Qatar is set to expand its industrial services capabilities following a new agreement between Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) and Honeywell Technologies to establish a manufacturing and service hub dedicated to Sundyne pumps, a critical technology widely deployed across the energy and process sectors.

Announced on the sidelines of the Qatar Economic Forum: UNGA Special Edition 2026, the initiative will centre on the machining and servicing of Honeywell Technologies’ Sundyne pumps. The facility will support customers in Qatar as well as across the wider Middle East and Africa, helping reduce service lead times while bringing specialised capabilities closer to key industrial markets.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad bin Faisal Al-Thani, Chief Executive Officer of QFZ, and Matt Spalding, Vice President, Process Technology at Honeywell Technologies.

The planned hub builds on Honeywell Technologies’ existing footprint in Qatar and reflects a broader regional trend towards localisation of industrial manufacturing and aftermarket services. By bringing machining and servicing capabilities closer to end users, the facility aims to improve equipment uptime and responsiveness for operators in mission-critical industries.

Sundyne pumps are widely used in refining, petrochemicals, LNG, chemicals and other process applications where reliability and precision are essential. The new hub is expected to strengthen regional support capabilities while addressing growing demand for high-performance rotating equipment services.

For Qatar, the project represents another step in developing a more diversified industrial base under the country’s long-term economic development strategy.

“This collaboration with Honeywell Technologies will add new depth to Qatar’s industrial ecosystem by expanding localized manufacturing, servicing and automation capabilities,” said Sheikh Mohammed. “QFZ’s integrated platform, strategic connectivity and investor ecosystem provide a strong foundation to scale these capabilities in support of the Third National Development Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030.”

While the pump manufacturing and service operation forms the centrepiece of the agreement, the partnership could also pave the way for wider collaboration across Honeywell Technologies’ portfolio, including process technology, industrial automation, cybersecurity and building automation solutions.

The initiative further seeks to attract suppliers, specialist service providers and technology partners to establish operations within Qatar’s free zones, helping to create a broader industrial ecosystem around advanced manufacturing and engineering services.

Spalding said the agreement aligns with the company’s strategy of localising advanced technologies and strengthening regional customer support.

“We are committed to advancing high-impact initiatives that localize innovative technologies across mission-critical industries and accelerate industrial growth in support of Qatar’s ambitious national vision,” he said. “Through this collaboration, we will be able to help customers across the Middle East and Africa operate with greater efficiency, resilience and intelligence through advanced process solutions.” 

The project will also support skills development through collaboration with academic and research institutions, creating opportunities to build local technical expertise in manufacturing, servicing and industrial technologies.

As energy producers and process operators across the Middle East continue to invest in reliability, efficiency and localisation, the planned Sundyne pump hub positions Qatar to play a larger role in the regional industrial services value chain, while reinforcing its ambitions to become a centre for advanced manufacturing and engineering support.