of interest request for the contract in March 2025. The main tender was issued last November.

    The following companies were among those prequalified to submit main contract bids on the project:

    • Acwa (Saudi Arabia) 
    • Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar)
    • Electricite de France (EDF)
    • Etihad Water & Electricity (EtihadWE)
    • China Machinery Engineering Corporation
    • China Construction Eighth Engineering Division
    • Power China
    • Larsen & Toubro (India)
    • Shanghai Electric Group

    The transaction advisory team for the project comprises UK-headquartered Deloitte and US-based CMS and Sargent & Lundy as financial, legal and technical advisers, with Deloitte acting as lead adviser. 

    Meanwhile, construction on the 1,800MW sixth phase of the MBR Solar Park is nearing completion, with commissioning expected by the end of the third quarter.

    Dewa and Masdar reached financial close for the $1.5bn project in 2024. Once completed, the sixth phase will increase the solar park’s total production capacity to 4,660MW.

    Dewa increased its flagship solar project’s 2030 installed capacity target by 45% in 2025, from 5,000MW to 7,260MW. This comprises a total investment of AED50bn ($13.6bn).

    READ THE AUGUST 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Saudi Arabia builds for the global stage; Rising uncertainty creates fresh set of challenges in the Maghreb; Gulf banks remain robust in the face of geopolitical tensions.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb fortunes diverge
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18031819/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Three groups bid for $5bn Asir-Jizan highway

    3 August 2026

     

    Three groups have submitted bids for an estimated SR20bn ($5bn) contract to develop and operate the Asir-Jizan highway project on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis.

    According to sources close to the project, the consortiums that bid are:

    • Lamar Holding (local) / Shaanxi Construction Engineering (China) / Safari (local)
    • Vision Invest (local) / China Harbour Engineering Company (China)
    • Plenary (Australia) / Alayuni (local) / Limak Holding (Turkey) / Nesma & Partners (local)

    Saudi Arabia’s Roads General Authority, the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP and the Aseer Development Authority (Asda) are the government agencies managing the tender and project.

    The 136-kilometre Asir-Jizan highway will have three lanes in each direction and include six intersections, 57 bridges totalling 18km and 11 tunnels totalling 9km.

    The project is one of four planned highway schemes in the kingdom’s privatisation and public-private partnership pipeline.

    The route begins in Al-Farah in Asir and extends to the Red Sea through Jizan.

    The 30-year contract will follow a design, build, finance, operate and maintain model.

    READ THE AUGUST 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Saudi Arabia builds for the global stage; Rising uncertainty creates fresh set of challenges in the Maghreb; Gulf banks remain robust in the face of geopolitical tensions.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb fortunes diverge
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18031383/main1110.jpg
    Colin Foreman
  • Adnoc Onshore extends bid deadline for field facilities project

    3 August 2026

     

    Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s onshore business (Adnoc Onshore) has given contractors extra time to prepare bids for a project to build on-plot and off-plot facilities at the Rumaitha and Shanayel fields, part of the Northeast Bab cluster of oil fields in Abu Dhabi.

    The project aims to enhance and sustain oil production at the Rumaitha and Shanayel fields at a rate of 45,000 barrels a day (b/d). It forms part of Adnoc Onshore’s contribution to parent company Adnoc Group’s broader objective of increasing oil production capacity to 5 million b/d by 2027 through its Accelerated Integrated Programme 5 (AiP5). Adnoc Group currently has a production capacity of 4.85 million b/d.

    Adnoc Onshore issued the main tender for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) works package for the Rumaitha and Shanayel on-plot and off-plot facilities project on 19 June, MEED previously reported.

    The project operator has now extended the deadline for contractors to submit technical bids to 5 August, from 2 August previously, according to sources. The prior deadline had been 30 July.

    Adnoc Onshore issued the expression of interest for the Rumaitha and Shanayel on-plot and off-plot facilities project in early December, with contractors submitting their responses later that month, MEED previously reported.

    The prequalification and ongoing tendering process is understood to result from Adnoc Onshore revising its strategy for executing EPC works on an earlier, larger project covering the Northeast Bab cluster, which comprises the Al-Nouf, Rumaitha and Shanayel fields.

    MEED reported in December that Adnoc Onshore had cancelled the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCm) phase it launched in 2024 for the Northeast Bab on-plot and off-plot facilities project in favour of executing the scheme under a conventional EPC model.

    The operator awarded a contract to state-owned China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation (CPECC) to carry out EPCm services for the Northeast Bab off-plot facilities package in October 2024. However, the contract was subsequently cancelled last year.

    Separately, Adnoc Onshore received bids during the second quarter of 2025 for the EPCm tender covering the Northeast Bab on-plot facilities package, but that procurement process was also later cancelled.

