The United Arab Emirates has recorded a major milestone in its industrial growth journey, with the value of industrial exports doubling over the past five years and technology-driven exports surpassing national targets well ahead of schedule. The achievement underscores the country’s rapid transformation into a globally competitive manufacturing and export hub.
In 2025, the UAE’s industrial exports reached a record value of AED 262 billion, representing a 25 per cent increase year-on-year and a 100 per cent rise since 2020, when the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology was established. The performance highlights the accelerating shift towards advanced manufacturing, high-value production, and export-led industrial expansion.
Table of Contents
Tech-Driven Exports Outperform Long-Term Targets
A key highlight of the export surge has been the strong growth in medium- and high-technology industrial exports, which reached approximately AED 92 billion in 2025. This figure exceeds the UAE’s 2031 national target of AED 90 billion, achieving the milestone six years ahead of schedule.
The early achievement reflects the success of targeted industrial policies aimed at strengthening priority sectors, enhancing supply-chain integration, and increasing the global competitiveness of UAE-manufactured products.
Industrial Sector as a Pillar of Economic Diversification
UAE leadership has consistently positioned the industrial sector as a cornerstone of a diversified and resilient national economy. The strong export performance reinforces the country’s status as a leading industrial exporter in the region, supported by a stable business environment, advanced infrastructure, and a well-developed financial and logistics ecosystem.
The growth has been driven by closer coordination between government policy and the private sector, alongside investments in advanced technologies, digital infrastructure, and innovation-led manufacturing.
Policy Initiatives Driving Momentum
Flagship initiatives such as “Make it in the Emirates” and Operation 300bn have played a central role in accelerating industrial growth. These programmes focus on attracting industrial investment, promoting local value creation, enhancing export capabilities, and strengthening self-sufficiency in strategic sectors.
In parallel, the National In-Country Value (ICV) programme has helped direct spending towards the local economy, boosting domestic manufacturing capacity while reinforcing supply-chain resilience.
Sustained Growth Ahead
Officials have indicated that the UAE’s industrial export figures are expected to continue improving in 2026 and beyond, supported by ongoing regulatory reforms, investment-friendly frameworks, and a stable operating environment.
As global supply chains continue to evolve, the UAE’s ability to combine advanced manufacturing, strategic trade connectivity, and policy clarity positions it as an increasingly attractive base for industrial production and export-oriented businesses.
