Make it in the Emirates brings manufacturers, SMEs and investors together in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi: Make it in the Emirates opens today with a strong focus on local manufacturing, supply chain readiness, industrial financing, and expanding the presence of UAE-made products across retail, e-commerce platforms and export markets.
The fifth edition of the Make it in the Emirates runs from May 4 to 7 at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. It is hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and organised by ADNEC Group, a Modon company, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and ADNOC Group.
This year’s edition is the largest to date, featuring 1,162 exhibiting companies across 88,000 square metres of exhibition space. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up 60 per cent of exhibitors, providing smaller manufacturers and suppliers with direct access to buyers, financiers, government entities and major industrial players.
The event follows a series of government measures aimed at strengthening the United Arab Emirates’s industrial base, including a Dh1 billion national industrial resilience fund, expanded use of the In-Country Value programme, and new policies to boost the visibility of UAE-made products across retail and online channels.
Local production takes centre stage
A key focus of this year’s Make it in the Emirates will be the localisation of more than 4,800 products, giving manufacturers clearer visibility on priority goods that can be produced locally and helping reduce reliance on imports across key sectors.
The push spans strategic sectors including food, pharmaceuticals, industrial goods, manufacturing inputs, base metals, chemicals, advanced technology and construction. For companies, the Make it in the Emirates platform is expected to unlock access to procurement opportunities, financing options and incentives tied to priority sectors.
A stronger local manufacturing base can help ensure the availability of essential goods, reduce exposure to global shipping disruptions, and support more stable supply across supermarkets, pharmacies, construction suppliers and industrial buyers.
From policy to contracts
Make it in the Emirates has evolved from an industrial showcase into a platform where procurement pipelines, supply agreements, financing options and market access opportunities come together.
This year’s programme is centred on industrial resilience and supply chain continuity, with discussions set to cover logistics, raw materials, cash flow, SME liquidity, exports and business continuity.
The Make it in the Emirates also follows the Industrial Resilience and Supply Chain Continuity Forum held in Abu Dhabi, where government entities, manufacturers, financial institutions and commercial firms explored practical steps to support the sector.
Companies attending Make it in the Emirates will be seeking purchase agreements, financing channels, partnerships with local suppliers, and new pathways into regional and global markets.
Bigger role for UAE-made goods
One of the most notable shifts this year is the push to expand the presence of locally produced goods across retail outlets and e-commerce platforms in the United Arab Emirates.
The first phase will prioritise essential items with strong local production potential, including bottled water, dairy products, eggs, fresh and chilled poultry, bread, basic bakery items, flour, locally packaged vegetable oils and seasonal agricultural produce.
The policy aims to boost demand for national products while helping UAE factories integrate more closely with major retail and digital supply chains.
At the same time, the expansion of the National In-Country Value programme will channel greater spending into the domestic economy. The programme is being extended as a mandatory framework across federal government entities and national companies with at least 25 per cent direct or indirect federal ownership.
Since the launch of Operation 300Bn in 2021, the United Arab Emirates’s industrial exports have doubled to Dh262 billion in 2025, growing at more than 25 per cent year on year. Medium- and high-tech exports reached Dh92 billion, surpassing the 2031 target six years ahead of schedule, while the In-Country Value (ICV) programme has redirected over Dh473 billion into the national economy.
AI and industrial data
Artificial intelligence will play a larger role in this year’s Make it in the Emirates, with a government package linking AI adoption to production, operations, planning and supply chain resilience.
The newly approved National Industrial Data Committee will focus on collecting, integrating and enabling real-time access to strategic industrial data, supporting faster decision-making by policymakers and businesses during supply disruptions or demand shifts.
MIITE 2026 will also introduce new features, including the Industry Museum, Quality Hub, NextGen Hub, Intelligence Hub and Startup Hub. These platforms will showcase manufacturing innovation, quality infrastructure, startups, robotics, autonomous systems and AI-powered industrial solutions.
Culture joins the manufacturing agenda
The Ministry of Culture will play a prominent role at this year’s Make it in the Emirates, linking Emirati craftsmanship with the broader industrial and creative economy.
Its pavilion will showcase 50 Emirati crafts produced by more than 200 artisans in collaboration with 19 entities and institutions. It will also feature 15 creative companies, five technology projects, over 500 national products, and heritage pieces from UAE museums.
The programme includes dialogue sessions, interactive activities and agreements aimed at supporting artisans while connecting traditional crafts with modern design, production and technology.
What to watch this week
The opening day will feature a keynote by Sultan Al Jaber, followed by a ministerial panel focused on resilient growth through strategic partnerships and industrial alliances.
Day one will also feature sessions on family businesses, energy, manufacturing and advanced technology. Day two will host the fourth edition of the MIITE Awards, along with a session titled Emirati Women Redesigning Industry.
Across the four days, the main measure of success for Make it in the Emirates will be its ability to translate policy momentum into tangible outcomes such as contracts, financing deals, supplier agreements and stronger market visibility for UAE-made products.
