
Make it in the Emirates Awards 2025 Extends Deadline Until April 30
The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) has extended the submission deadline for the third edition of the Make it in the Emirates Awards to 30 April 2025, giving companies, factories, and individuals across the UAE additional time to compete for national recognition.
Part of the UAE's wider Operation 300bn strategy to expand the industrial sector to AED300 billion by 2031, the awards honour excellence, innovation, and resilience in manufacturing and advanced technology. Organised under nine categories and five strategic pillars, the initiative spotlights standout achievements in areas such as smart manufacturing, sustainability, in-country value (ICV), leadership, talent development, and the preservation of traditional crafts.
To ensure a rigorous and transparent selection process, MoIAT has partnered with the University of Cambridge as the official Technical Evaluation Partner. The university will apply international best practices to evaluate entries.
The five award pillars include: Excellence in In-Country Value (ICV) Factory of the Future – featuring awards for sustainability, smart manufacturing, and innovation Industry Enablers and Strategic Partners Leadership and Talent – including Young Talent and Inspirational Leader categories UAE Traditional Crafts
Evaluation will commence post-deadline, with winners announced on the first day of Make it in the Emirates 2025 , scheduled from 19–22 May at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi. This year's edition is set to be the largest yet, with over 500 exhibitors across 50,000 sqm of space.
In 2024, the awards saw over 670 submissions, recognising 13 trailblazers in industrial advancement.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
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SMEs, Startups, and Real-World Impact Nearly 68% of forum funding has gone to startups and SMEs, nurturing local innovation. Trux, a logistics and recovery app that featured at the 2025 edition, has served over 1,200 clients, recorded 8,000 downloads, and onboarded 1,000 drivers — expecting a 200% revenue increase post-forum. Even fashion is embracing industrial reinvention. The UAE-based Carter & White reports that 60% of its Italian customers now request apparel labeled Made in the UAE—a testament to the growing global prestige of Emirati products. Sustainability as a Growth Engine Sustainability isn't just a principle — it's a performance metric. The UAE is investing significantly in green manufacturing, electrification, and clean energy-driven industrial zones. 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Academic institutions play a key role in building capacity and empowering national talent for sustainable industrial growth. Our partnership with ADU is a practical step to align research with industry needs, empower students, and deliver innovative solutions, strengthening the business environment and supporting a resilient, competitive, knowledge-based economy.' Commenting on the occasion, Professor Ghassan Aouad, Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University, said: 'This MoU reflects our shared commitment with MoIAT to empower today's students - who are the architects of tomorrow's robust economy - and to position academic institutions as key drivers of sustainable economic growth and global competitiveness. By aligning academia with national priorities, we are nurturing a new generation equipped with the skills, knowledge, and innovative mindset needed to lead sustainable growth on a global scale.' 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Additionally, THE Rankings has recognized the University's Business and Economics subject area as number one in the UAE and the Arab region. The University has made an impressive performance in THE Young University Rankings 2024, ranking in the 60th position globally among the world's best universities that are 50 years or younger. Furthermore, the University jumped to the 70th place in the prestigious THE Asia University Rankings 2025 and was ranked first in the UAE for graduate employability as per the Global University Employability Ranking 2023-24. Parallelly, ADU ranks in 501 globally, according to the 2025 edition of the QS World University Rankings, advancing 79 places. ADU continues to empower faculty and students with state-of-the-art resources, facilities, and learning opportunities that foster innovation and support research-based problem-solving. The University maintains strong international collaborations with leading academic institutions and public and private sector organizations, with institutional accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges' Senior College and University Commission (WASC). To know more about ADU, follow on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. Media Contacts Weber Shandwick for Abu Dhabi University Reem Al Taie rtaie@