The government has played a key role in the expansion of the security, aerospace and defence industry over the past decade in an effort to strengthen the UAE’s defence capabilities and as a means of boosting economic diversification. The UAE has traditionally purchased the majority of its military hardware and equipment from the world’s largest suppliers; however, this is changing as more local...
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Chapter | Security, Aerospace & Defence from The Report: Abu Dhabi 2014
The emirate posted robust economic expansion across all sectors in 2013, and its resilience in the years following the global economic downturn has helped to re-build confidence among the global business community. Dubai has set itself the target of reaching 20m visitors per year by 2020 and the emirate received a major boost to this end when it won the right to host World Expo 2020 in November 2013.
With the population forecast to grow to 3m by 2020 and 25m attendees expected for World Expo 2020, the emirate is focusing on boosting transport options. Aviation and public transit are due for major expansion: the metro is set to increase to more than 422 km by 2030, a tramline is due to begin initial operations in late 2014, and airlines are also dominating the sector as Dubai’s ideal...
The sultanate’s economy continues to enjoy the benefits of petroleum wealth, which has provided budget surpluses in most years and served as a backbone for growth. However, planning is well under way for an era in which oil will not be the main economic driver, with the twin goals of diversification and creating an increased number of private sector jobs at the top of the government’s current agenda.
Expansion of the highway network is set to boost sea-to-air connectivity and raise the sultanate’s profile as a logistics and trans-shipment destination. Development of aviation and port facilities has attracted significant foreign investment, with joint-venture opportunities in free zones and industrial zones, among others, progressing alongside the GCC rail project.
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Plans are afoot from the Ministry of Transport to enhance regulation, improve safety and increase capacity among staff, with infrastructure such as a mass transport system being viewed as not only a necessity caused by population density increases, but also vital to boosting the private sector. Allocations have set aside to refurbish the international airport, plans have been made to link the...