Manufacturing Kezad signs deal to set up new rolling steel complex in Abu Dhabi Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (Kezad Group), an integrated trade, logistics, and industrial hub, has signed a preliminary agreement with Dana Steel, the manufacturing unit of UAE-based Dana Group, to establish its first hot and cold rolling steel complex in Abu Dhabi. Under the terms of the agreement, Dana Steel will invest in developing a […] January 1, 2023
Exclusive Manufacturing British affordable tech company sees ‘sky high’ Gulf demand UK-based consumer technology company T4tec is expanding its operations in the Middle East to tap into “sky high” demand for quality affordable consumer electronics. The company, which has been selling its televisions and other products including wireless Bluetooth sound bars, cordless kettles, and toasters in the region via Amazon, is in talks with two distribution […] December 30, 2022
Manufacturing Japan to invest $187m in Moroccan automotive industry Japanese group Sumitomo is to invest MAD1.965 billion ($187 million) in nine industrial projects across Morocco to boost the North African country’s automotive ecosystem. Regions set to benefit from the investment in the manufacturing of wiring and components include Rabat-Salé-Kenitra, Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima and Casablanca-Settat. Some 16,000 jobs are expected to be created by 2028. Morocco […] December 22, 2022
Analysis Pharma giants move in on UAE as demand stretches local firms AstraZeneca and G42 Healthcare have signed an agreement to locally manufacture pharmaceuticals in Abu Dhabi. The agreement outlines collaboration in four key areas, including localisation of manufacturing, research and development, innovation and sustainability at a global scale. But while the deal aims to cement Abu Dhabi’s position as a hub for research and innovation in […] December 21, 2022
Transport UAE industrial giant to supply solar aluminium for Nissan cars Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest non-oil and gas industry company in the UAE, has agreed to supply solar power-produced aluminium to Japan to make Nissan cars. The agreement with Kobe Steel will see the supply of EGA’s CelestiAL solar aluminium to one of the largest rolling mills in Japan. Automotive body sheet is used […] December 19, 2022
Manufacturing Abu Dhabi’s Kezad set to get $54m recycled paper mill Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (Kezad Group) has signed a 50-year land lease agreement with speciality tissue manufacturer, Star Paper Mill, to establish a new facility to manufacture recycled kraft paper jumbo reels, state-run WAM news agency reported. Under the agreement, Star Paper Mill, in collaboration with RC Paper Machines, will expand its existing capacities […] December 19, 2022
Exclusive Manufacturing Gulf switches to more energy efficient cooling solutions The UAE’s replacement market for air conditioning (AC) is growing fast as energy consumption concerns continue to rise. Global consumption of electricity for household ACs is increasing rapidly, creating urgent demand for more efficient cooling systems. Energy demand for space cooling will more than treble by 2050 unless there is action to address energy efficiency, […] December 15, 2022
Analysis Manufacturing UK deal targets bigger share of $130bn Saudi defence spend The UK has signed a new agreement with Saudi Arabia to enhance bilateral defence and security cooperation as it looks to rebound from falling export sales in 2021. Ben Wallace, secretary of state for defence met Prince Khalid Bin Salman, the minister for defence of Saudi Arabia, in London on Tuesday and welcomed the signing […] December 15, 2022
Manufacturing Saudi spent $1.4bn in incentives to boost local military industry Saudi Arabia has spent SAR 5.1 billion ($1.4 billion) in incentives to boost its local military industry over the last two years, the governor of the sector’s General Authority said on Monday. Ahmad Al-Ohali said the incentives included SAR 3.3 billion which was directed to research and development in the military industries in 2021 and […] December 13, 2022
Manufacturing Beko starts work on $100m home appliance plant in Egypt Beko Egypt, a subsidiary of Turkey-based Arcelik, has laid the foundation stone for a new $100 million home appliance plant in Egypt’s 10th of Ramadan Industrial Zone, the company said in a statement. The investment is expected to boost the regional economy by creating more than 2,000 jobs. In addition, the factory will develop local […] December 11, 2022
Manufacturing Omani steel producer to build $3bn green steel facility Oman-based steel producer Jindal Shadeed Group will invest $3 billion to establish a green steel manufacturing plant in the special economic zone at Duqm (Sezad), driven by renewable energy sources, the company said in a statement. “We have already obtained the necessary approvals to secure the land for our green hydrogen-ready steel project,” said Harssha Shetty, […] December 5, 2022
