His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, affirmed that the UAE has made significant strides in diversifying its national economy and strengthening its global and regional competitiveness, under the guidance of its wise leadership. As a result, non-oil sectors now account for 74.6 per cent of the country’s real GDP. H.E. highlighted that the industrial sector is one of the key drivers of economic growth and diversification and that it plays a pivotal role in achieving the national goal to double the country’s GDP to AED 3 trillion by the next decade in line with the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision.
In this context, H.E. said: “The transformative industries sector contributed 11.3 per cent to the UAE’s real GDP during the first nine months of 2024, reaching AED 149.4 billion, marking an increase of 2.3 per cent compared to the same period in 2023. Its contribution to the country’s non-oil GDP exceeded 15 per cent during this period.”
H.E. continued: “The sector is expected to contribute AED 193 billion to the national economy in 2024. By the end of 2022, it had attracted approximately AED 40 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), accounting for seven per cent of the UAE’s total FDI.”
H.E. affirmed that the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ platform reinforces the industry’s role as a key pillar of national economic diversification and global competitiveness. H.E. further highlighted the significance of continued collaboration between public and private sector entities to accelerate digital transformation across industries, supporting the development of a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy while also driving sustainable economic development.
The Minister of Economy noted that the Forum is a local and regional platform with growing influence in advancing global industrial growth. It highlights the UAE’s advancement in various levels in line with its vision for building the economy of the future.
H.E. said: “Today, the UAE boasts an advanced economic legislative framework that fosters an attractive investment environment and stimulates innovation and productivity. This further strengthens the cooperation between the public and private sectors, supporting the UAE’s vision to become the global hub for the new economy by 2031.”
His Excellency Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade:
His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, praised the achievements of Make it in the Emirates over the past three editions for their tangible economic impact and support for local businesses and Emirati talent.
HE Dr. Al Zeyoudi said: ” Make it in the Emirates, which has turned into an effective and vital platform, is a successful national model of integration between economic, industrial, and trade policies. It has played a key role in empowering the industrial sector, enhancing national value, and supporting the growth of our industrial exports into new markets around the world.”
HE Dr. Al Zeyoudi added: “Make it in the Emirates embodies the vision of our wise leadership in supporting local industries and enhancing the global competitiveness of UAE-made products, based on raising standards of quality and innovation. In 2024, the UAE’s industrial exports rose to AED 197 billion.”
HE Dr. Al Zeyoudi affirmed that the Ministry of Economy, through the Foreign Trade Sector and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs), and in collaboration with partners, is working to open broader horizons for UAE-made products. The aim is to create competitive export opportunities that reflect the country’s high-quality standards and advanced capabilities.
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His Excellency Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said: “The Make it in the Emirates platform has become one of the most important events bringing together leading minds from influential sectors, including energy, which is a central enabler of industrial development and transformation.”
HE Al Mazrouei added: “The industrial sector has become a significant contributor to enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy and supports the UAE’s vision to build a diversified and sustainable economy. Energy, in turn, is a critical element in the sector’s transformation, especially with global trends towards more sustainable energy sources and related industries such as renewable energy, green hydrogen, and others. The UAE’s focus on clean and renewable energy, artificial intelligence, advanced technology, and Fourth Industrial Revolution solutions meets development needs with the highest standards, protects the environment and climate, and ensures the sustainability of resources for future generations.”
HE Al Mazrouei pointed out that: “The national energy sector and the UAE’s advanced infrastructure enhance the country’s attractiveness for foreign investment and support the growth of priority advanced industries. This makes the fourth edition of Make it in the Emirates, which focuses on advanced industries, a key platform to discuss energy, industry, and advanced technology, and how they are interconnected.”
His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment, emphasized the importance of Make it in the Emirates as a strategic initiative that enhances the UAE’s economic competitiveness and global standing. He noted that the platform is central in expanding investment opportunities across various industrial sectors, supported by the UAE’s business-friendly ecosystem and enabling environment for local, regional, and international investors.”
HE Alsuwaidi pointed out that the platform contributes to the UAE’s economic diversification and stimulates industrial activity, increasing the sector’s share of GDP, creating investment opportunities, and supporting foreign direct investment inflows. He added that it has become an ideal environment for attracting capital into advanced and emerging industries, thanks to robust public-private partnerships, cross-border collaboration, procurement opportunities, and the re-localization of key products.
HE Alsuwaidi said: “Make it in the Emirates directly contributes to enhancing economic sustainability and expanding the local production base, which supports the UAE’s goals of offering promising investment opportunities and solidifying its position as a leading industrial and technological hub amid global economic shifts.”
HE Alsuwaidi added: “The platform continues to play a pivotal role in attracting and directing capital toward the future of the UAE industry. At the Ministry of Investment, we are working to facilitate the flow of high-quality investments into priority sectors, especially the industries of the future, while creating a flexible and enabling environment that boosts the country’s regional and global competitiveness, and in turn, ensures the expansion of the industrial investor base both within the UAE and internationally.”
