Dubai Industrial City expands by 13.9M Square Feet

Dubai Industrial City, the region's premier industrial and logistics hub, has unveiled an additional 13.9 million square feet of land within its ecosystem. The announcement took place at the Make it in the Emirates Forum, held in Abu Dhabi on 27-28 May, in the presence of Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri, UAE Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology; His Excellency Omar Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology; Malek Al Malek, Chairman of TECOM Group; Abdulla Belhoul, Chief Executive Officer of TECOM Group; and Saud Abu Alshawareb, Executive Vice President of Industrial at TECOM Group. This expansion, part of TECOM Group PJSC, was facilitated by an AED 410 million transaction to bolster local supply chains and stimulate homegrown manufacturing in the UAE and Dubai.

Strategically located and well-connected, these new plots of land come in response to increased demand for industrial space, spurred by initiatives like Operation 300bn, Make it in the Emirates, and the Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’. Over the past 18 months, Dubai Industrial City has seen exceptional growth, with land occupancy rising 12% year-on-year to 97% in the first quarter of this year. In 2023, its customer base grew by 17%, encompassing over 1,000 local, regional, and international companies. Recent additions to the Dubai Industrial City ecosystem include Indian pharmaceutical giant Himalaya Wellness, building an AED 200 million factory, and vertical farming specialist Sokovo, which has opened a 100,000-square-foot indoor farm. Additionally, Zambian company Neelkanth Cables Manufacturing LLC has launched a 503,000-square-foot facility to produce 20,000 MT of power cables annually, following an AED 130 million investment. This comes on the heels of the opening of Dubatt Battery Recycling’s fully integrated recycling plant, the first of its kind in the UAE, which recently signed an agreement to expand its operations to a total investment of AED 216 million.

“The manufacturing sector is essential to accelerate the development of smart solutions that can pre-emptively solve tomorrow’s challenges, and nurturing its growth is essential to safeguard socio-economic growth that endures for generations,” said Saud Abu Alshawareb, Executive Vice President of Industrial at TECOM Group on behalf of Dubai Industrial City.

“As we stand at the cusp of a transformative era led by technology and environmental efficiencies, an ecosystem centred on robust, integrated infrastructure is crucial to embed resilience and reliability into the manufacturing sector. Dubai Industrial City’s expansion is an embodiment of our commitment to enabling the industrial and logistics sectors not just in Dubai, but indeed the UAE and globally. Guided by the vision of Operation 300bn, Make it in the Emirates, and Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’, we are well-attuned to the needs of our community and look forward to enabling further industrial brilliance and excellence through Dubai Industrial City’s expanded ecosystem for years to come.”

Dubai Industrial City is also home to global industry leaders such as Unilever, which operates a state-of-the-art personal care facility, and Standard Carpets Industries, which plans a significant expansion with an AED 600 million investment. At the Make it in the Emirates Forum, Dubai Industrial City showcased its role in fostering homegrown industrial excellence. Established in 2004, the hub is strategically situated near Al Maktoum International Airport, Jebel Ali Port, an Etihad Rail freight terminal, and major road networks. It offers specialized infrastructure and dedicated zones for various industries including base metals, machinery, minerals, F&B, transport, and chemicals. Dubai Industrial City is part of TECOM Group’s extensive portfolio, which includes Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Outsource City, Dubai Design District (d3), and Dubai Science Park.