Emirates Investment and Development Company (Emivest), a collaboration of the Government of Dubai and 15 well known business conglomerates of the UAE, says returns from its current portfolio of companies have tripled year-on-year since 2003.

“We have been steadily growing since our inception in 1997, says Tarek Niazi, CEO of Emivest. “We are constantly increasing our portfolio by investing in various sectors such as manufacturing, horticulture, construction, real estate, education, transport, telecom and finance.
“The collective strengths of our partners coupled with years of business expertise, has put Emivest in a unique position of not just developing successful businesses but also developing a strong value chain of collective industries across the UAE and the region.”
Emivest was set up to fuel the economic growth of all the emirates and the region. Since Investment increases an economy’s capacity to produce, the company says it is trying to contribute to the economic growth of all emirates and the region.
“In Emivest ‘investment’ refers to a financial investment coupled with an investment of effort and time on part of the Emivest management. We invest in opportunities and focus on markets where we have the experience, knowledge and network to help build a market leader,” says Niazi.
“We take significant stakes in seed and various-stage businesses with extraordinary talent, visionary leadership and proprietary assets. Our current portfolio of companies generated over Dh205 million ($55.8 million) of revenues in 2005.”
Commenting on the company’s policy while selecting projects, he says that since Emivest was working closely with businesses for nearly a decade and integrating businesses and insights into profitable ventures, it understands the challenges and issues that businesses face in competitive market conditions.
“Our experience helps us address the needs of promising companies in all stages of operations as we provide strategic and financial support to businesses where there is an opportunity for outstanding value chain growth.”
As a diversified investment company it has investments across various sectors. 
Commenting on the risk factors involved, he says, “No business can be free from risk factors. There is risk of loss, of technology going obsolete, of losing time on implementation. But at the same time we have to avert the risk as much as possible. For example in the case of Centennial University of Dubai we have to be constantly on guard with labour market demands. We have to be conscious of the trends four years from now of the future needs of the labour market - so that when the student graduates, he/she can be easily incorporated in the job market.”
A large number of projects financed by Emivest are into manufacturing. Some of these include:
Desert Group, which was established in 1988 to provide fully creative landscape integrated services and solutions to the government and private sectors. Desert Group is the umbrella organisation for six companies, namely Desert Landscape Company, Desert Rockcarft, Dubai Garden Center, Desert Turfcare, Wahat Al Sahraa Seeds and Agriculture and Desert Leisure and Swimming pools.  
Prisma Space Frame - Established in 1993, this company specialises in the design, fabrication and installation of  space frames in steel, aluminium and stainless steel; frameless glazing and glazed tension cable structures; skylights and sun shading structures; conventional steel structures; precision machining works for dies, moulds tools, and accessories; glazed stainless steel furniture and exhibition stands.
Prometal, which was established in 2000 and offers expert design, fabrication and installation of a comprehensive range of certificated fire resistant (rated) steel, doors, windows and screens.
Ghadeer Mineral Water Company, founded in 2000 under the brand name of Dibba mineral water. The company employs state-of-the-art bolting facility, machineries, guidelines and standards of HACCP and ISO 9001-2000 to provide its customers with the highest quality of mineral water.
Exclusive Acrylic, established in March 2001. This company provides artistic design, fabrication and installation of a wide range of acrylic material (Plexiglas) using the latest tools and technologies. The company’s products cover skylights, roof lights, domes, canopies, arches and barrel vaults, interior/architectural details, staircases and balustrades, furniture and accessories, aquariums, feature fountains, showers screens and bath enclosures, sculptural/themed structure, specialist signage and illuminated features and floors.    
Duplas Al Sharq, established in 2001, specialises in the production of high-quality plastic bottles and closures for various applications such as detergents, cleaners and health care product, bottles dairy and juice bottles, lubricant containers, PVC water containers.
Pro Glass Aluminum, formed in 2005 to cater to the requirements of design and fabrication of all types of façade systems, including the most advanced curtain-wall and cladding systems offered anywhere in the world. 
Prisma Doors and Windows, formed in 2005, concentrates on design, fabrication and installation of all types of UPVC doors and windows using the latest tools and technologies.