Make in the UAE 2026 opening underscores industrial resilience, energy security and supply‑chain strength
Make in the UAE 2026 opening highlights industrial resilience, energy security and supply‑chain diversification as ministers pledge strategic investments.
The opening day of Make in the UAE 2026 showcased the country’s industrial resilience and strategic foresight, with senior ministers and industry leaders underlining the role of long‑term planning in safeguarding supply chains and boosting national manufacturing. Make in the UAE was positioned by speakers as a platform that translates policy into investment, partnerships and tangible industrial capacity across energy, defence and advanced technology sectors. Officials stressed that proactive governance, diversified trade links and targeted industrial policy helped UAE industries adapt rapidly to recent global disruptions and emerge stronger.
Ministers stress strategic preparedness and rapid response
Senior officials at the main panel attributed the UAE’s industrial agility to years of anticipatory planning and readiness. Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, both said those frameworks allowed the economy to respond quickly to shocks while protecting production and exports. They argued that the strategic mix of policy tools, investments and partnerships has translated into measurable improvements in supply‑chain continuity and industrial competitiveness.
Energy security framed as a driver of industrial confidence
Speakers linked energy policy directly to industrial resilience and to the ambitions of Make in the UAE. Minister Al Mazrouei said the world needs more energy and that the UAE will continue to be a responsible producer, balancing supply and demand while enabling growth. He described the decision to exit OPEC as a calculated step to grant the country greater flexibility to plan domestic and industrial energy needs, and praised ADNOC’s role in underpinning the nation’s industrial rise.
Trade expansion and supply‑chain diversification highlighted by ministers
Officials presented trade data to underscore their points, with Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi noting non‑oil foreign trade exceeded AED 3.8 trillion (about $1 trillion) in 2025, a 27 percent increase year‑on‑year. He said the UAE’s connectivity to more than 250 ports globally and a network of economic partnerships have expanded export opportunities and provided manufacturers with alternative sourcing channels. These developments, he added, make the country more attractive for strategic investment and reduce vulnerability to regional disruptions.
EDGE and defence manufacturing show rapid scaling of capabilities
Faisal Al Bannai, chairman of EDGE and advisor on advanced technology, outlined a dramatic rise in domestic defence manufacturing and exports. He said demand for UAE defence products rose from roughly 2 percent of output when EDGE was established six and a half years ago to about 70 percent last year. Al Bannai highlighted extraordinary acceleration in capability development, citing instances where systems that normally require multi‑year programs were delivered and operationalised within weeks, and predicted a potential exponential expansion of national defence capacity.
Public‑private partnership model driving industrial investment
Speakers at the forum credited close coordination between government and private industry for converting strategy into projects and jobs. Panelists said Make in the UAE has evolved from an exhibition showcase into an action‑oriented platform that matches public programmes with private capital, technology and operational expertise. That model, they argued, is central to attracting strategic investors, building advanced manufacturing lines and integrating local content into global value chains.
Platform focus shifts to industrial sovereignty and advanced technology
The first day’s programming emphasised “industrial sovereignty in a strategically interconnected world,” with a clear tilt toward advanced manufacturing, research and development, and technology adoption. Officials reiterated that the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology aims to strengthen infrastructure, expand advanced tech uptake and create an ecosystem that supports long‑term industrial growth. Make in the UAE 2026 was framed as a bridge between existing capabilities and future industries that require high levels of national readiness.
The Make in the UAE opening underscored a unified government approach to building resilient industries that can withstand geopolitical shifts and market volatility. Delegates left the sessions with a shared message: strategic energy choices, diversified trade partnerships and accelerated investment in technology and defence manufacturing are the pillars that will sustain the UAE’s industrial momentum into the next decade.