The United Arab Emirates has unveiled a sweeping industrial push, pledging $49 billion in procurement opportunities and accelerating plans to localize more than 5,000 products.

 

The move follows as the country aims to tighten control over its industrial supply chains and deepen economic self-reliance.

 

The announcement came from Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, at the opening of the fifth edition of Make it in the Emirates, held against a backdrop of regional and global economic uncertainty.

 

“History remembers the challenges nations face. But it also remembers how nations respond to them and what they build next,” he said.

 

The scale of commitments underscores a broader national strategy to reposition the UAE as a global manufacturing hub. TA’ZIZ revealed $40.5 billion in agreements designed to expand domestic chemical production, including major offtake deals and $2 billion in financing for what will be the UAE’s first world-scale methanol plant.

 

In parallel, a $270 million National Industrial Resilience Fund (NIRF) was launched, expected to generate 4,000 jobs and replace up to $24.5 billion in imports over time, equivalent to roughly $820 million annually. 

 

ADNOC added further momentum with $54.4 billion in procurement opportunities and planned projects. Additional deals are expected to follow throughout the week.

 

Al Jaber also framed the UAE’s recent departure from OPEC and OPEC+ as part of a deliberate long-term strategy.

 

“It is not directed against anyone,” he said, adding that the decision “gives us greater ability to accelerate investment, expand, and create value.”

 

He highlighted the rapid expansion of the industrial sector, which he said has now reached $54.5 billion — a 70% rise since 2021 — while industrial exports climbed to $71.4 billion, including $25.1 billion in advanced manufacturing exports.

 

The newly announced $49 billion procurement commitment will be deployed over the next decade, targeting industries tied to economic resilience as well as food and healthcare security.

 

“Economic security cannot be imported — it must be built and protected,” Al Jaber said.

He added: “When a vital artery such as the Strait of Hormuz is closed, it does not only affect one region – it affects the entire global economy.”

 

“Freedom of international navigation is non-negotiable and cannot be compromised.”

 

Positioning the UAE as a competitive global manufacturing base, Al Jaber directly courted international investors, pointing to streamlined regulation, advanced logistics infrastructure, and strong global connectivity as key advantages in the country’s industrial transformation drive.