Dubai is rapidly evolving into an innovation hub and a blueprint for how trade, manufacturing, and sustainability can converge at speed. With free zones morphing into smart industrial districts and infrastructure expanding vertically and regionally, the Emirate is writing a new playbook for modern commerce. For Indian businesses, it’s not just about exports; it’s about embedding operations into one of the world’s most efficient trade corridors.
On the Live, Work & Play in Dubai podcast for Economic Times, Abdulla Al Hashmi, Chief Operating Officer – Parks & Zones, DP World GCC, offered a ground-level view of what’s driving this momentum and how Indian enterprises are seizing it.
? Watch the full episode on YouTube: Industrial growth driven by policy and purpose
“The UAE is an incentive on its own. This is one,” said Al Hashmi. “The second is that there are many other initiatives that have been done by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the government of Dubai.”
Among them is the D33 Agenda, backed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, including an AED 25 billion incentive package. “That is set to double manufacturing value addition as well as bilateral trade over the next 10 years,” he added.
Complementing this is Operation 300bn, the UAE’s nationwide push to boost industrial output. “It drives economies to do more and investors to do more on manufacturing,” Al Hashmi added.
India–UAE trade gets a CEPA-powered boost
Indian businesses remain a strong force in Dubai’s industrial ecosystem. “More than 25% of all the companies [in JAFZA] are from India,” said Al Hashmi. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed with India has boosted bilateral trade to $83 billion, with a 15% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), surpassing expectations.
“CEPA presents a significant opportunity to clients. It creates green corridors, a much more affordable corridor by virtue of eliminating customs duty,” he explained.
Sectors powering Dubai’s industrial momentum
DP World’s parks and zones are witnessing rising interest from sectors such as automotive, advanced manufacturing, and Research & Development (R&D). “DP World today is the largest handler of vehicles globally. We handled more than 3 million vehicles globally last year, and over a million in Dubai alone,” Al Hashmi noted. “For the first time, we’re seeing assembly—not just trading—of motorbikes, club cars, and vehicles in Jebel Ali. So, there is a shift to do more than just trading and distribution, but value add.”
To support this momentum, DP World is developing a 20 million square foot automotive market, set to be the largest and most advanced of its kind globally. It will have the capacity to store up to 300,000 vehicles and include integrated facilities for testing, modification, and servicing. “It will be a destination not just for the region, but for the world,” he said.
Dubai is also emerging as a preferred location for high-precision and advanced manufacturing. Recent deals with Eaton, a US-based power management company; A-Heat, a German specialist in heat exchange systems; and Global Surfaces, an Indian manufacturer of engineered quartz and natural stone products, signal Dubai’s shift into R&D and industrial innovation. “High-precision manufacturing is finding itself in Dubai,” he said, noting that lifestyle appeal is also drawing global talent into research roles.
Bharat Mart: a game-changer for Indian exports
“India and Southeast Asia continue to be key drivers of growth for us,” said Al Hashmi. “Indian businesses alone make up over a quarter of all companies in JAFZA, and their momentum shows no sign of slowing down.”
To support India’s export ambitions, DP World is building Bharat Mart—an integrated wholesale and retail hub in Dubai. “It allows Indian merchants to operate in both the free zone and mainland from a single establishment,” he explained.
“We would like to take Indian made products to new terrains that are not easily accessible today, including East Africa, North Africa, and many other parts of the world,” he added.
Vertical infrastructure and global ambitions
DP World’s infrastructure roadmap is also aligned with the UAE’s long-term sustainability goals. With over 158,000 solar panels powering operations and a partnership with Dubai Electricity Water Authority (DEWA) for clean energy procurement, JAFZA hosts the region’s largest rooftop solar programme. “We’re converting our buildings to LEED Platinum standards,” he said.
As demand surges, Dubai scales. “We’re building multi-storey warehouses and shared industrial facilities,” Al Hashmi said. Expansion plans into Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and London are also underway, opening up new regional pathways for companies headquartered in Dubai.
A region in motion, with opportunities taking shape
Dubai’s sectoral depth, modern infrastructure, and policy foresight are enabling Indian companies to manufacture, assemble, and distribute faster than ever. As Al Hashmi summed it up: “Seeing is believing. Come to Dubai, feel the momentum. The time to act is now.”