    Project scope of work

    The detailed scope of work on the Rumaitha and Shanayel on-plot and off-plot facilities project is as follows:

    On-plot facilities:

    • Oil train: One new oil train with slug catcher, two-stage separation, desalting, exchangers for crude heating and stabilisation, and all associated interconnections, utilities and civil/structural works, etc.
    • Produced water treatment (PWT): New produced water treatment package to enable 100% produced water reinjection (PWRI), including chemical dosing, tanks, pumps, all associated controls and blending with aquifer water, etc.
    • Water injection system: New water injection system, including surface water injection pumps, necessary connections and controls from produced water systems, headers, chemical dosing, power and controls, etc.
    • Gas handling and export:
      • Low-pressure gas compression system
      • Medium-pressure gas compression system
      • Gas dehydration and regeneration system
      • Export gas compression system
    • Utilities and offsites: Plant air and instrument air systems, nitrogen generation system, potable water system, vapour recovery system (liquid ejector package), fuel gas import and distribution, closed and open drain systems, hot oil heater, snuffing nitrogen package, enclosed ground flare systems (high-pressure and tank flares), etc.
    • Modifications in existing systems, including, but not limited to, installation of a slug catcher at phase-I, connectivity of gas systems, water systems, existing high-pressure compressors modifications, etc
    • Electrical, instrumentation and control, and safety: Electrical systems, instrumentation and control system (ICSS, F&G system, field instrumentation, HIPPS, etc.), substation and ITR room building, fire water system, etc.
    • Overhead line (220 kV): Installation and extension of overhead lines and 220 KV GIS compound or equivalent power distribution solutions to the central processing plant and other designated areas, as necessary.

    Off-plot facilities:

    • New gas-lifted oil producers and water injectors installation with necessary piping, controls, etc. and their connections to the new or existing clusters and pipeline networks
    • New clusters with facilities such as control panels, ITR, production and test manifolds, headers, chemical injection skids, multiphase flow meters, closed drain systems, HIPPS valves, WHCPs, pig traps, ICSS/telecom extensions, etc.
    • Modifications in existing clusters, including the addition or extension of manifolds, headers, additional pipelines with pig traps, ICSS/telecom extensions, chemical injection kids, etc.
    • Gathering and injection networks: Construction of new and modified oil gathering and water injection trunklines/laterals, pigging facilities (launchers/receivers), valve stations, block valves, corrosion protection and monitoring, and all associated equipment, etc.
    • Export gas pipelines and Adnoc Gas interface: Provision for export gas pipeline and facilities from Rumaitha central processing plant to new manifold station and from NMS to Adnoc Gas, including isolation/blowdown, etc.
    • Overhead line: Installation and extension of 33kV overhead lines to clusters, etc., as required.

    The tendering exercise for the Rumaitha and Shanayel on-plot and off-plot facilities project is taking place as Adnoc Onshore continues to make progress with EPC works on another, similar project to build off-plot facilities at the Southeast cluster of oil fields in Abu Dhabi, which is also integral to Adnoc Group’s AiP5 campaign.

    The Southeast cluster comprises the Asab, Mender, Qusahwira, Sahil and Shah fields and accounts for approximately a third of Adnoc Onshore’s oil production capacity.

    MEED previously reported that Adnoc Onshore had awarded EPC works on the Southeast off-plot facilities project to state-owned China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation (CPECC), with the value of the contract estimated to be around $1.2bn.

    The overall scope of work on the Southeast off-plot facilities project includes tying in more than 150 wells across the area’s fields, upgrading remote and central degassing stations, laying more than 270 kilometres of flowlines, digitising wells for remote monitoring, and implementing artificial intelligence-driven telemetry technologies.

    MEED also recently reported that CPECC awarded subcontracts on the Southeast off-plot facilities project, in its capacity as the main EPC contractor.

    The off-plot facilities project is a component of the overall $2bn-$3bn South East AIP5 development, with the on-plot facilities project forming the other part of the programme.

    CPECC is also performing EPC works on the Southeast on-plot facilities project in a consortium with Greece-headquartered Archirodon. Adnoc Onshore awarded an estimated $1.5bn contract for that project to the consortium in December 2024, with EPC works scheduled for completion in 2027.

    READ THE AUGUST 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Saudi Arabia builds for the global stage; Rising uncertainty creates fresh set of challenges in the Maghreb; Gulf banks remain robust in the face of geopolitical tensions.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb fortunes diverge
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18022436/main2622.jpg
    Indrajit Sen
  • Lebanon seeks interest for power generation projects

    3 August 2026

    Lebanon’s Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) has invited the private sector to submit expressions of interest (EoIs) for several upcoming power generation projects.

    The EoI covers up to five grid-connected solar photovoltaic projects with a combined installed capacity of 350MWp. The projects are also expected to include battery energy storage systems (bess) with a combined capacity of 1,000MWh. 

    The regulator is also seeking proposals for distributed dual-fired thermal power plants with net capacities ranging from 20MW to 100MW. The plants are expected to operate on natural gas as the primary fuel and heavy fuel oil as a backup fuel. 

    The submission deadline is 31 August. 

