UAE unveils AED 180 billion industrial procurement push, calls for domestic AI investment

At the fifth edition of the Make it in the Emirates platform (MIITE 2026), UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr. Sultan Al Jaber announced a national drive to localize more than 5,000 products and opened AED 180 billion of new industrial procurement opportunities over the next two years. He highlighted that the industrial sector’s contribution has risen to AED 200 billion and exports have hit a record AED 262 billion, framing manufacturing as a sovereign necessity for economic security and resilience.

On day three of the event, UAE Minister of Investment Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi urged greater recognition of domestic investors, noting that artificial‑intelligence technologies are already reshaping the country’s factories and calling for more local capital to fuel AI‑driven production.

The drive is presented as a cornerstone of the UAE’s strategy to strengthen supply‑chain security, diversify the economy and position the nation as a hub for advanced manufacturing and technology.