ASILA AL BADI AND MUDHI ALOBTHANI (ABU DHABI)
AI-powered manufacturing, robotics, and sovereign platforms all support the UAE’s ambitions as its industries evolve, experts told Aletihad.
“Over the next five to 10 years, I believe the UAE will emerge as a global leader in advanced manufacturing, driven by AI, automation and sustainable production technologies,” said Heyuan Huang, Managing Director and CEO of Sindan, a UAE-based hub for advanced AI-powered manufacturing.
Huang stressed that building advanced manufacturing capabilities locally is becoming increasingly important as countries seek stronger and more resilient supply chains.
“Global supply chains have shown their vulnerabilities in recent years, and the ability to design and produce critical components within the UAE gives us greater control, speed and flexibility,” he said.
Local manufacturing, he added, also supports economic diversification and the development of national expertise in emerging technologies.
“It creates high-value jobs, supports knowledge transfer and strengthens national capabilities,” he said.
“Ultimately, local production is not just about reducing imports; it’s about positioning the UAE as a global hub for innovation and advanced industry.”
With its team of robots on duty at the recently concluded Make it in the Emirates (MIITE), Sindan’s stand was among those that drew many curious onlookers.
It showcased a range of technologies and solutions, including its industrial-scale AI-powered 3D printing fleet — described as one of the largest in the region — alongside its work in humanoid robotics.
Huang said artificial intelligence is integrated throughout the company’s manufacturing operations, from design optimisation and predictive modelling to automated production and quality control.
“Through our industrial AI-powered additive manufacturing systems, we are able to significantly reduce production time, minimise material waste and improve precision at scale,” he said.
“The result is faster turnaround, higher efficiency and the ability to produce complex, high-performance components that would be difficult to achieve through traditional manufacturing methods.”
As the UAE accelerates its ambition to become a global AI leader, homegrown technology firms are also emerging as key players in building the country’s sovereign AI ecosystem and digital infrastructure.
“The UAE has created one of the most progressive AI ecosystems globally by combining visionary leadership with strong digital infrastructure and a clear national strategy,” said Vikram Poduval, CEO of Saal.ai.
“What we are seeing now is the transition from ambition to implementation.”
At the centre of this transformation is the growing importance of sovereign AI systems, which ensure countries maintain ownership and control over their data, AI models, and digital decision-making frameworks.
“Sovereign intelligence means full ownership and control of data, AI models, and decision systems managed within the UAE,” Poduval said. “For a country like the UAE, this is essential for long-term resilience, strategic autonomy, and sustainable innovation.”
During MIITE, Saal.ai unveiled new UAE-built AI platforms including aiXelerate AI, an executive AI acceleration framework, and AgendiX, a multi-agent automation suite designed to transform enterprise operations.
Poduval said Saal.ai’s mission is to help organisations operationalise AI at scale while reducing deployment barriers.
“Our role is to act as a force multiplier for the UAE’s AI ambitions,” he said. “We help organizations move faster from vision to execution and ensure the national AI strategy is delivered, scaled, and sustained locally.”