Manufacturers

Be a part of building Dubai's global industrial powerhouse.

Operation 300bn: industrial development in the spotlight

One of the top strategic programmes within the field is Operation 300bn – a specialised framework comprising several initiatives designed to increase industrial contribution to the national GDP.

The primary goal is to fast-track the growth of vital sub-sectors and outline effective policies to boost local manufacturing potential. Financed by the Emirates Development Bank (EDB), Operation 300bn also seeks to foster economic competitiveness, enhance R&D capabilities and position the UAE as a preferred location for industrial innovation.

Part of the 100 projects of the Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’ is the city’s plan for green and sustainable manufacturing. In 2023, a pioneering clean energy policy was introduced, enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability agendas of manufacturers in Dubai by urging them to use solar power to match their total connected load.
The Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030 aims to make the city a preferred manufacturing platform for global businesses, focusing on six priority sub-sectors: aerospace; maritime; aluminium and fabricated metals; pharmaceuticals and medical equipment; food and beverages; and machinery and equipment.

Key sector data

According to a recent report, the GCC custom manufacturing market size is poised to grow from US$898.3 billion in 2022 to US$1,287.29 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.6% over the forecasted period.

Manufacturing – value added (% of GDP) – in the UAE was reported at 9.7% in 2022, according to the World Bank's development indicators.

The UAE is already an important global aluminium production hub, accounting for 10% of global production. Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) supplies to more than 50 countries.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), the industrial sector’s contribution to the UAE’s GDP has reached US$53.6 billion (AED197 billion), accounting for 30% of the ambitious Operation 300bn target – a 38% increase from AED132 billion in 2020.

DIC – one of the region’s largest industrial manufacturing and logistics hubs – is home to more than 800 customers and 300 operational factories divided into six sector-focused zones that encourage collaboration and eliminate supply chain uncertainties for manufacturers. The district aims to have more than 500 operational factories in the freezone by 2026.

In June 2023, DIC confirmed it had attracted almost US$ 272.29 million (AED1 billion) in investments from local and global manufacturing companies. DIC reported a 17% growth in customer numbers in 2023.

JAFZA is the world’s largest freezone. In addition to offering zero personal and corporate tax, 100% ownership and zero import or re-export duties, JAFZA offers dedicated food, agriculture and medical solutions hubs.

It is home to 7,000+ companies across various industries, representing 120+ countries including over 100 of the Fortune 500 companies Roughly 23% of these companies are focused on manufacturing and assembly operations.