UAE Launches Al Selmiyyah Free Zone to Advance Defence Strategy

On 6 May 2026, Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement and AD Ports Group announced a partnership to develop the Al Selmiyyah Defence Industrial Free Zone in Abu Dhabi. The zone is being positioned as a dedicated environment for defence manufacturing, designed to attract international original equipment manufacturers and strengthen the UAE's domestic industrial base. The development timeline has not yet been disclosed.

Tawazun Council, the UAE's defence procurement authority, will lead on regulatory and licensing frameworks, as well as on industrial compliance. AD Ports Group will contribute with infrastructure development and logistics integration, and the zone will be located in Al Selmiyyah, a suburb of Abu Dhabi. Both parties have described the zone as serving the UAE government's wider "industrial sovereignty" agenda, with technology transfer to local manufacturers identified as a specific objective.

Although the timeline and regulatory details have not yet been announced, the zone is intended to align specialized infrastructure, tailored regulatory frameworks, and international logistics with rigorous industrial security to facilitate and accelerate export activities. 

This is consistent with the UAE's broader industrial agenda, which seeks to expand the role of national companies and SMEs in defence supply chains while maintaining an outward-facing, export-oriented industrial base.

OGMC is monitoring the development of Al Selmiyyah Defence Industrial Free Zone and will share further updates as details emerge. Companies considering the UAE as part of their regional strategy are welcome to contact us to discuss how the evolving landscape may relate to their plans.