Executive Summary

The Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD) stands as a premier global industrial and manufacturing hub spanning 40 square kilometers, designed to support diverse manufacturing, industrial production, and logistics operations. Strategically positioned between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, ICAD offers specialized infrastructure, multimodal transport links, and sector-specific clusters, all of which are managed by KEZAD (Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi). The zone plays a crucial role in reducing the UAE’s reliance on oil by promoting investment in non-oil sectors, fostering innovation, and creating jobs across multiple industries. 

Benefits to Different Industries

Heavy Manufacturing Industry

Steel & Metals Production

• Steel Production Cluster: Offers dedicated infrastructure for steel manufacturing, processing, and large-scale assembly. This cluster benefits from a global steel processing market valued at USD 502.3 billion in 2023, projected to reach USD 588.5 billion by 2032.
• Metal Processing: Offers specialized facilities for manufacturing heavy- to medium-weight metal products, catering to diverse industrial needs. The metal processing machines market, crucial for this sector, is expected to reach USD 42.29 billion by 2031.
• Energy-Intensive Industries: Boasts infrastructure designed to support high energy consumption processes, ensuring stable power. The iron and steel sector alone accounted for 10.6% of the EU’s industrial energy consumption in 2023.
• Large-Scale Assembly: Offers robust facilities for major manufacturing and assembly operations, producing large industrial components and complete systems.
• Advanced Factory Units: Provides state-of-the-art units for heavy industrial operations, handling large machinery and materials efficiently. Capacity utilization for manufacturing, mining, and utilities stood at 77.6357% in June 2025.

Cement & Construction Materials

• Cement Manufacturing: Provides specialized facilities for cement production, including raw material handling, clinker production, and grinding. India, the world’s second-largest cement producer, had an installed capacity of 298 million tonnes in FY 2022, expected to add 80 million tonnes by 2025.
• Construction Materials: Offers a complete ecosystem for manufacturing diverse construction materials, from aggregates to finished products. The India Construction Materials Market was USD 39.38 billion in 2023, projected to reach USD 77 billion by 2035.
• Fiberglass & Plastics: Features advanced facilities for fiberglass and plastics assembly, meeting demand for lightweight, durable construction materials. The global Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics (FRP) market is estimated at USD 38.71 billion in 2024, with construction accounting for approximately 25% of consumption.
• Building Materials: Supports the production of various building materials, including bricks, tiles, insulation, and piping. The global building materials market was valued at USD 1.5 trillion in 2022.
• Quality Infrastructure: Equipped with world-class infrastructure for the construction industry, ensuring reliable utilities and efficient logistics.

Light Manufacturing & Engineering

Engineering & Processing Industries

• Engineering Services: Specializes in light-to-medium manufacturing, offering precision machining, fabrication, and assembly. This caters to industries seeking high-quality component production.
• Assembly Operations: Provides specialized facilities for light manufacturing assembly, ideal for precise and efficient lines for smaller components and finished goods.
• Wood Processing: Features advanced wood processing and manufacturing, supporting furniture components to construction timber using modern techniques. The global wood processing market was valued at USD 139.55 billion in 2023, projected to reach USD 211.71 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 5.35%.
• Precision Manufacturing: Offers dedicated support for precision engineering and manufacturing, crucial for industries requiring high accuracy and tight tolerances. The global precision turned product manufacturing market is forecasted to reach USD 196.11 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 6.07% from USD 115.39 billion in 2025.
• Custom Manufacturing: Provides flexible solutions for specialized products, accommodating custom orders and niche production requirements.

Automotive & Transportation

• Automotive Assembly: Offers specialized facilities for automotive component manufacturing and assembly, supporting parts production and complete vehicle assembly. India is the 3rd largest automobile market globally by sales as of 2025, and the world’s fourth-largest by production and valuation as per 2022 statistics.
• Spare Parts Manufacturing: Facilitates specialized production of automotive spare parts, ensuring a reliable supply chain for maintenance. The Indian automotive components market was valued at USD 82.7 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 136.0 billion by 2031 with a CAGR of 10.5%.
• Transportation Equipment: Supports manufacturing of a wide range of transportation and logistics equipment, including components for trucks, buses, and trains. The India Railway Equipment Market was valued at USD 12.31 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to reach USD 15.9 billion by 2030.
• Supply Chain Integration: Fosters a complete automotive supply chain ecosystem, connecting manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors for streamlined operations. Integrated supply chains can lead to increased productivity, cost savings, and enhanced risk management.
• Quality Standards: Infrastructure designed to meet international automotive quality standards, ensuring globally competitive and reliable products.

