Published: 2026-05-04
The UAE has spent the past few years turning a familiar slogan into hard numbers, and this week the country put those numbers on full display. The fifth and largest edition of the Make it in the Emirates forum opened at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi, running from 4 to 7 May, with 1,245 exhibitors spread across 12 sectors. For founders, investors and manufacturers weighing where to build their next facility, the forum is a useful signal: the Emirates is positioning itself as a serious industrial base, not just a trading and services hub.
A record edition, and what it represents
Make it in the Emirates has grown quickly. This edition is the biggest yet, and the scale of participation tells its own story. With 1,245 exhibitors and 12 sectors on show, the event brings together policymakers, offtakers, financiers and producers under one roof. The forum is designed to connect demand with local supply, which is exactly the environment a new manufacturer wants when deciding where to set up.
The message from the top was built on results rather than ambition. Dr Sultan Al Jaber told the audience that the industrial sector’s contribution has risen by 70% to Dh200 billion, equivalent to about $54.45 billion. Industrial exports have doubled to Dh262 billion since 2020. Those are not projections; they describe momentum that has already been delivered.
Capital is following the strategy
Industrial policy only works when capital agrees with it, and the investment data suggests it does. Foreign direct investment into the UAE reached $45.6 billion, up 49% year on year, placing the country 10th in the world for FDI inflows. Gross fixed capital formation, a measure of how much is being invested domestically in productive assets, stood at $119 billion, ranking the UAE 5th globally.
For an investor, these figures matter for a practical reason. High and rising capital formation means suppliers, contractors, logistics providers and skilled labour are arriving alongside you. You are not building alone in a thin market; you are joining an ecosystem that is deepening year by year.
In-Country Value and localisation
The engine behind much of this growth is the In-Country Value programme, usually shortened to ICV. In simple terms, ICV rewards companies that spend inside the UAE economy, on local manufacturing, local hiring, local sourcing and local services. Major government-linked buyers weigh ICV scores when awarding contracts, which turns localisation into a competitive advantage rather than a compliance box.
For a manufacturer, the logic is direct. If you produce locally, employ locally and buy from local suppliers, your ICV score rises, and with it your access to a large and reliable pool of demand. That is why advanced manufacturing, from components to clean technology, is being drawn to the Emirates: the demand side is structured to favour producers who commit to the country.
Why the Emirates appeals to advanced manufacturing
Beyond the incentives, the fundamentals are attractive. The UAE offers competitive energy, a central position between Europe, Africa and Asia, deep-water ports and airports built for freight, and a business environment that lets founders move quickly. Add a stable regulatory framework and a tax regime that remains light by global standards, and the case for building here becomes straightforward for many industrial projects.
What makes the current moment different is the combination of scale and intent. The doubling of industrial exports since 2020 shows that goods made in the Emirates are finding buyers abroad. A manufacturer setting up now is not betting on a future market; it is plugging into supply chains that already reach global customers.
What this means when you set up
Translating the headlines into a business plan comes down to a few practical points that any incoming producer or investor should weigh:
- Localisation pays. Structuring your operation to raise your ICV score can open doors to government-linked demand.
- Location choice is strategic. Free zones, mainland and specialised industrial areas each carry different rules on ownership, customs and market access.
- The supplier base is growing. Rising capital formation means more local partners to source from and sell to.
- Exports are viable. With industrial exports at Dh262 billion, routes to foreign markets are established and active.
- Timing helps. Entering during a build-out phase means competing for talent and contracts in an expanding, not shrinking, market.
None of this removes the need for careful planning. The right legal structure, the right emirate, the right licence and a clear view of ICV all shape how well a project performs once it is running.
How Atlant Capital can help
Atlant Capital helps founders, investors and manufacturers turn the UAE’s industrial momentum into a working business. We advise on choosing between free zone and mainland, selecting the right industrial licence, and structuring operations so that localisation and ICV work in your favour. From company formation to visas, banking and ongoing compliance, our team manages the setup so you can focus on production. Explore our services or read more in our business guides to see how we can support your entry into the Emirates.
The takeaway
Make it in the Emirates 2026 is more than a trade forum; it is a snapshot of a country that has moved from ambition to delivery. Industrial contribution up 70% to Dh200 billion, exports doubled since 2020, FDI at $45.6 billion and capital formation at $119 billion together describe a base that is genuinely growing. For manufacturers and investors, the practical question is no longer whether the Emirates is serious about industry, but how to position a business to benefit from it.
