Industry

With proven crude oil reserves of 98bn barrels and an established downstream infrastructure, which has positioned the UAE as the sixth-largest petroleum producer in the world, the country’s industrial landscape is dominated by hydrocarbons activity. In 2014 the Investment Development Bureau identified several targets for future development, including building materials, petrochemicals, metals engineering, iron and steel, plastic, aluminium and food industries. Meanwhile, aerospace, aviation and defence, for which Abu Dhabi already has core infrastructure in place, will also be the focus of much investment over the coming years. Elsewhere specialised economic zones covering an area of 50 sq km have been developed, which taken together are the source of nearly 50% of manufacturing GDP. This chapter contains interviews with Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, Acting CEO, Senaat; and Badr Al Olama, CEO, Strata.