The first day of Abu Dhabi’s Make it inthe Emirates Forum brought in a slew of agreements in manufacturing, across sectors like oilfield services, pharma, and agritech.

AUTOMOTIVE-

New automotive manufacturing program in Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) launched an automotive program aiming to establish an end-to-end automotive ecosystem in the emirate, according to a statement. The initiative aims to contribute AED 100 bn to Abu Dhabi’s GDP by 2045, attract over AED 8 bn in FDI, and create 7k high-skilled jobs.

The program is backed by AED bns from global investors, the statement said. Among those already committing investments: South Korea’s Genesis and Chinese EV maker ROX Motors inked manufacturing agreements with W Motors in Abu Dhabi, according to the statement.

AIH Group, one of the world’s largest automotive assembly providers, is also technical lead for high-volume production under the program.

The details: The program will cover initial stages including manufacturing, research and development, supplying, and original equipment manufacturing, as well as product launches, auctions, and luxury restoration, in a bid to position Abu Dhabi as a regional hub for smart mobility and automotive innovation.

OIL AND MINERALS-

#1- Adnoc and Tubacex to localize oilfield tech: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) inked an MoU with advanced tubular solutions provider Tubacex to localize oilfield tech and boost the UAE’s industrial supply chain, according to a statement. Under the agreement, Andoc received perpetual and exclusive rights to use Tubacex’s premium tubular joint connection tech — dubbed Sentinel Prime — for developing oil and gas wells.

SOUND SMART- Oil Country Tubular Goods — otherwise known as Tubulars — are specialized steel pipes employed in the drilling and completion of oil and gas wells. The high-pressure and high-temperature environment they operate under indicates that the components must meet a high standard for durability and reliability.

Tubacex will also set up a research and development hub in Abu Dhabi. The facility is set to offer advanced engineering services and train highly skilled technicians.

#2- EGA and Sunstone boost anode manufacturing: Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and China-based independent pre-baked anode producer Sunstone agreed to develop an anode manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi, according to a statement. The new plant — set to be located in the Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi (Kezad) — is slated to have a capacity of 300k tonnes of anodes annually. Construction is scheduled to launch during 2026 — with operations expected to begin in 2028. EGA is looking to replace its anode imports, striving to instead become the second country in the world, after China, to export anodes globally.

The company already manufactures some 1.35 mn tonnes of anodes every year at its plants in Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah, with the remainder of its needs — for aluminum smelting — covered by imports.

Ownership breakdown: EGA will hold a 45% stake in the joint venture developing the project, while Sunstone owns a 55% stake. The two firms have already conducted a feasibility study for the project.

PHARMA-

Julphar to ramp up pharma production: Emirati pharma manufacturer Julphar is set to pour AED 300 mn over the next five years into the UAE’s pharma sector to expand manufacturing and localize advanced technologies, CEO Basel Ziyadeh told Wam on the sidelines of the forum. The move seeks to streamline the local supply chain to boost non-oil pharma exports from the Emirates. Julphar currently exports over 80% of its production to nearly 40 global markets. It invested around AED 100 mn over the past three years to strengthen its manufacturing infrastructure and capacity.

AGRITECH-

China’s SVG and Silal to launch AED 120 mn agritech hub: Abu Dhabi-based agri-food firm Silal signed a strategic partnership agreement with China’s Shouguang Vegetable Industry Group (SVG) to develop a 100k sqm agritech facility in Al Ain, according to a press release. The AED 120 mn investment aims to establish a regional powerhouse in sustainable agriculture, powered by AI, robotics, and solar energy.

The details: The facility will include seedling cultivation, high-tech greenhouses, post-harvest processing centers, solar energy systems, and AI research labs. It will focus on growing high-yield produce with reduced water and fertilizer usage. The model could be replicated across the Middle East, officials say.

ICYMI- The new facility builds on previous Silal and SVG partnerships on on two major initiatives to boost the emirates’ agricultural product supply capacity.

LOGISTICS-

NMDC eyes UAE valve facility in JV with Chinese manufacturer: Abu Dhabi-based NMDC LTS, the logistics arm of Abu Dhabi-based National Marine Dredging Company (NMC), signed an MoU with China’s Jiangsu Huaying Valves to explore a potential joint venture to establish a valve manufacturing and distribution facility in the UAE, the company said in a statement (pdf). The facility will supply valves for the energy sector and NMDC said it will unveil additional partnerships soon.

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