Sultan Al Jaber: With the power of our industry, we turn challenges into opportunities

From coordination to action

The forum was chaired by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Managing Director and CEO of ADNOC and its group of companies, with the participation of a number of ministers in the UAE government, and representatives from industrial companies, financial institutions and commercial companies in the country, within a session that focused on transforming national coordination into tangible and measurable results.
Al Jaber said: “Thanks to the vision, directives and follow-up of the wise leadership, the UAE has established a pioneering model in addressing challenges and turning them into opportunities, and the industrial sector plays a fundamental and important role in these efforts, given that industry is an essential pillar of national sovereignty, and that countries that do not manufacture their needs remain hostage to the circumstances and fluctuations of global markets.”
He added: “The current changes and circumstances have led to challenges that require a coordinated and decisive response. Shipping lanes have been disrupted, energy markets have been exposed to mounting pressures, supply chains have been disrupted, and protectionist policies are reshaping the features of global trade. “Industry remains the backbone of recovery, and is what rebuilds and transforms times of hardship into solid and lasting strength.” Al-Jaber explained that self-sufficiency is not built with slogans, but rather with factories, products, and qualified national cadres. He emphasized the necessity of committing to support the national product by raising quality standards and conditions to enable it to truly compete, and that industrial self-sufficiency does not mean closing off from the world, but rather having the ability to withstand and continue when markets are unstable and supply chains are disrupted, and that it is necessary for national production to cover the basic strategic needs in food, industrial and pharmaceutical security, while being open to cooperation and regional integration. Al-Jaber concluded his speech during the forum by saying: “A nation that makes its own food, medicine, and machinery is able to withstand. History has proven that countries that succeeded in facing challenges relied on the strength of their industrial sector, because industry is what turns challenges into opportunities, advantages, and strengths. I call on the industrial sector to deal with the current stage as a national opportunity, and I am confident that all those present and participants have the energies and competencies capable of achieving and exceeding their ambitions. God willing, we will continue to advance, our determination is steadfast, and we will emerge stronger.”
During the press conference held after the forum, Hassan Jassim Al Nowais, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, reviewed the agenda of the fifth session of the “Make in the Emirates 2026” platform, which is the largest session since the launch of the platform, with the participation of 1,022 exhibitors, an increase of 42% compared to last year’s session, and on an area of ​​88 thousand square meters, achieving a growth in area by 30%. The number of participating small and medium companies represents about 60% of the total exhibiting companies.
The press conference witnessed the presence of Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, CEO of ADNEC Group, Mohammed Ali Al Kamali, CEO of Trade and Industry at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, and Omar Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Acting Head of the Department of Commercial Affairs and In-Country Value at ADNOC, along with a number of senior officials, strategic partners and representatives of local and international media.
Al Nowais said: “The UAE’s preparation for this stage was not the result of challenges, but rather the result of a proactive vision that began to be implemented five years ago, through a forward-looking vision and a clear strategy. Today, our industrial exports have doubled, and the 2031 targets have been achieved six years ahead of schedule.”
He added: “Industrial flexibility in the UAE has become an established and sustainable national capability. The industrial sector has continued its performance without interruption during the recent regional challenges.”
Mubarak Al Nakhi said: “The Ministry’s participation in the ‘Make in the Emirates’ forum comes within an integrated national vision that aims to enhance the role of culture in supporting economic development, and to consolidate the position of Emirati crafts as a promising productive sector that contributes to diversifying the national economy.” He continued: “The Ministry is working to develop an integrated system to empower craftsmen, as our participation this year includes displaying 50 Emirati crafts in methods that combine authenticity and innovation, with the participation of more than 200 craftsmen. Emirati, in cooperation with 19 entities and institutions, in addition to the participation of 15 creative companies and 5 technical projects that contribute to developing this vital sector and linking it to the tools of the future.”

Injazat platform

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, CEO of ADNEC Group, said: “The organization of the “Make in the UAE” exhibition in its fifth session comes as a platform that not only displays achievements, but also creates opportunities and inspires the future. It also highlights the importance of local manufacturing as a fundamental pillar for achieving self-sufficiency. He added that the current edition is witnessing a qualitative shift in terms of the number of exhibitors and exhibition spaces, in addition to the diversity of participating sectors, as the number of exhibiting companies increased to 1,022 companies, recording a growth of approximately 42% compared to the previous edition. The total area of ​​the exhibition also increased to 88,000 square metres, an increase of 30% over last year. The exhibition includes participants from all emirates of the country, where small and medium-sized companies constitute 60% of the total exhibitors.