Dubai Industrial City, the newest initiative to boost the emirate’s status as a world-class business hub, will ensure focused development of the manufacturing sector and incorporate a specialist logistics park, zones for particular sectors and a major segment for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The industrial city will also house an engineering university and technical centres and set up an industrial fund.
“Our location is strategic and that is the key to our facilities,” said Dubai Industrial City CEO Khalid Al Malik. “Logistics, express delivery and warehousing, labelling and packaging firms will find a natural partner in the industrial city as will advanced transportation specialists.
“We want to ensure easy access to resources and the shortest possible distance between the production point and the Jebel Ali airport and port. Our location also ensures easy access to highways so that goods can travel easily and rapidly by road within the UAE and beyond,” Al Malik pointed out.
Dubai Industrial City, being created under the directives of General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister, will comprise an area of 560 million sq ft of prime land near the new airport and Jebel Ali Free Zone and have several access points to both the Sheikh Zayed Highway and Emirates Road.
The industrial city will be divided into separate main zones focusing on core activities of a particular sector. These include a commercial zone and zones dedicated to machinery and mechanical equipment; transport equipment; base metals; chemicals; food and beverages; mineral products and other related industries.
About plans for the SME sector, Al Malik said: “The small and medium sector is the backbone of any economy and the easiest to promote by both government and private sector entrepreneurs. In coordination with the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders, we will pay special attention to promote this sector in Dubai Industrial City.”
Ensuring the focused development of the manufacturing sector would be a key consideration, the official said, adding that Dubai was laying the foundations of core sectors that impacted on everyday life and work. Dubai Industrial City will be governed under world-class safety, quality and environmental standards that will be set up in partnership with leading global agencies.
The Dubai Quality Mark (DQM) will be introduced for products manufactured in the city. The DQM will be a guarantee to global markets that world-class and recognised international standards have been adhered to in the manufacturing of the product.
“Dubai is laying the foundations of core sectors that impact on everyday life and work, with the aim of transforming the emirate into a preferred global destination for those who want the best out of life,” said Al Malik.
Dubai Industrial City is in the process of setting up a multi-million-dollar fund to provide financial products tailored to the needs of the industrial sector. The fund will be set up in conjunction with leading banks, investment houses and prominent business groups in the region and managed by globally renowned industrial fund managers. To encourage the entrepreneurial spirit, an academic area hosting the first engineering university will be established in Dubai in partnership with leading globally branded schools in addition to several technical centres that will be set up in partnership with prominent business houses to cater to the skill needs of specific sectors.
The industrial city will also push for restructuring of the high school curriculum to include industrial education.
“Dubai Industrial City will be an integrated community offering an industrial environment tied to the unique amenities of Dubai’s urban lifestyle,” observed Al Malik.
