How UAE manufacturers turn resilience into scale
As supply-chain disruption reshapes industrial planning, the question is no longer whether to invest in resilience, but how to finance it without losing cost competitiveness
The UAE’s manufacturing sector is entering a phase where resilience is becoming a condition for growth.
Regional disruption has put pressure on trade routes, export flows and input costs, forcing manufacturers to reassess sourcing, inventories and working-capital needs.
At the same time, the commercial opportunity is expanding. Industrial exports reached AED 262bn in 2025, while medium and high-tech exports reached AED92bn, reflecting stronger demand for UAE-made goods and the growing role of advanced production in the country’s industrial base.
“The next phase will be defined by scaling advanced manufacturing and research and development adoption through artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and pharma, access to long-tenor, project-style finance for capex, and procurement and offtake guarantees from government and national champions that de-risk investments,” says Shakil Haider, executive vice-president, head of services and manufacturing at Mashreq.
For manufacturers, the strategic priority has shifted from expanding to building supply chains and financing structures capable of absorbing disruption while maintaining long-term competitiveness.
