QDB launches ‘Manarat’ to drive Qatar’s Industry 4.0 shift
Qatar Development Bank (QDB) launched the Advanced Manufacturing Hub (Manarat) to accelerate the adoption of advanced technology solutions and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies by next-g...
The Qatar Development Bank (QDB) inaugurated the Advanced Manufacturing Hub (Manarat) on Wednesday, aiming to expedite the incorporation of cutting-edge technology solutions and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies within Qatar's upcoming factories. Dr Hamad Salem Mejegheer, QDB's executive director of SME Development, highlighted that Manarat is the nation's first industrial complex of its kind, aligning with Qatar's ambition for a highly developed industrial sector.
The hub's establishment is a collaborative effort between QDB, the World Economic Forum's Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Applications are currently open for technology-driven companies to occupy a 16-unit industrial complex within the New Industrial Area. The facilities under Manarat are designed to function as "lighthouses," embodying the center's aspirations for these factories to become exemplars of advanced manufacturing and operational excellence, thereby qualifying for inclusion in the WEF's Global Lighthouse Network, a leading benchmark for industrial transformation.
QDB's provision of comprehensive support, including advisory services, financing, and export solutions, underscores its commitment to the industrial complex's success. This initiative is poised to foster collaboration between local manufacturers, technology-adopting firms, and international investors, facilitating knowledge and expertise exchange.
The venture also aligns with the Qatar National Manufacturing Strategy 2024–2030, which aims to boost the manufacturing sector's contribution to non-hydrocarbon GDP, promote local production, and generate specialized jobs in advanced technology fields.
Dr Abdulaziz Khalid al-Ali, director of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, underscored that Manarat is a significant stride towards enhancing innovation and competitiveness in Qatar's industrial sector through smart infrastructure and standards supporting Industry 4.0 technologies, in line with global initiatives championed by the WEF.
Abdulla Ghanim al-Maadeed, director of the Industrial Development Department at MoCI, emphasized the ministry's efforts to accelerate digital transformation across the industrial sector, enhance factories' digital readiness, and encourage the adoption of automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced digital solutions to boost production efficiency and strengthen the competitiveness of national industries.
He added that Manarat plays a pivotal role in advancing these objectives, with cumulative investments in the industrial sector reaching QR248.44bn in the second quarter of 2026.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf Times Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
