Report: Strategies for fuelling growth and innovation in manufacturing
The region’s manufacturing sector is advancing rapidly, but its long-term impact will depend on pairing technology adoption with more agile and intelligent capital planning
The UAE’s industrial sector is entering a decisive phase in its transformation – one defined not only by the pace of technological adoption but by the financial intelligence that underpins it. As manufacturers scale up, localise production and integrate advanced technologies across their operations, it has become clear that the next era of growth will rely on pairing innovation with disciplined capital strategy.
National programmes such as Operation 300bn, the Industrial Technology Transformation Index and the broader push toward Industry 4.0 are reshaping the country’s industrial foundations, redirecting investment, strengthening supply chains and accelerating digital modernisation. Manufacturing’s 44% rise in GDP contribution between 2020 and 2024 underscores the impact of this policy-led transformation and the momentum now building across the sector.
Against this backdrop, financial decision-making has moved to the centre of industrial competitiveness. It is becoming evident that technology adoption alone does not guarantee long-term value; its success depends on how effectively organisations quantify returns, optimise working capital and align investment horizons with operational goals. For many manufacturers, financial resilience rather than access to capital has emerged as the defining capability of the decade.
Moreover, automation, the internet of things, artificial intelligence and digital twins are redefining efficiency benchmarks, enabling predictive maintenance, reducing downtime and strengthening supply-chain control. But these advances require rigorous financial evaluation, clear KPIs and closer collaboration between finance and operations. Banks, too, are adapting their approach, looking beyond traditional collateral models to evaluate liquidity, digital maturity and value-chain health.
The Strategic Forum for Finance & Industrial Leaders in Manufacturing, held on 30 October and hosted by MEED in partnership with Mashreq, brought these themes into sharp focus. The discussions reinforced a shared conclusion: sustainable industrial growth will depend on an ecosystem where technology, capital and policy move in lockstep. This report captures those insights and outlines what it will take for manufacturers to compete and thrive in the region’s next industrial chapter.
