EGA: First Global Lighthouse in UAE Aluminium Industry

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside the oil and gas sector, has earned the prestigious designation of Industry 4.0 Global Lighthouse by the World Economic Forum. This recognition highlights EGA's leadership in leveraging Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to drive efficiency, sustainability, and innovation.

Historic Achievement for the UAE and Aluminium Industry

EGA is the first industrial company in the UAE and the first aluminium producer globally to receive this honour. The accolade acknowledges the company’s transformative efforts in applying advanced technologies to revolutionize traditional industrial processes.

Digital Transformation Journey Since 2021

EGA embarked on its digital transformation in 2021 to enhance cost competitiveness, agility, safety, and sustainability. This initiative has yielded significant results, including a financial impact of $100 million through the successful implementation of over 80 Industry 4.0 use cases. These innovations range from real-time quality checks using AI vision systems to predictive tools for analyzing commodity market trends.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Designation by the World Economic Forum as an Industry 4.0 global lighthouse is recognition of the speed, quality and depth of EGA’s digital transformation to further boost our global competitiveness. Just over four years ago, we set ourselves a bold aspiration to lead the region and the global aluminium sector in Industry 4.0. Today advanced technologies at EGA are driving industrial process efficiency, quality, safety and sustainability. I am convinced we are still just scratching the surface of what we can achieve with Industry 4.0 at EGA.”

Carlo Nizam, Chief Digital Officer at Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Our recognition as an Industry 4.0 global lighthouse by the World Economic Forum reflects EGA's commitment to digital transformation and innovation. We are proud to be at the forefront of Industry 4.0 in the global aluminium industry, and this achievement motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries of industrial digitalisation.”

Kiva Allgood, Head, Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains, World Economic Forum, said: "Across our Global Lighthouse Network, digital technologies are revolutionizing production ecosystems. From AI-driven control towers to zero-code workflows, Lighthouses exemplify sustainable innovation, setting benchmarks millions can follow to drive transformational change across the entire ecosystem."

Upskilling the Workforce

The transformation has also emphasized workforce development, with over 3,000 EGA employees trained in digital capabilities and new ways of working, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of industrial innovation.

Joining the Global Lighthouse Network

EGA now stands among the elite members of the World Economic Forum’s Lighthouse Network, a global community of manufacturers leading the charge in Industry 4.0 advancements.

Groundbreaking Initiatives in 2024

In 2024, EGA made further strides by establishing the region's first 100% renewable energy-powered industrial data centres at its Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah sites. Additionally, the company partnered with Microsoft to launch one of the region's first digital manufacturing platforms, unlocking new value through large-scale Industry 4.0 applications.

Recognition for Al Taweelah Site Excellence

While EGA’s digital transformation spans the entire organization, the World Economic Forum’s designation specifically recognizes the Al Taweelah site in Abu Dhabi. This site employs advanced deep vision and machine learning models to optimize operations, resulting in a 50% reduction in operational downtimes, an 18% decrease in non-productive time, and a 12% improvement in overall equipment effectiveness.

A Benchmark for Industry 4.0 Success

EGA’s achievements underscore its commitment to redefining industrial processes through innovation and sustainability, setting a benchmark for other organizations to follow in the journey toward Industry 4.0 excellence.