    Regulatory progress

    The EoI follows the establishment of Lebanon’s Electricity Regulatory Authority earlier this year, more than two decades after it was envisaged under Law No. 462/2002 but not implemented due to political delays. The electricity sector had previously been overseen by the Ministry of Energy & Water and state utility Electricite du Liban.

    Lebanon’s electricity sector continues to face insufficient generation capacity, fuel supply constraints, ageing generation assets and limited grid flexibility. These challenges have led to prolonged electricity shortages and increased reliance on private diesel generation and distributed solar systems, prompting the government to seek additional private investment in new generation capacity. 

    IPP model

    According to the EoI document, the projects are expected to be structured as independent power producer (IPP) schemes. Any future contractual arrangements, including power-purchase agreements, will be determined by the competent public authority under the applicable legal framework. 

    The ERA said the EoI is open to private investors, IPP operators, engineering, procurement and construction contractors, equipment suppliers and consortiums. It is intended to assess market interest, identify potential generation projects and evaluate the technical and financial capabilities of prospective developers. 

    Respondents are required to provide information on their technical and financial capabilities, proposed project locations, grid connection plans and relevant project experience. 

    For solar projects, developers are required to provide details including module and inverter technology, annual generation estimates and battery storage specifications where applicable. Thermal project submissions must include information on technology type, efficiency, fuel strategy, emissions performance and readiness for future natural gas operation. 

    The EoI states that developers will be responsible for land acquisition or leasing, permitting, financing, design, construction, grid interconnection, commissioning, and long-term operation and maintenance of the projects. 

    READ THE AUGUST 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Saudi Arabia builds for the global stage; Rising uncertainty creates fresh set of challenges in the Maghreb; Gulf banks remain robust in the face of geopolitical tensions.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb fortunes diverge
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18018733/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Saudi economy swings to 4.8% contraction

    3 August 2026

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Saudi Arabia’s economy contracted 4.8% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, as a sharp fall in oil activities outweighed continued growth in the non-oil economy, according to flash estimates from the General Authority for Statistics (Gastat).

    The contraction was driven by a 24.7% year-on-year drop in oil activities, which cut 5.4 percentage points from the headline figure. Non-oil activities grew 0.6% and government activities rose 0.9%, contributing 0.4 and 0.1 percentage points respectively. Net taxes on products added a further 0.1 percentage points.

    On a seasonally adjusted basis, real GDP fell 4.9% from the first quarter, with oil activities down 21.5% quarter-on-quarter. Non-oil activities eased 0.5% over the same period, while government activities rose 0.2%.

    The second-quarter figures mark a reversal from the first quarter, when the economy grew 3% year-on-year. In the first quarter, both oil and non-oil activities expanded by 2.9% and government activities rose 1.5%, with growth recorded across all major sectors. Oil activities have since swung from that modest expansion to a steep contraction, while non-oil growth has slowed from 2.9% to 0.6%.

    The divergence between the oil and non-oil economy has widened as a result. While crude output fell steeply in the second quarter, the broader non-oil sector, the focus of the kingdom’s economic diversification programme, continued to expand, albeit at a slower pace than in the opening months of the year.

    Public finances

    The contraction came in a quarter when higher oil revenue improved the public finances. The budget deficit narrowed to SR34.29bn in the second quarter, down from SR125.71bn in the first, as oil revenue rose 22% year-on-year to SR185.13bn, according to the Finance Ministry’s quarterly budget performance report. Total revenue reached SR338.78bn, up 12% on the same period of 2025, while non-oil revenue increased 3% to SR153.66bn.

    Total spending rose 11% year-on-year to SR373.07bn. The sharpest increases were in grants, up 199% to SR1.24bn, subsidies, up 73% to SR13.27bn, and financing expenses, up 41% to SR16.81bn. Capital spending rose 16% to SR46.23bn.

    For the first half, the deficit totalled SR160bn, financed entirely through borrowing with no drawdown on government reserves. Revenue for the six months rose 6% year-on-year to SR599.76bn, while spending increased 15% to SR759.76bn. Actual first-half spending reached 58% of the full-year budget of SR1.312tn. Health and social development recorded the highest sectoral outlay at SR170.61bn, followed by the military at SR124.57bn and education at SR109.73bn.

    Public debt reached SR1.684tn by the end of the first half, up from an opening balance of SR1.519tn. Domestic debt stood at SR1.060tn and external debt at SR624.9bn. The government reserve closing balance was SR399.07bn.

    The kingdom has continued to tap the domestic debt market. The National Debt Management Centre closed its July 2026 issuance under the Saudi Arabian Government riyal-denominated sukuk programme at SR5.35bn, divided into five tranches. The largest, at SR3.83bn, matures in 2031, with further tranches of SR515m maturing in 2033, SR204m in 2036, SR300m in 2039 and SR500m in 2041.

    READ THE AUGUST 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Saudi Arabia builds for the global stage; Rising uncertainty creates fresh set of challenges in the Maghreb; Gulf banks remain robust in the face of geopolitical tensions.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb fortunes diverge
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18015899/main.gif
    Colin Foreman