Milestone supports UAE industrial growth, resilient supply chains and economic diversification
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Abu Dhabi, UAE, September 2026:Emirates Development Bank EDB, the UAE’s key financial engine for economic diversification and industrial transformation, has approved more than AED 30 billion in cumulative financing since 2021, achieving its five-year mandate and reinforcing its role in financing the UAE’s industrial and economic diversification priorities.
The milestone reflects EDB’s support for businesses and projects that are expanding productive capacity, strengthening local supply chains, and advancing strategic sectors across the country.
H.E. Ahmed Mohamed Al Naqbi, Chief Executive Officer of EDB, said: “Reaching this milestone reflects the confidence that businesses place in EDB as a partner for growth and industrial development. Our focus is on financing projects that create productive capacity, deepen local value chains and help UAE-based businesses compete at home and internationally. As we build on this progress, we will continue to direct capital towards the sectors that are most important to the country’s long-term resilience and competitiveness.”
Since 2021, EDB has supported more than 1,000 companies across its five priority sectors: manufacturing, renewable energy, advanced technology, healthcare and food security. Manufacturing has received the largest share of EDB financing approvals, reflecting its central role in strengthening the UAE’s industrial base and supporting the objectives of national industrial-development programmes.
According to EDB impact data, the Bank’s financing has contributed more than AED 14 billion to industrial GDP, enabled more than 50,000 industrial jobs and mobilised approximately AED 70 billion in industrial CAPEX. EDB-supported businesses have also attracted more than AED 9 billion in foreign investment, supporting the establishment and expansion of industrial and advanced-production businesses in the UAE.
The financing has enabled companies to expand production capacity, invest in facilities and technologies, develop local supply chains and manufacture products for the UAE market and international markets.
