Make in the UAE platform launches fifth edition at ADNEC to accelerate industrial growth
Fifth Make in the UAE platform runs May 4–7, 2026 at ADNEC, spotlighting advanced industry, AI and biotech to strengthen local production, exports and procurement.
The fifth edition of the Make in the UAE platform opened at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi on May 4, 2026, bringing together government leaders, industry executives and international exhibitors. The event, running through May 7, places advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence and biotechnology at the centre of the UAE’s industrial diversification drive. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the launch, underlining the platform’s role in supporting national economic strategy and industrial localisation.
Sheikh Mansour visits key exhibits and national initiatives
Sheikh Mansour toured multiple national and international pavilions, observing demonstrations of cutting‑edge technologies and new industrial projects. Officials briefed him on initiatives aimed at strengthening supply chains, developing Emirati talent and raising the competitiveness of the domestic industrial base. The visit highlighted the government’s focus on aligning industrial expansion with the UAE’s long‑term visions, including We the UAE 2031 and Centennial 2071.
Exhibits centre on advanced industry, AI and biotech
The show floor features a concentrated programme on advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence applications and life sciences innovations. Developers presented solutions ranging from automation and AI‑driven production to biotechnology platforms intended to enhance food and health security. Organisers said the concentrated spotlight on these sectors is intended to accelerate technology transfer and stimulate high‑value industrial investment across the Emirates.
National targets and recent industrial performance
Officials reiterated recent national targets and performance metrics, noting the industrial sector’s growing contribution to GDP. The sector’s value added has risen to AED 200 billion, reflecting a 70 percent increase, while industrial exports reached AED 262 billion, including AED 92 billion of advanced industrial goods. Policymakers framed these figures as evidence that strategic interventions are expanding the UAE’s role as a regional and global manufacturing hub.
ADNOC Local+ and procurement commitments to drive localisation
A key outcome highlighted at the platform was the ADNOC Local+ initiative, which connects engineering, procurement, construction and services contractors with 70 qualified Emirati manufacturers. ADNOC also presented procurement opportunities exceeding AED 200 billion for the coming two years. Separately, government targets include raising planned industrial procurement from AED 168 billion to AED 180 billion over the next decade, alongside efforts to localise some 5,000 products across strategic sectors to bolster economic resilience.
Scale of participation and international engagement
More than 1,245 companies across 12 industrial sectors are exhibiting at the platform, organisers said, with small and medium enterprises representing 61 percent of participants. The forum is expected to welcome over 120,000 visitors including international investors, manufacturers and industry decision makers. During the event, Sheikh Mansour also met Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousuf, chairman of Oman’s Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, to discuss deepening bilateral economic ties and cooperative industrial projects.
Government and private sector partnership emphasised
Speakers at the launch stressed that a sustained partnership between public institutions and private industry is essential to meeting the UAE’s industrial strategy goals. Ministers and senior executives described recent measures designed to attract investment, streamline regulations and support Emirati talent development. They also linked industrial policy to national priorities such as food, health and economic security, arguing that localisation of strategic products will enhance long‑term stability.
The Make in the UAE platform’s fifth edition aims to convert policy ambitions into tangible commercial deals and partnerships, with a particular emphasis on advanced technologies and supplier development. Over the coming days, organisers expect a steady flow of procurement announcements, collaboration agreements and project timelines that will shape the UAE’s industrial roadmap for the next decade.