Financing the future of industrial operations
How digitalisation and capital strategy are shaping the UAE’s next growth phase
This article is the first in a series that captures key highlights from the Strategic Forum for Finance and Industrial Leaders jointly held by Mashreq and MEED on October 30, discussing how growth in the manufacturing sector will depend on pairing technology adoption with more agile and intelligent capital planning
The UAE’s industrial sector is entering a new phase of accelerated growth, driven by innovation, foreign investment and a renewed focus on local manufacturing.
Together, these forces are laying the foundation of a globally competitive industrial economy that is shaping the country’s position as a hub for advanced, high-value industries.
The scale of progress is evident. Manufacturing’s share of GDP climbed by almost 44% between 2020 and 2024, rising from $35.97bn to $51.74bn, reflecting the tangible results of the UAE’s diversification and industrial reform efforts.
National programmes such as Operation 300bn, ‘Make it in the Emirates’ and the push towards an Industry 4.0-ready economy have been at the heart of this transformation.
By promoting digital adoption, these initiatives are helping manufacturers modernise operations, improve productivity and integrate into global value chains.
Supporting these ambitions is the in-country value (ICV) programme, which has redirected more than AED110bn in public expenditure to local manufacturers since 2020, an increase of over 244%. The initiative continues to strengthen domestic supply chains and deepen national value creation, ensuring that industrial growth benefits local ecosystems as much as it enhances exports.
