Dubai has welcomed the UAE’s first-ever electric vehicle manufacturing facility that is expected to produce 55,000 cars per year to meet the rising demand for green mobility and reduce global carbon emissions in the region.
M Glory Group laid the foundation stone for the facility, which is worth an investment of Dh1.5 billion, at Dubai Industrial City. The factory’s official opening was presided over by Omar Suwaina Al Suwaidi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology; Dr. Majida Al Azaz, chairman of the board of directors of M Glory Holding Group; and Saud Abu Al-Shawareb, MD of Dubai Industrial City.
The sustainable industrial facility is set to create more than 1,000 jobs and is built on a total land area of one million square feet to accommodate future expansion plans. The electric cars produced at the site will be exported to the wider GCC region, in addition to Egypt, Tanzania, Senegal, Mali, and Kenya.
Omar Al-Suwaidi, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, said that the ministry, in coordination with partners from the UAE’s industrial sector, is implementing a package of projects and initiatives under the UAE’s national industrial strategy. The aim of these projects is to make vital sectors in the UAE, including the industrial and technological sectors, more attractive to investors. They will also help industries of the future to develop new competitive advantages and consolidate the position of the UAE as a hub for global companies, investments, and talents.
“The ministry is focused on encouraging local manufacturers to diversify and develop their production to support the growth of national industries and enhance their competitiveness,” he said. “The establishment of a factory to produce electric vehicles in the country is in line with the ministry's efforts to create new competitive advantages for advanced industries. It is also in line with the goals of the ’Make in the Emirates‘ campaign, launched by the ministry, which focuses on enhancing the future and sustainability of industries.”
M Glory also unveiled their first fully electric car called ‘Al Damani’ DMV300 at the event. With two different models built using European specifications, the car has a battery capacity of 52.7 kWh and can cover more than 405km on a single charge. The company aims to benefit from the Fourth Industrial Revolution and sustainability by employing future technologies and robotics in the manufacture of electric vehicles (EVs). The new facility is an extension of its portfolio, which includes robotics engineering and artificial intelligence, as well as sustainable real estate.
The UAE has accelerated its sustainability efforts under the UAE Road to Net Zero Strategy, with several local entities announcing goals to shift the mentality towards environmentally-friendly transportation. These include the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) which has set a target to make public transport emission-free by 2050. According to the International Energy Agency, the shift to public and private electric transport is quickly gaining momentum, with consumer spending on EVs reaching $120 billion.
Reference:
i) Khaleej Times (2022) Dubai welcomes first-ever electric vehicle manufacturing facility
