Login
Key sector data
Custom manufacturing market size
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 non-oil GDP) – in the UAE was reported to be 13.4% in the first quarter of 2025.
Aluminium production
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.
Industrial sector contribution
According to the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), the industrial sector’s contribution to the UAE’s GDP grew by 57% last year to more than AED210 billion (US$57 billion). This represents considerable progress towards the goals of Operation 300bn, an ambitious strategy to develop the UAE's industrial sector from AED133 billion in 2021 to AED300 billion by 2031.
Dubai Industrial City (DIC)
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 free zone by 2026.
In May 2025, DIC confirmed it had attracted more than US$463million (AED1.7bn) in investments from local and global manufacturing companies over the preceding 12 months.
JAFZA
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 more than 100 of the Fortune 500 companies Roughly 23% of these companies are focused on manufacturing and assembly operations.
