ABU DHABI, 6 March 2007 — The gross investment in the UAE industrial sector amounted to AED70.424 billion in 2006, showing an increase of AED2.201 billion over last year, Dr Mohammed Khalfan bin Kharbash, minister of state for finance and industry, said, referring to a recent industrial survey conducted by his ministry.

He said the rise in investment was coupled with a similar growth in the number of industrial concerns and workforce.

The number of firms registered in the country, he added, showed an increase of 42.2 percent last year. Kharbash noted that the 2006 survey showed the foodstuff industries grabbed the lion’s share of investment at AED31.962 billion, followed by chemical products at AED15.362 billion, non-metal mining industries at AED8.387 billion, base metal industries at AED7.275 billion, machinery and equipment at AED3.992 billion.

Moreover, printing and paper industries attracted AED1.811 billion, textiles and ready-made garments received AED950 million while wood and furniture got AED784 million investment in 2006.

The ministry survey said the number of industrial firms registered with the Industrial Development Department rose to 3,567 from 2,509 during past five years, showing an increase of 273 percent.

As for the workforce, the figures indicated that their number jumped from 196,606 in 2001 to 264,719 by end of 2006, while the national manpower accounted for 34.6 percent.

Dubai topped the list of registered industrial firms, hosting 40.2 percent of total firms. There were 1,433 registered firms in Dubai at the end of year 2006, with a capital of AED16.341 billion and providing employment to 100,553 workers. Sharjah came second with 1,036 firms, 29 percent of the total, investing AED3.897 billion and employing 70,157 workers. In Ajman, there were 504 firms, 14.3 percent of the total, with total investment worth AED1.435 billion and recruitment of 29,547 workers.

Abu Dhabi has 304 firms, 8.5 percent of the total, with a capital of AED38.614 billion and a workforce of 39,745 workers. Firms in Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al-Khaimah and Fujairah stood at 118, 3.3 percent, 111, 3.1 percent and 57 ,1.6 percent, respectively.

The number of industrial concerns fully owned by nationals has jumped to 1,405 by the end of 2006 — an increase of 39.4 percent. Industries owned by GCC citizens also rose by 2.8 percent to reach 101.