Abu Dhabi's industrial GDP up 23% to Dhs111.6 billion in 2024
The Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy (ADIS) is supercharging the manufacturing sector and accelerating the economic diversification in the emirate.
Since ADIS's launch in June 2022, the industrial GDP in Abu Dhabi grew 23 per cent from Dhs90.8 billion in 2022 to Dhs111.6 billion in 2024, and number of industrial enterprises rise 19.4 per cent from 925 to 1,104, said Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED).
Participating in a panel discussion on the opening day of the 4th session of 'Make it in the Emirates', Al Zaabi highlighted the initiatives and programmes of the UAE and Abu Dhabi aimed at fostering an investment climate that accelerates industrial growth and unlocks long-term economic resilience.
Al Zaabi added, 'The UAE has developed a robust ecosystem that attracts and empowers global talents and high-quality investments as reflected in the significant growth of FDIs in various sectors, including the industrial sector.
He added that the UAE's industrial strategy has established the right frameworks to stimulate the industrial sector with a strong focus on enhancing resilience to address emerging trends, challenges, and rapid changes through various programmes including talent development, financing, ease of doing business, supply chains, ICV, sustainability, Industry 4.0, and attraction of foreign direct investments.
'We work closely with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) to contribute to 'Operation 300bn' aiming to raise the industrial sector GDP to AED300 billion by 2031 and align with the UAE's Net Zero 2050 Strategy,' he said.
Al Zaabi explained that Abu Dhabi's manufacturing sector increased its contribution to 53 per cent of UAE's industrial GDP, which rose 6.6 per cent to AED210 billion in 2024. This is compared to a contribution of 51.3 per cent to the country's industrial sector in 2023 and 46 per cent in 2022.
'A key component of our soaring 'Falcon Economy', ADIS is strengthening Abu Dhabi's position as the region's most competitive industrial hub. It is guiding the manufacturing sector's transition to Industry 4.0 and the adoption of smart manufacturing's methods, techniques, and approaches,' he stated.
Last year, Abu Dhabi's manufacturing sector remained the largest non-oil contributor to the emirate's GDP, accounting for 9.5 per cent of total GDP and 17.3 per cent of non-oil GDP.
In Q1 of 2025, the industrial sector continued its growth with the number of new industrial licences rising 4.7 per cent t to 89 compared to 85 new licences in the corresponding period last year.
The number of industrial licences moved from under-construction to production stage surged by 65 per cent to 33 compared to 20 in Q1 of 2024.
Abu Dhabi's Falcon Economy is rapidly emerging as a global centre of advanced industries and technologies, building world-class hubs for finance, advanced manufacturing, AI, and New Energy.
As part of its initiatives to capitalise on advanced technologies to address pressing needs and future-proof the economy, Abu Dhabi has been launching sector-specific clusters, including the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industries (SAVI), AgriFood Growth & Water Abundance (AGWA), and Health, Endurance, Longevity, and Medicine (HELM).
Meanwhile the Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD) has released preliminary statistical estimates for Abu Dhabi's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2024 in March, showing significant annual economic growth driven by the thriving non-oil sector.
The 2024 GDP data highlights Abu Dhabi's sustained economic momentum, with total GDP and non-oil GDP reaching record values for the third consecutive year.
The emirate's real GDP expanded by 3.8 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023, reaching an all-time high value of Dhs1.2 trillion, driven by the non-oil economy which recorded a strong growth rate of 6.2 per cent, marking its highest-ever annual contribution of 54.7 per cent to total GDP. This underscores Abu Dhabi's continued success in implementing economic diversification strategies and fostering sustainable, long-term growth.
The non-oil sector remained the primary driver of economic momentum, with total non-oil GDP added value reaching Dhs644.3 billion, setting a record for the third consecutive year.
Key sectors including manufacturing, construction, finance and insurance, information and communication, wholesale and retail trade, education, and health, achieved their highest-ever values, reflecting the emirate's commitment to industrial development, infrastructure investment, and human capital enhancement.
Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), said, 'The consistent, remarkable performance of the Falcon Economy in the past years is a testament to Abu Dhabi's forward-thinking economic strategies, progressive policies, and proactive responses to an evolving global landscape.'