EXCLUSIVE Banking & Finance Dubai entrepreneur to launch crypto community for nickel A prolific Dubai-based entrepreneur is set to launch a crypto token aimed at opening up the asset market and “shaping the future of nickel”. The Nikel token will launch in Dubai next week. Safi Qurashi, CEO of NewTek, told AGBI that it will “create a community that can help shape the future of nickel, and […] December 1, 2022
Manufacturing Omani firm to invest over $4bn to produce green steel Jindal Shadeed Iron & Steel, owner of a steel complex at Sohar Port, plans to invest over $4 billion in the production of green steel. The initiatives aim to establish an integrated steel plant – one of the largest plants in the GCC – in the special economic zone in Duqm, complete with renewable and […] December 1, 2022
Manufacturing Saudi’s Ceer spends $96m on plot for electric car factory Ceer, Saudi Arabia’s first electric vehicle brand, has spent nearly $96 million on an industrial plot at King Abdullah Economic City. In a stock market filing on Saudi’s Tadawul, developer Emaar Economic City said a land sale deal had been signed and KAEC’s Industrial Valley would host a “specialised factory” to manufacture electric vehicles. Ceer […] November 29, 2022
Tech Vertical saffron farm spices up UAE’s agtech sector Agtech company Veggitech opened the first vertical saffron farm in Sharjah this summer, with the harvest of the expensive spice, known as red gold, peaking at the end of November. The UAE saffron farm is the largest in the Middle East and North African region, spanning only 165 square metres but equivalent to 3.5 hectares […] November 28, 2022
Manufacturing Daimler and DHL launch truck parts centre in Dubai Commercial vehicles company Daimler and logistics provider DHL are to launch a Daimler truck parts facility in Dubai in December. The new parts centre will open in Dubai World Central, the economic zone supporting logistics and businesses around Al Maktoum International Airport. Daimler Commercial Vehicles Mena (DCV Mena) and DHL Global Forwarding have forged a […] November 28, 2022
Analysis Manufacturing Abu Dhabi’s industrial strategy helps to lift GDP When US aerospace firm Triumph agreed to set up the Middle East’s first engine accessory repair and overhaul centre by 2024, it became the latest in a growing list of international companies attracted to Abu Dhabi. Supplement manufacturer Thorne, petrochemical services provider Elliot Group and biopharma firm OnePointOne are waiting in the wings as Abu […] November 28, 2022
Exclusive Manufacturing UAE’s automotive giant OWS to establish Saudi facility in Q1 2023 OWS Automotive, the global automotive service provider with a major presence in the UAE, has signed an agreement with King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) in Saudi Arabia to establish its head office and main facility there. The agreement will see the two groups provide vehicle remanufacturing, assembly, upgrade and reset facilities within the city, ultimately creating […] November 24, 2022
Manufacturing Nestle to invest $1.86bn in Saudi Arabia over 10 years Food giant Nestle will invest SAR 7 billion ($1.86 billion) in Saudi Arabia over the next ten years, the kingdom’s investment ministry announced in a tweet. The ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with Nestle to establish a factory and a research and development centre. The Swiss headquartered company plans an initial investment of SAR […] November 24, 2022
Manufacturing Abu Dhabi launches smart manufacturing index A new smart manufacturing index will boost Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a key industrial hub in the Middle East as major international players continue to move into the emirate. The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (Added) has announced the launch of the index to help facilitate private sector players’ transition to industry 4.0 (fourth […] November 21, 2022
Manufacturing Saudi’s PIF sets up electric car joint venture with Foxconn Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth Public Investment Fund (PIF) said on Thursday it will make electric cars in the kingdom under a joint venture with Apple supplier Foxconn as part of a push to build new industries and lessen dependence on oil. Ceer “is the first Saudi automotive brand to produce electric vehicles in Saudi Arabia, […] November 4, 2022
Analysis Manufacturing Saudi non-oil export orders rise at fastest pace for a year New export orders for Saudi Arabia’s non-oil sector in October increased at their fastest rate for nearly a year, the Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey revealed on Wednesday. This demand helped the PMI, which gauges business confidence, to climb 0.6 percentage points to 57.2 in October. A reading above 50.0 shows […] November 2, 2022
