Programme Objectives and Scope
Make it in the Emirates is a national initiative designed to strengthen domestic manufacturing by creating demand-side pull for locally produced goods. The programme operates at the intersection of industrial policy and procurement strategy, connecting UAE-based manufacturers with government entities and major private sector buyers to substitute imports with domestically produced alternatives. The scope covers priority product categories including building materials, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machinery components, defence equipment, and consumer goods. The initiative functions as the demand-generation complement to Operation 300bn’s supply-side investment in manufacturing capacity.
Key Targets and KPIs
The programme tracks the value of products shifted from imports to domestic sourcing, the number of new manufacturing facilities established or expanded in response to procurement commitments, the growth in the In-Country Value (ICV) certified supplier base, and the increase in non-oil industrial exports. Specific product-level targets identify categories where import substitution is both economically viable and strategically important — for example, pharmaceutical manufacturing, steel and aluminium fabrication, food processing, and packaging materials. The initiative also measures the number of bilateral industrial partnerships facilitated between UAE manufacturers and international technology providers.
Implementation Status and Progress
MoIAT has conducted multiple rounds of Make it in the Emirates forums, convening government procurement officers, major industrial firms, and international manufacturers to identify localisation opportunities. The ICV programme, which assigns scores to suppliers based on their UAE content (local employment, local sourcing, investment in the UAE), has been expanded to cover a larger share of government procurement. Major localisation agreements have been signed in pharmaceuticals, with several global manufacturers establishing UAE production facilities. The defence sector has driven localisation through Tawazun’s offset requirements. Food manufacturing capacity has expanded, particularly in dairy, poultry, and packaged food categories. MoIAT’s National Product Registry tracks locally manufactured products and promotes them to procurement decision-makers.
Lead and Supporting Institutions
The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) leads the initiative. The ICV Committee, chaired by MoIAT, manages the In-Country Value certification programme. Supporting institutions include the Emirates Development Bank (which provides financing to manufacturers expanding or establishing UAE operations), ADNOC’s procurement division (one of the largest single buyers in the UAE economy), the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, and the free zone authorities that host manufacturing operations. The UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry provides private sector coordination.
Relationship to We the UAE 2031 Pillars
Make it in the Emirates directly supports the Economy Pillar of We the UAE 2031 by strengthening the domestic industrial base and reducing reliance on imported manufactured goods. The initiative contributes to economic resilience — a core theme of the 2031 framework — by ensuring the UAE can produce essential goods domestically in the event of supply chain disruptions. The society pillar benefits through the creation of industrial employment opportunities for nationals. The sustainability pillar is served by the localisation of production, which reduces the carbon footprint associated with long-distance freight transport of imported goods.
Funding and Resource Allocation
The initiative is primarily funded through MoIAT’s operational budget, with the economic impact driven by procurement policy rather than direct government spending. The ICV programme creates demand by requiring government-contracted entities to maximise local content, effectively redirecting procurement expenditure towards UAE-based manufacturers. The Emirates Development Bank provides concessional financing to manufacturers responding to localisation opportunities. Individual emirate governments offer incentive packages — including subsidised land, utilities, and reduced fees — through their industrial zones and economic development authorities. The combined effect of procurement policy, development finance, and emirate-level incentives creates a substantial economic support structure without requiring a single consolidated programme budget.