Manufacturers from the Emirates will display their wares in Germany tomorrow at one of the world's largest industrial trade shows.
Companies making drilling equipment, electric motors and precision tools will showcase the UAE as a competitive manufacturing location at the four-day Hannover Messe event.
Low transport costs, proximity to Europe and the ease of ordering custom-made products are convincing a growing number of clients to buy "made in the UAE", manufacturers say. Cheap labour and low energy costs also allow some manufacturers to compete with China on pricing.
"People are surprised that we have these kinds of industries in the UAE," said Ali al Ameri, the managing director of Abu Dhabi-based Al Shoumoukh, which makes drilling and production equipment for the oil and gas industry. Mr al Ameri is a UAE national with a 51 per cent stake in Al Shoumoukh.
"Yes, it is very difficult to compete, especially with European and North American makers, but compared to Chinese makers our customers can save in shipping costs, and they can easily come and see the products right here," he said.
Emile Alexander, the managing partner of the three-year-old US-UAE joint venture Emcan Electric Motors, said: "I think we can beat the Chinese. They claim to have the lowest cost but in the next 25 years it is all about cheap energy, and we have an abundancy of that over here."
@Email:uharnischfeger@thenational.ae
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
BLACKBERRY
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Matt%20Johnson%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Jay%20Baruchel%2C%20Glenn%20Howerton%2C%20Matt%20Johnson%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RACECARD
6pm Emaar Dubai Sprint – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Turf) 1,200m
6.35pm Graduate Stakes – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.10pm Al Khail Trophy – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,810m
7.45pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
8.20pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,000m
8.55pm Downtown Dubai Cup – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 1,400m
9.30pm Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
10.05pm Dubai Sprint – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020
Launched: 2008
Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools
Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)
Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13
Impact in numbers
335 million people positively impacted by projects
430,000 jobs created
10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water
50 million homes powered by renewable energy
6.5 billion litres of water saved
26 million school children given solar lighting
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The Old Slave and the Mastiff
Patrick Chamoiseau
Translated from the French and Creole by Linda Coverdale