Chemical & Plastics Industry

Chemical Processing

• Chemical Manufacturing: Features advanced facilities for diverse chemical processing, including reactions and separation. The global chemical industry was valued at USD 6,182 billion in 2024, projected to reach USD 6,324 billion by 2025.
• Petrochemical Processing: Offers specialized infrastructure for petrochemical operations, leveraging proximity to feedstock. India’s chemicals and petrochemicals sector is expected to grow to USD 300 billion by 2025, with the petrochemicals industry potentially reaching USD 1 trillion by 2040.
• Industrial Chemicals: Supports the manufacturing of a wide range of industrial chemicals for various sectors. India is the sixth-largest chemicals producer globally and third in Asia, exporting to over 175 countries. 
• Safety Standards: Implements world-class safety infrastructure for chemical operations, including stringent protocols and monitoring systems. India has comprehensive regulations like the Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989, and the Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness & Response) Rules, 1996.
• Environmental Compliance: Facilities are designed to meet rigorous environmental standards for emissions and waste management. Indian chemical companies must comply with various environmental laws, including the Hazardous Waste Rules 2016 and pollution control acts.

Plastics & Polymer Manufacturing

• Plastic Manufacturing: Offers advanced plastics processing facilities, including extrusion, injection molding, and blow molding. The Indian plastic industry market is currently valued at USD 26.61 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 44.59 billion by 2030, growing at a 10.88% CAGR.
• Polymer Processing: Provides specialized polymer conversion and processing capabilities for diverse industrial applications. The Indian polymer market is growing at a CAGR of 7.5%, supported by government initiatives like Make in India.
• Packaging Materials: Facilitates the production of plastic packaging and materials, including flexible packaging and rigid containers. The India Plastic Packaging Market is worth USD 22.44 billion in 2025, forecast to hit USD 26.13 billion by 2030.
• Custom Molding: Offers facilities for custom plastic molding, allowing for specialized components tailored to unique designs. The Indian injection molded plastic market size was estimated at USD 27.84 billion in 2024.
• Recycling Integration: Supports plastic recycling and circular economy initiatives, encouraging sustainable practices. India recycles plastic at a rate of 60%, higher than many developed nations, with the waste plastic recycling market expected to reach 23.7 million tons by 2032.

Oil & Gas Services Industry

Oilfield Services

• Oilfield Equipment and Services: Provides infrastructure for various oil and gas operations, including exploration, drilling, and production. The global oilfield services market was valued at USD 133.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 166.4 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.4%.
• Equipment Manufacturing: Supports the production of essential oil and gas equipment, such as drilling tools, wellhead equipment, pumps, and valves. The oilfield equipment market was estimated at USD 109.20 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 146.15 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 3.29%.
• Maintenance Services: Offers comprehensive maintenance and repair for oil and gas equipment, ensuring optimal performance and longevity in demanding environments. The global oil & gas refinery maintenance service market was valued at USD 3.74 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 5.10 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 3.93%.
• Supply Chain Support: Provides complete supply chain solutions for the oil and gas industry, including logistics, warehousing, and inventory management. Trends indicate a shift towards digital transformation, vendor-managed inventory (VMI), and integrated supplier relationships for improved efficiency.
• Technical Services: Offers advanced technical services, including engineering support, specialized testing, and consulting for complex challenges in the sector. This includes services for optimizing processes, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting project lifecycles from planning to decommissioning.

Energy Infrastructure

• Pipeline Equipment: Supports the manufacturing of pipes, fittings, valves, and components for oil, gas, and water transportation. The global pipeline equipment market was valued at $12.5 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $18.7 billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 4.2%. Asia-Pacific is a rapidly growing region for pipeline equipment due to infrastructure investments in countries like India.
• Energy Storage: Provides facilities for manufacturing energy storage equipment, including fuel tanks and battery solutions. The Indian energy storage systems market reached 8.33 GW in 2024 and is expected to reach 15.56 GW by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 7.20%. Globally, the energy storage systems market is projected to reach 512.41 GW by 2030.
• Renewable Energy: Extends support for renewable energy equipment manufacturing, focusing on solar, wind, and other clean energy technologies. The global renewable energy equipment market reached USD 128.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 7.9% to USD 257.6 billion by 2033. India’s renewable energy equipment market is expected to reach USD 27.87 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 8.30%.
• Grid Infrastructure: Facilitates the manufacturing of electrical grid and energy infrastructure components like transformers, switchgear, and cables. The global power grid market was valued at $241.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $413.9 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.6%. Renewables are expected to hold the largest market share in the electrical grid market.

Food Processing & Agriculture

Food Manufacturing

• Food Processing: Offers capabilities for preparing, cooking, preserving, and packaging various food products. The UAE’s food processing sector generates $7.63 billion in annual revenue from over 2,000 F&B manufacturing companies.
• Packaging Solutions: Features advanced food packaging and preservation technologies to maintain freshness and meet hygiene standards. The UAE fresh food packaging market is valued at US$81.335 million in 2024, projected to reach US$111.726 million by 2029.
• Quality Control: Equipped with state-of-the-art quality control and testing facilities, ensuring compliance with international food safety regulations. The UAE has robust food safety laws, including Federal Law No. 10 of 2015 on Food Safety.
• Cold Storage: Provides extensive temperature-controlled storage, crucial for perishable food items. The UAE cold chain logistics market was valued at USD 1.4 billion in 2024 and is estimated to reach USD 2.9 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 8.20%.
• Distribution Hub: Strategic location makes ICAD an ideal distribution hub for food across regional markets, enabling efficient logistics to the GCC and beyond.

