Jafza Empowering Global Manufacturers with Local Strengths

In the heart of the Middle East, the UAE is crafting a new economic narrative that places manufacturing firmly at the core of its ambitious future.

Once known primarily for its vast oil reserves, the nation has transformed into a vibrant, diversified economic powerhouse. By 2024, the UAE’s GDP surged to AED 1,776 billion (USD 483 billion), marking a robust 4% growth. Manufacturing has emerged as one of the driving forces behind this momentum, now accounting for 13.5% of the non-oil economy — a powerful signal of the country’s industrial growth.

This shift has not gone unnoticed. Investor confidence is soaring, and Dubai has been ranked the world’s No. 1 destination for Greenfield Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects. In 2024 alone, the city attracted an estimated AED 52.3 billion (USD 14.24 billion) in FDI, marking a 33.2% increase compared to 2023. These investments are flowing into fast-growing sectors such as advanced technologies, food production, industrial equipment, and consumer products, laying the foundation for a resilient, innovation-led economy.

National Strategies: The Engine Behind the Shift

Bold, forward-looking government strategies are shaping the UAE’s industrial resurgence, such as :

• Operation 300bn: A strategy to grow the UAE’s industrial GDP to AED 300 billion by 2031. This initiative promotes in-country value (ICV) activities and attracts global manufacturers to establish and expand operations within the Emirates.
• Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs): The UAE has signed agreements with 21 countries—including India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and South Korea—with negotiations underway with 18 more. These CEPAs provide preferential access to markets covering 20% of the world’s countries, representing 42% of global GDP.
• Dubai Economic Agenda (D33): Targeting a doubling of foreign trade to AED 25.6 trillion and an increase in annual FDI to AED 60 billion, D33 supports transformative projects through customised incentive packages aligned with their economic impact on Dubai.

Together, these initiatives are redefining the UAE’s global position — from a gateway for trade to a high-value hub for manufacturing and production.

Jafza: Where the Future is Being Built

In the remarkable story of the UAE’s emergence as a global industrial powerhouse, Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) stands out as a dynamic ecosystem tailored to empower manufacturers. Here, companies produce with precision, grow confidently, and connect seamlessly to markets worldwide.

Strategically located next to Jebel Ali Port, Jafza offers unmatched access to global markets, seamlessly connecting businesses to Africa, South Asia, the GCC, and beyond.

Today, Jafza attracts nearly 75% of Dubai’s foreign direct investment (FDI) in the manufacturing, trade, and transport sectors. It’s home to 700+ manufacturers from over 70 countries, employing around 60,000 professionals—a powerful testament to Jafza’s role in shaping the region’s economic future.

Why Are Manufacturers Choosing Jafza?

• Seamless supply chains ensure materials and components arrive exactly when needed, reducing delays and downtime to keep production running like clockwork.
• Custom-built facilities explicitly designed for light industrial production provide the perfect environment to innovate and scale.
• Multimodal logistics networks connect businesses effortlessly via sea, road, and bonded air corridors.
• Free zone tax benefits offer financial incentives that boost competitiveness.
• Access to low-interest financing through trusted banking partners helps companies invest and expand confidently.
• Support for National Industrial Licenses streamlines operations and deepens integration into Dubai’s industrial ecosystem.

A Real-World Example: Eaton

Take Eaton, the global US-headquartered power management company, amongst Fortune 500 companies. Known for its innovation in electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical technologies, Eaton has partnered with Jafza to build a new $160 million advanced manufacturing and R&D facility.

Slated for completion in 2026, this 500,000+ sq ft complex will house cutting-edge labs for AI, machine learning, and sustainable production technologies. It’s a bold investment that is testament to what is possible in Jafza.

If you’re thinking globally, it’s time to manufacture locally — and there’s no better place to start than Jafza.