UAE accelerates drive to take national products to global markets

Abu Dhabi is intensifying efforts to promote national products in global markets, bolstering the UAE's economy. This strategy encompasses various sectors, from agriculture and food to advanced manufacturing, all aimed at boosting product identity, marketing and exports. In April, the Cabinet greenlit the National Project for the Protection of Geographically Defined Products, designed to identify and safeguard locally-produced goods based on their origin.

Additionally, a policy was introduced to boost the visibility of national products in retail and digital outlets, while also streamlining access for manufacturers to key supply chains.

In agriculture, the National Agriculture Centre and Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority have launched the National Project for UAE Good Agricultural Practices (UAE GAP). This initiative aims to elevate local production standards and broaden market access, with the goal of certifying 80% of local farms. Other initiatives include the National Agricultural Initiative for Climate-Smart Crops, which targets diversification of the national food supply and lessens dependence on imports.

The Sustainable Product initiative seeks to elevate the use of locally-produced agricultural and livestock products in the UAE's restaurant and hotel sector to 25%.

On the industrial front, a Dh1 billion National Industrial Resilience Fund has been approved to encourage localisation of critical industries, enhance supply-chain resilience, and speed up the use of artificial intelligence in operations. The UAE has also broadened the National In-Country Value Programme, making it mandatory in certain sectors to channel more government and institutional demand towards national products.

The Make it in the Emirates platform links investors, manufacturers and industry leaders with domestic production and investment prospects, while ADNOC's Local+ initiative gives greater priority to UAE-manufactured goods in its projects.

The UAE's commitment to retaining economic value within the national economy is evident through the launch of the UAE's largest aluminium recycling plant in Abu Dhabi, with an annual capacity of 185,000 tonnes. This plant converts aluminium scrap into high-quality, low-carbon products. Additionally, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology's Factory Forward UAE initiative brings together industrial technology transformation programmes under one framework.

As of now, over 700 factories have been supported by these programmes, and more than 620 have been evaluated through the Industrial Technology Transformation Index (ITTI). The overarching goal is to build a more competitive and technology-driven production base, capable of satisfying domestic demand while expanding into international markets, thereby reinforcing the UAE's standing in global value chains.