Since Abu Dhabi
Industrial
Strategy's
launch in June
2022, number
of industrial
enterprises rise
19.4 per cent
from 925 to 1,104
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
10 hours ago
- Al Etihad
UAE participates in Eurasian Group's Plenary Meeting on Anti-Money Laundering
2 June 2025 20:34 MOSCOW (WAM) The United Arab Emirates participated in the 42nd Plenary Meeting of the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering (EAG) and its accompanying forum, which was co-organised by the Eurasian Group and the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) in Moscow, joint forum on regulation and risks marked the first-ever event to bring together two regional FATF-style bodies, reflecting the growing strategic partnership and international cooperation in addressing global risks associated with money laundering and terrorist financing. The forum focused on the theme 'Risk Management in the Era of Modern Technology,' with participation from over 200 high-level representatives from anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing authorities, regulatory bodies, financial intelligence units, the private sector, international organisations, and UAE delegation was led by Hamid Al Zaabi, Secretary-General and Vice Chairman of the UAE's National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing and Financing of Illegal Organisations Committee, and Vice President of MENAFATF. He also participated in the main panel discussion titled 'Future Trends – Global Challenges and Digital Threats.'The UAE delegation, also attending as an observer to the Eurasian Group, showcased the latest developments in the country's efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, including national initiatives leveraging artificial intelligence and digital innovation to strengthen the UAE's capabilities in tackling financial part of the visit, the UAE Embassy in Moscow hosted a 'Youth Circle' session, where Al Zaabi delivered an awareness presentation to Emirati youth and scholarship students. The session focused on sharing knowledge about the UAE's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework while highlighting promising career opportunities in this vital sector, which is closely tied to financial system integrity and national security. The forum provided a high-level platform for dialogue on evolving regulatory approaches, public-private partnership strategies, and regulatory responses to technological change. It also contributed to enhancing cooperation between the Eurasian Middle East and North Africa regions in combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
Broadcast Pro
14 hours ago
- Broadcast Pro
E& publishes whitepaper outlining vision for 6G era
The 6G architecture will integrate AI across all layers, use ISAC for environmental sensing and implement post-quantum cryptography to protect against next-gen threats. e& UAE, the flagship telecom arm of e&, has published a new whitepaper, Shaping the Future: e& UAEs 6G Vision, presenting a bold, forward-looking framework for the next generation of connectivity. Building on its leadership in 5Gincluding a record-setting 5G-Advanced speed of 62 Gbpsthe whitepaper outlines e& UAEs strategic roadmap for 6G, a network paradigm that promises to connect the unconnected, power the immersive internet, and fuel intelligent digital transformation at scale. Marwan Bin Shakar, Acting CTIO, e& UAE, said: 6G is not just an evolution, its a revolution in how we connect, compute, and collaborate. With 6G, we are not simply preparing for a faster futurewere building the foundational nervous system of a cognitive, secure, and sovereign digital nation. Our vision is to enable an intelligent infrastructure that underpins everything from XR and self-driving mobility to AI-Native networks and ubiquitous connectivity. Far beyond a leap in connectivity, the whitepaper presents 6G as an intelligent, sensing, and sustainable fabric that will empower digital societies, industries, and governments. With peak data rates anticipated in the terabit-per-second range and latencies dropping below one millisecond, 6G is set to power immersive experiences, autonomous mobility, Industry 4.0, and inclusive digital services at unprecedented scale and precision. The whitepaper lays out a future in which the telecommunications network evolves into an intelligent, adaptive infrastructureone capable of making autonomous decisions, securing national interests, and enabling next-generation services. With the support of TDRA and global collaboration, 6G will be a cognitive, secure, and sustainable digital ecosystem that blends AI-native intelligence, integrated sensing, quantum-grade security, sub-THz spectrum, and non-terrestrial networks. At the heart of this vision is the AI-native networka foundational shift that embeds intelligence directly into the networks core architecture. Rather than bolting AI on as an overlay, e& UAEs approach integrates machine learning across all layers, from device to applications. This enables self-optimisation, predictive fault management, and fully autonomous service delivery; critical for the hyperscale demands of smart cities, autonomous mobility, and real-time industrial systems. The whitepaper also explores Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) as