Ras Al Khaimah is tightening its grip on the UAE’s industrial ambitions with two fresh agreements that could reshape parts of its manufacturing landscape — one tied to retail production and another aimed at building a sprawling China-UAE industrial ecosystem.
The deals were unveiled during the fifth edition of the Make it in the Emirates forum in Abu Dhabi, where Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) positioned itself as a magnet for long-term industrial investment.
One agreement brings Magrabi Retail Group into the emirate with plans for a dedicated store manufacturing centre. The facility will handle furniture production, retail fit-outs, refurbishments, and temporary pop-up store concepts for the company’s GCC-wide operations. Once operational, the site is expected to support around 140 stores every year while generating nearly 100 jobs.
Magrabi Retail Group CEO Yasser Taher described the move as part of a broader strategy to centralise production and sharpen consistency across its regional footprint. According to him, consolidating manufacturing operations in Ras Al Khaimah will allow the company to push faster expansion while maintaining tighter control over store design and customer experience standards.
The second agreement carries even larger industrial ambitions.
Mighty Industrial Park plans to establish a China-UAE industrial park focused on metal recycling, dismantling, smelting operations, precious metal refining, and advanced manufacturing activities. The project is designed as a connected industrial chain rather than a standalone recycling operation, linking processing, production, and export functions within one ecosystem.
Company representative Guichun Guo said Ras Al Khaimah stood out because of its industrial land availability, logistics connectivity, utility access, and manufacturing-friendly environment. He added that the emirate offers the conditions needed to build a circular-economy driven industrial base capable of attracting both upstream suppliers and downstream manufacturing partners.
RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said the agreements reflect a broader strategy to strengthen Ras Al Khaimah’s profile as a centre for industrial expansion and advanced manufacturing. He noted that investors are increasingly looking for scalable ecosystems where logistics, infrastructure, financing access, and regulatory support operate in sync.
During a panel discussion alongside leaders from other UAE economic zones, Jallad argued that industrial resilience in the UAE has been shaped by coordination between federal authorities and free zones, combined with what he described as practical support for businesses on the ground.
He stressed that long-term manufacturers are primarily searching for certainty — the ability to expand operations inside one ecosystem without disruption while maintaining access to global trade routes and integrated services.
The announcements also align with the UAE’s wider Operation 300bn strategy, which seeks to accelerate industrial growth and expand the country’s manufacturing contribution to the national economy. RAKEZ continues to pitch itself as one of the country’s gateways for companies seeking regional production, export, and industrial scaling opportunities.
