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The third edition of the Make It in the Emirates Forum, organised by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and ADNOC Group, will kick off on Monday at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre.
Held from 27th to 28th May under the theme “Invest. Innovate. Grow.”, the forum will feature local and international participation, including senior government decision-makers and officials, as well as CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors, industrialists, experts, innovators, and representatives of financial institutions.
The third edition of the forum builds on the success of the previous two, which generated AED 121 billion worth of local procurement opportunities in priority sectors such as pharmaceuticals, energy, telecommunications, space, healthcare, and food and beverages. These opportunities include 1400 products available for local manufacturing, which are identified to enhance industrial resilience and self-sufficiency by supporting import substitutions.
Make it in the Emirates initiative aligns with the objectives of the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology, which aims to promote national economic diversification. In the past two editions, more than 100 agreements were signed representing investments in energy, defence, aviation, pharmaceuticals, space, and other vital sectors.
In addition to showcasing new investment and local procurement opportunities under the National In-Country Value (ICV) Programme, the upcoming forum will explore trends in innovation and AI.
The agenda will enable stakeholders to discover more growth and competitive opportunities, as well as reinforce the UAE’s position as a hub for industry and advanced technologies. The forum will also focus on developing Emirati talents to support the sustainability of local labor markets.
The forum will feature a series of panel discussions. The first day will include sessions exploring the UAE’s industrial strategy, Operation 300bn, as well as AI integration in industry and opportunities surrounding the National ICV Programme. The first day will also include the Make it in the Emirates Awards ceremony, honouring the companies and individuals shaping the future of industry.
Sessions on the second day will look at the UAE’s ambitions to attract investments in the space sector as well as how green technology can be deployed to decarbonise industry. There will also be sessions on sustainable manufacturing and the convergence of industries to accelerate smart mobility.
There will be a special session on inspiring youth to participate in industry, organised by MoIAT’s Youth Council. This session aims to prepare a new generation of young people, entrepreneurs, and talented individuals to help drive the sector forwards. Several breakout sessions will take place in parallel.
As one of the most prominent industrial platforms in the UAE and the region, the annual event highlights progress in the development of advanced industries, the deployment of clean energy, the development of food and pharmaceutical manufacturing, the growth of technological investments, and the pace of digital transformation.
The forum also focuses on future trends shaping the industrial sector, exploring growth opportunities, forming partnerships and investments, exchanging expertise, and discussing solutions to boost the competitiveness of industrial companies. Additionally, it showcases the competitive advantages, incentives and enablers provided by the ministry and its strategic partners.
During the forum, new partnerships worth billions of dirhams will be announced. Participants will learn about the major economic and social impact of the first and second editions of the forum. Attendees will also have the chance to visit an accompanying exhibition, which will feature significant industrial opportunities and locally manufactured products with participation from 44 major industrial companies.
The Make it in the Emirates Forum is a hub for industrial growth and investment in the UAE. It provides numerous investment opportunities that are underpinned by a business-friendly environment, comprising advanced legislative frameworks and laws as well as other competitive advantages designed to attract industrial local and foreign investments.
The forum reaffirms MoIAT’s commitment to empowering national and international industrial companies. As well as supporting national resilience and self-sufficiency amid global challenges, the forum helps bridge supply gaps by enhancing local industry capabilities. It also provides a platform for Emirati youth, entrepreneurs and startups to showcase their products, capabilities and success stories.