UAE approves $272 million industrial resilience fund to boost local production

The UAE has approved a $272 million National Industrial Resilience Fund to support the localization of critical industries, strengthen supply chains and accelerate the use of artificial intelligence across manufacturing.

The fund is part of a broader push to expand domestic production and connect manufacturers with investors, technology providers and major buyers through the government’s ‘Make it in the Emirates’ platform.

The announcement comes as the UAE seeks to build a more integrated industrial base spanning food and agriculture, advanced manufacturing, technology and supply chains, while increasing the share of locally produced goods used across the economy.

The National Industrial Resilience Fund will focus on critical industries, with support aimed at strengthening domestic supply chains and accelerating the adoption of AI in production, operations and planning.

A key part of that effort is the National In-Country Value (ICV) Program, which directs more government and institutional spending towards products and services made in the UAE. The program has been made mandatory in selected sectors, giving local manufacturers greater access to major procurement contracts while helping integrate them into domestic supply chains.

Through the Make it in the Emirates platform, investors, manufacturers and industry leaders will be able to connect with domestic production and investment opportunities. The platform is designed to help manufacturers identify demand, secure investment and connect with larger supply chains.

The push extends beyond manufacturing. In agriculture, the National Agriculture Center and the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority have launched the UAE Good Agricultural Practices program, which aims to achieve certification for 80 percent of local farms.

Other initiatives are targeting food security and local sourcing. The UAE’s climate-smart crops program is designed to diversify domestic food production and reduce reliance on imports, while the Sustainable Product initiative aims to increase the share of locally produced agricultural and livestock products used by restaurants and hotels to 25 percent.

Efforts also include retaining greater value within the national economy. This includes the launch of the UAE’s largest aluminum recycling plant, the Al Taweelah recycling plant in Abu Dhabi—with an annual capacity of 185,000 tonnes, enabling aluminum scrap to be processed locally into high-quality, lower-carbon products.

Alongside expanding domestic production, the UAE is strengthening international investments and partnerships to connect national capabilities with regional and global resources.