a core capability of 6G. By transforming communication nodes into distributed sensors, 6G networks will be able to perceive their environment, detect motion, accurately map terrain, track assets, and even assess structural conditions. This turns the network into a real-time environmental observatory, unlocking new dimensions in public safety, transportation, governance, and urban planning. With the rise of quantum computing, the whitepaper highlights the urgent need for quantum-secure infrastructure. e& UAEs 6G strategy incorporates post-quantum cryptography and secure-by-design principles to safeguard data and critical services against future quantum-enabled threats. This proactive stance ensures long-term resilience for public-sector systems and private enterprises alike. Another transformative pillar is the integration of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), which are set to become a native element of 6G architecture. This allows for uninterrupted coverage across deserts, oceans, air corridors, and rural regions, strengthening national connectivity while enabling use cases such as drone-based delivery, remote industrial operations, and in-flight communications. The whitepaper also explores transformational use cases across sectors, from holographic telepresence and industrial digital twins to autonomous corridors and immersive tourism, many of which are already being pioneered within the UAE. As the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and 3GPP advance the global IMT-2030 framework, e& UAE is actively contributing to shaping the standards, use cases, and spectrum policies that will define the global 6G landscape. 6G represents a leap from connectivity to cognition, where networks are infused with intelligence, environmental awareness, and the ability to act autonomously. This evolution will have a profound impact on how nations deliver public services, protect critical infrastructure, and drive economic growth. As we look ahead, the network becomes a strategic asset, designed to think, adapt, and elevate every aspect of digital life. From active participation in 6G standardisation to real-world trials of emerging 6G technologies, e& UAE is committed to being a key architect of the future digital fabric, Bin Shakar added.
Zawya
19 hours ago
- Zawya
ADIO, Metal Park to set up 4IR competence centre in Abu Dhabi
The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), in partnership with Metal Park Investment Middle East, announced the establishment of a dedicated Industry 4.0 Competence Centre in Abu Dhabi. The advanced technology hub will play a central role in accelerating the digitalisation of the metal manufacturing sector, supporting the emirate's ambition to lead globally in next-generation industrial innovation. The Centre reflects a shared commitment to enabling manufacturers with Industry 4.0 technologies, empowering businesses to thrive in an increasingly digital and data-driven industrial landscape. The facility spans over 5 million sq ft within Metal Park's purpose-built industrial zone in Kezad, located approximately 8km from Khalifa Port. The centre is exclusively tailored to the needs of the metal manufacturing value chain, offering specialised infrastructure and digital environments to enable rapid prototyping, pilot testing and scale-up for Industry 4.0 applications. As a gateway to Abu Dhabi's dynamic industrial ecosystem, the Competence Centre will provide a robust platform for the development, testing and scaling of technologies such as robotics, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), predictive maintenance, digital twins, AI-enhanced production optimisation and autonomous logistics, said the statement from ADIO. The Centre will also serve as a centre of excellence for capacity building, equipping the workforce with the skills required to operate in a digitally-enabled industrial future. The initiative aligns with the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy (ADIS), and the Centre is poised to play a critical role in contributing directly to the strategy's objective of doubling the manufacturing sector's GDP contribution to AED172 billion by 2031, it stated. Mohammad Al Kamali, Chief Industry & Trade Officer, ADIO, said: "Abu Dhabi is entering a new era of economic transformation where innovation, sustainability and advanced technology define our industrial future." "This partnership with Metal Park exemplifies how ADIO empowers the private sector to scale globally competitive operations from Abu Dhabi," he stated. Saleh Shahrestani, Chairman of Metal Park, said: "The Competence Centre will be a cornerstone of technological progress in the regional metal industry. Together with ADIO, we are creating an enabling environment for industrial players of all sizes to develop, validate and implement cutting-edge solutions that augment Abu Dhabi's role as a leading global hub for advanced manufacturing." Set for completion in Q4 2025, the Centre will support Abu Dhabi's transformation into a globally integrated, export-driven economy, offering investors direct access to strategic partnerships, world-class infrastructure and a progressive regulatory environment, he added. Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
