Industry
From The Report: Dubai 2013
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In line with the goals laid out in the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, industrial growth has done much to lead economic development and diversification. Although significant challenges like debt refinancing and regional competition could arise in the future, both the government and the private sector have proven their resilience in recent years. In particular, the manufacturing sector has seen strong export numbers, with direct exports growing nearly nine-fold between 2005 and 2011, from $3.05bn to $26.7bn. Of this, aluminium continues to be among the emirate’s largest industrial activities, accounting for 15% of manufacturing’s contribution to GDP. Meanwhile, the development of both industrial areas and free zones is continuing to impact the economy in a number of positive ways.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Well-oiled machine: Continually improving infrastructure and regulations support growth
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In February 2007 the government of Dubai released a blueprint outlining its future economic, social and political development goals. Named the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, this document has largely guided the government’s approach to economic development. Although the global economic crisis has presented obstacles to further development, the government is still pushing ahead with its declared goals. One of the farthest-reaching is the continued drive to diversify the economy and to continue expanding…

Analysis

A free hand: Free and industrial zones facilitate expansion of manufacturing
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After the Second World War, winds of change were sweeping across the Gulf region – oil was flowing out, profits were flowing in and a polity was forming among the former Trucial States, which now make up the UAE. In this context of change and development, the authorities in Dubai were laying the groundwork for an economic growth strategy novel to the region, one that still drives much of the emirate’s development today. HANDS OFF: At the heart of this strategy was the belief that businesses…