Abu Dhabi's industrial sector adds $12bn to GDP

Abu Dhabi's industrial sector has become a major contributor to the emirate's economy, adding more than $12 billion (Dh44bn) to its GDP, said a top official yesterday.

The UAE capital is gearing up to support the sector in a big way, he added.

Speaking at the first session of the Abu Dhabi Economic Forum, Mohammad Al Qamzi, CEO of the Higher Corporation for Specialised Economic Zones, said: "The ZonesCorp is drawing up a five-year strategy to support the industrial sector in the UAE capital.

"We are trying to strengthen infrastructure in new industrial areas and provide logistical services to all available industries. We are also trying to create industrial entities, for which we do a needs analysis to find out in which areas industries are needed the most.

"There is trend in ZonesCorp currently to licence industries related to building materials to meet the local markets' needs over the next seven years. We also have other industries that have proved their necessity.

"We are working to make Abu Dhabi a regional industrial hub in the near future."

Al Qamzi said ZonesCorp facilitates investment in Abu Dhabi and completes licensing procedures for industrial institutions within a day.

"We also provide infrastructural support and meet the demands of investors for better functioning and improvement in the emirate's industrial climate," he said.

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