Total capital investment in Dubai's manufacturing sector touched AED26.4 billion in 2005

The study also outlined the industrial policy for the Emirate, which is based on a long-term perspective of industrial development and envisages a gradual shift from labour intensive/ low-technology industries to capital intensive/ advanced technology industries by 2010. By 2030, Dubai aims to further focus on encouraging the growth of knowledge-intensive/ high technology industries.

'The development of indigenous industry in a country is a measure of its true economic growth,' said Mr. Khalid Al Kassim, Deputy Director General for planning and development, DED commenting on the study. 'Dubai's industrial policy, has been laid down with the objective of developing a sustainable manufacturing sector in the Emirate and focuses on developing key aspects of the economy, including focusing on export-oriented industrialisation and deepening the industrial structure by promoting selective industrial projects based on region's resources,' he added.

'Currently, the manufacturing sector provides employment to almost than 55,000 workers in various manufacturing sub-sectors. The industrial policy also has a significant focus on developing local Small and Medium Enterprises functionally linked to world markets and multinational enterprises and creating a pool of nationals for entrepreneurial, managerial and technical positions,' he added.

Some of the other elements of Dubai's industrial policy include focus on selective attraction of foreign direct investments to strengthen the manufacturing base, encourage technology transfer, boost investment, acquire market channels and improve management skills. The DED also plans to further strengthen regional cooperation for industrial development and rationalize policies affecting trade and industry and improve the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector by achieving economies of scale through 'clustering' of industries and promoting 'inter-industry' linkages.