? Listen to the podcast on ET Digital
Click this link for more on Business in Dubai.
Disclaimer - This article is a part of a featured content series on Business in Dubai.
On the Live, Work & Play in Dubai podcast for Economic Times, Abdulla Al Hashmi, Chief Operating Officer – Parks & Zones, DP World GCC, offered a ground-level view of what’s driving this momentum and how Indian enterprises are seizing it.
? Watch the full episode on YouTube: Industrial growth driven by policy and purpose
“The UAE is an incentive on its own. This is one,” said Al Hashmi. “The second is that there are many other initiatives that have been done by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the government of Dubai.”
Among them is the D33 Agenda, backed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, including an AED 25 billion incentive package. “That is set to double manufacturing value addition as well as bilateral trade over the next 10 years,” he added.
Complementing this is Operation 300bn, the UAE’s nationwide push to boost industrial output. “It drives economies to do more and investors to do more on manufacturing,” Al Hashmi added.
India–UAE trade gets a CEPA-powered boost
Indian businesses remain a strong force in Dubai’s industrial ecosystem. “More than 25% of all the companies [in JAFZA] are from India,” said Al Hashmi. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed with India has boosted bilateral trade to $83 billion, with a 15% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), surpassing expectations.
“CEPA presents a significant opportunity to clients. It creates green corridors, a much more affordable corridor by virtue of eliminating customs duty,” he explained.
Sectors powering Dubai’s industrial momentum
DP World’s parks and zones are witnessing rising interest from sectors such as automotive, advanced manufacturing, and Research & Development (R&D). “DP World today is the largest handler of vehicles globally. We handled more than 3 million vehicles globally last year, and over a million in Dubai alone,” Al Hashmi noted. “For the first time, we’re seeing assembly—not just trading—of motorbikes, club cars, and vehicles in Jebel Ali. So, there is a shift to do more than just trading and distribution, but value add.”
To support this momentum, DP World is developing a 20 million square foot automotive market, set to be the largest and most advanced of its kind globally. It will have the capacity to store up to 300,000 vehicles and include integrated facilities for testing, modification, and servicing. “It will be a destination not just for the region, but for the world,” he said.
Dubai is also emerging as a preferred location for high-precision and advanced manufacturing. Recent deals with Eaton, a US-based power management company; A-Heat, a German specialist in heat exchange systems; and Global Surfaces, an Indian manufacturer of engineered quartz and natural stone products, signal Dubai’s shift into R&D and industrial innovation. “High-precision manufacturing is finding itself in Dubai,” he said, noting that lifestyle appeal is also drawing global talent into research roles.
Bharat Mart: a game-changer for Indian exports
“India and Southeast Asia continue to be key drivers of growth for us,” said Al Hashmi. “Indian businesses alone make up over a quarter of all companies in JAFZA, and their momentum shows no sign of slowing down.”
To support India’s export ambitions, DP World is building Bharat Mart—an integrated wholesale and retail hub in Dubai. “It allows Indian merchants to operate in both the free zone and mainland from a single establishment,” he explained.
“We would like to take Indian made products to new terrains that are not easily accessible today, including East Africa, North Africa, and many other parts of the world,” he added.
Vertical infrastructure and global ambitions
DP World’s infrastructure roadmap is also aligned with the UAE’s long-term sustainability goals. With over 158,000 solar panels powering operations and a partnership with Dubai Electricity Water Authority (DEWA) for clean energy procurement, JAFZA hosts the region’s largest rooftop solar programme. “We’re converting our buildings to LEED Platinum standards,” he said.
As demand surges, Dubai scales. “We’re building multi-storey warehouses and shared industrial facilities,” Al Hashmi said. Expansion plans into Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and London are also underway, opening up new regional pathways for companies headquartered in Dubai.
A region in motion, with opportunities taking shape
Dubai’s sectoral depth, modern infrastructure, and policy foresight are enabling Indian companies to manufacture, assemble, and distribute faster than ever. As Al Hashmi summed it up: “Seeing is believing. Come to Dubai, feel the momentum. The time to act is now.”
? Listen to the podcast on ET Digital
Click this link for more on Business in Dubai.
Disclaimer - This article is a part of a featured content series on Business in Dubai.
(This article is generated and published by ET Spotlight team. You can get in touch with them on etspotlight@timesinternet.in)
