UAE: Abu Dhabi

Home to one of the world’s largest oil industries, Al Gharbia is a driving force in the country’s wider push for economic diversification, with the oil and gas industries and tourism sectors at the forefront. The region’s GDP and population are expected to almost double by 2030, and the regional government is working to attract investors to participate in its development...

As Abu Dhabi develops its manufacturing sector, and particularly the high-value part of the industry, quality and conformity have become ever more important. To this end, the government has been putting in place a quality and conformity regulatory infrastructure. The overall aim is to improve standards to increase competitiveness on the international market, boost value...

Some of the emirate’s most attractive opportunities for industrial investment exist in the industrial zones established by the Higher Corporation for Specialised Economic Zones (known as ZonesCorp). ZonesCorp has four industrial zones currently under operation, with three more in the pipeline. Its industrial zones are estimated to account for close to 50% of Abu Dhabi’s...

According to official figures, there were around 3.5m guest arrivals in Abu Dhabi in 2014. The industry was earmarked as a key target sector for economic diversification in the government’s Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, and the goal is to reach 8m visitors by then. Finding those extra 4.5m visitors will in itself be no mean feat. Yet just as important for the long-term...