AD Ports Group and the Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement have announced a strategic partnership to develop Al Selmiyyah Defence Industrial Free Zone in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant step in building an advanced and sustainable national defence industrial base for the UAE.
The initiative is designed to attract leading original equipment manufacturers, localise production capabilities and strengthen the country’s long-term defence readiness and industrial sovereignty.
Al Selmiyyah will be developed as an integrated defence industrial ecosystem, combining specialised infrastructure, advanced regulatory frameworks, industrial security and compliance standards, and direct integration with logistics networks and global supply chains.
The zone will provide a competitive environment for global defence companies to establish operations in the UAE while fostering high-value partnerships that connect national capabilities with international expertise.
The initiative is also expected to support technology transfer, deepen local supply chains, enhance export readiness and expand participation by national companies and small and medium-sized enterprises within defence supply chains.
Under the terms of the partnership, Tawazun will be responsible for developing the regulatory and licensing frameworks, aligning the project with national defence capability priorities and overseeing the industrial compliance ecosystem.
AD Ports Group will serve as strategic partner and advisor, leading the master planning process, shaping land use and infrastructure development, and providing industrial zone expertise to support phased delivery, ecosystem integration and connectivity to regional and global trade networks.
Dr Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary-General of Tawazun, described Al Selmiyyah as an unprecedented regional initiative aimed at attracting leading global manufacturers and accelerating the growth of the UAE’s defence industrial base through advanced partnerships and technology transfer.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, framed the zone as a strategic addition to the group’s free zones portfolio and an expression of the UAE’s ambition to establish itself as a global hub for advanced industries.