Agricultural Processing

• Crop Processing: Provides facilities for cleaning, sorting, grading, and initial processing of crops.
• Value-Added Agriculture: Encourages businesses to transform raw agricultural produce into more marketable forms.
• Export Processing: Offers facilities designed for agricultural export processing, streamlining international shipments.
• Food Safety: Emphasizes advanced food safety and quality assurance systems, adhering to the highest hygiene standards.
• Sustainable Agriculture: Supports sustainable agricultural processing technologies, promoting environmentally friendly methods. The UAE agriculture market is estimated at USD 3.45 billion in 2025, reaching USD 4.26 billion by 2030.

Logistics & Supply Chain Industry

Warehousing & Distribution

• Storage Solutions: Offers extensive storage and warehousing facilities, including specialized and climate-controlled environments.
• Distribution Centers: Provides strategic distribution centers optimally located for efficient onward distribution across the UAE and GCC.
• Logistics Hubs: Features advanced logistics and supply chain management facilities, integrating services from inventory management to order fulfillment. The UAE freight and logistics market is estimated at USD 21.63 billion in 2025, growing to USD 30.19 billion by 2030.
• Multimodal Transport: Boasts excellent multimodal transport connectivity with access to sea, land, and air networks, optimizing speed and cost. The UAE is recognized for its successful adoption of multimodal transport services.
• Cold Chain: Offers comprehensive temperature-controlled logistics and storage, vital for perishable goods and pharmaceuticals. The UAE cold chain logistics market is projected to reach USD 2.9 billion by 2033.

Transportation Services

• Fleet Services: The zone provides comprehensive fleet management and transportation services. This includes vehicle maintenance, tracking, and optimization, ensuring efficient and reliable movement of goods across road networks.
• Cargo Handling: ICAD is equipped with advanced cargo handling and processing facilities. This includes specialized equipment for loading, unloading, and sorting various types of cargo efficiently and safely.
• Freight Forwarding: The zone offers complete freight forwarding and logistics services. This encompasses coordinating the shipment of goods across different transport modes and managing customs procedures, providing end-to-end solutions.
• Supply Chain Integration: ICAD supports end-to-end supply chain management solutions. This integrates all aspects of the supply chain, from sourcing raw materials to delivering finished products, optimizing efficiency and visibility.
• Regional Connectivity: The zone benefits from access to over 200 air routes from nearby Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports. This extensive air connectivity provides rapid and reliable transportation options for high-value or time-sensitive cargo.

Technology & Innovation Sector

High-Tech Industries

• High-Tech Manufacturing: Supports specialized facilities for technology manufacturing, including precision electronics and advanced components. The UAE smart manufacturing market is expected to reach US$9,506.7 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 13.1% from 2025.
• R&D Centers: Provide robust research and development facilities, enabling cutting-edge research and new product development. The UAE government has announced significant funding for technology innovation, aiming to become a universal innovation hub.
• Innovation Support: Fosters an ecosystem that actively supports technology innovation, including programs and partnerships for tech startups and established companies.
• Advanced Manufacturing: Supports advanced manufacturing technologies like automation and robotics, enhancing efficiency and precision.
• Digital Infrastructure: Offers advanced digital infrastructure, including high-speed connectivity, secure data centers, and cloud services. The UAE is actively integrating Industry 4.0 technologies like IoT, AI, and data analytics into its manufacturing sector.

Advanced Factory Units

• Smart Manufacturing: Promotes the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies (IoT, AI, data analytics) to optimize production, enable predictive maintenance, and enhance efficiency. Smart manufacturing can improve production defect detection by as much as 50% and yields by 20%.
• Automation Solutions: Provides strong support for manufacturing automation and robotics, enabling highly automated production lines, reduced labor costs, and improved consistency and speed. Robots can perform tasks at a much faster rate than humans, with some studies showing productivity increases of up to 30%.
• Quality Systems: Equipped with sophisticated quality management and control systems, ensuring rigorous checks at every production stage to maintain high product standards and reduce defects. Robust Quality Management Systems (QMS) enhance data visibility, reduce errors, and ensure compliance with global standards.
• Lean Manufacturing: Supports the adoption of lean manufacturing principles, focusing on minimizing waste, maximizing value, and continuously improving processes for optimal efficiency and productivity. Lean manufacturing aims to deliver more value to the customer while eliminating non-value-adding activities.
• Continuous Improvement: Facilities are designed to facilitate continuous improvement and optimization by leveraging data, feedback loops, and flexible layouts to adapt to changing market demands. This approach, often rooted in the “Kaizen” philosophy, involves small, incremental changes that lead to significant overall improvements.