Industry
From The Report: Dubai 2015
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The manufacturing sector has recorded consistent growth in recent years, accounting for 13.7% of the emirate’s GDP in 2013. Free zones such as the Jebel Ali Free Zone and the Dubai Auto Zone continue to play an important role in the sector, with incentives helping to draw in international players. According to the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority, its 625 automotive companies generated trade worth around $4.6bn in 2013, up 13% on 2012, while Dubai Auto Zone recorded a 63% rise in trade in the first half of 2014, illustrating the emirate’s continuing development as an export and re-export centre for the automotive sector. The emirate’s growing logistics and transport capabilities as it gears up to host Dubai Expo 2020 are also expected to help drive further growth. This chapter contains an interview with Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman, Drydocks World and Maritime World.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Manufacturing and industrial activity account for a growing share of Dubai’s GDP
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Recent times have seen Dubai’s industrial sector emerge from the downside of the 2008-09 global crisis, with order books growing and confidence returning. The expectation of major future business is also strong, particularly since the emirate was awarded Expo 2020. Though there is an underlying mood of caution among many, this new conservatism has been generally positive, with industries large and small guarding against pre-crisis bubbles. Meanwhile, the emirate is acting as the essential go-between…

Analysis

Dubai continues to develop as an export and re-export centre for the automotive sector
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The automotive sector in Dubai has seen some spectacular growth in recent times, with a recent and widespread economic recovery and the new mood of consumer optimism driving domestic demand. At the same time, there has also been major growth in exports and re-exports in recent months, with Dubai’s geostrategic location and good logistical links clearly feeding the emirate’s development as an international automotive hub. In this too, the benefits of Dubai’s free trade zones are also a significant…

Interview

OBG talks to Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman, Drydocks World and Maritime World
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Interview:Khamis Juma Buamim How can Dubai ensure that its maritime industry remains attractive to foreign investors? KHAMIS JUMA BUAMIM: Policy formulation needs to be growth driven rather than development driven. In general the UAE environment has been quite fluent, relaxed and attractive to the industry, and this has been reflected by the number of international players establishing new business activities in the UAE. To ensure that this continues, we must not burden the growth cycle with…

Analysis

Dubai’s food and beverage manufacturers benefit from a host of advantages
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The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) subsector has come in for special focus in recent times, with Dubai seeking to reduce its bills for imported food and beverages (F&B), while also growing its own business and employment opportunities – and by doing so, also tackling growing concerns about food security. Yet expanding this local industry is a challenging task. Dubai is home to a wide variety of nationalities and F&B tastes, with much of these satisfied by imported items – a recent…