Abu dhabi: UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, announced that the country's industrial exports have reached AED262 billion in 2025, with AED92 billion attributed to advanced industrial exports.
According to Emirates News Agency, Dr. Al Jaber made this announcement during the opening of the fifth and largest edition of Make it in the Emirates, the UAE's premier industrial platform. He highlighted the resilience of the UAE in overcoming regional and global challenges, guided by the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and supported by the unity of Emirati society.
Dr. Al Jaber revealed AED180 billion in new industrial procurement opportunities aimed at localizing more than 5,000 products across sectors important for economic, food, and healthcare security. He emphasized that the UAE is transforming challenges into opportunities, with resilience, sovereignty, and industrial capability as central pillars of the nation's long-term economic strategy.
The UAE's industrial strategy has shown significant progress, with the industrial sector's contribution reaching AED200 billion, marking a 70 percent increase since 2021. Dr. Al Jaber credited the National In-Country Value (ICV) Program as a key driver of this growth, which has turned spending into investment within the national economy.
The Make it in the Emirates forum follows the Make it with ADNOC forum, which unveiled procurement opportunities worth more than AED200 billion over the next two years. The Local+ initiative was launched to connect contractors with 70 qualified Emirati manufacturers.
Dr. Al Jaber stressed that economic security must be built and protected, warning against disruptions to strategic maritime corridors that could affect the global economy. He reiterated the UAE's commitment to freedom of navigation, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, and emphasized that any changes to these principles would threaten global economic security.
The UAE is repositioning itself within the global energy landscape, including its strategic decision to exit OPEC and OPEC+. This move aligns with the country's long-term national interests and economic ambitions, allowing for greater investment flexibility.
Artificial intelligence is set to become an integral part of the UAE's industrial ecosystem, transforming factories into decision-making partners. Dr. Al Jaber positioned the UAE as a global platform for industrial growth, inviting investors to take advantage of the country's business environment.
Concluding his address, Dr. Al Jaber called on the private sector to prioritize domestic investment as a means to ensure stability, economic sovereignty, and a prosperous future for generations to come. He emphasized that the future economy will be built on energy, technology, and industry, with the UAE leading the way.