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Dr. Adeeb Alafifi,Director, Trade & Exports

DED Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030: Investment and Export Support

United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi

UAE & Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi

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• The Emirate:

– 87% of UAE’s land mass; 3 regions

– Hospitality, life style & safe

– Cosmopolitan: 150 + nationalities

– World-class infrastructure

– Tax free

– A strategic global commodity

• Proven Oil Reserves: 9% 

• Proven Gas Reserves: 5% 

• Abu Dhabi City:

– The UAE’s Capital City

1960

Why Diversify? 4 Reasons• GDP volatility 

connected to the price of oil

• Government budget deficits without oil revenues

• Diversification Quotient

• Balance social development

1980-1985 1985-1990 1990-1995 1995-2000 2000-20050%

500%

1000%

1500%

2000%

2500%

3000%

3500%

400%

3100%

500%

700%800%

500%

300%

500%

200%300%300%

200%300%

200%100%

300%

100% 100% 100% 100%200%

100% 100%0%

100%

Abu Dhabi GCC Canada Norway G7

Oil Price

Change V

ola

tility – In

% –

35%

30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

0%

Oil Price

Norway

Abu Dhabi

-30.0%-25.0%-20.0%-15.0%-10.0%-5.0%0.0%5.0%

-0.1%

1.3%

-3.1%

-27.7%

Avg Budget Performanc (% of GDP): 2000-2005

No Oil Oil

G7 Average

Transformational Economies Average

UAE

GCC Average

Abu Dhabi

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

6.07

5.29

5.18

3.87

2.69

Diversification Quotiant: 2005

Abu Dhabi (821,000)

Al Ain (455,000)

Al Gharbia (123,000)

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000

6,300

4,600

2,700

Avg Monthly (AED) Income: 2004

2.3x

1.4x

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Economic Vision 2030• Abu Dhabi’s aspirations to diversify its 

economy

• Oil-based to knowledge-based

• Shift where real GDP is generated

Sector % of rGDP: 2005 Forecast % of rGDP: 2030 Avg. Growth Rate

Oil 59 36 4.5

Non-oil 41 64 8.8

2030 Strategic Sectors 

Globally Focus

• Energy• Chemicals• Metals & Mining• Aviation, Aerospace

& Defense• Pharmaceuticals, Bio-

tech & Life Science• Hotels, Restaurants &

Services• Healthcare

Equipment & Services

Regionally Focus

• Transportation, Trade & Logistics

• Education• Media• Financial Services• ICT Enablers

• Construction & Engineering

• Construction Materials

• Electrical Equipment• Machinery• Food & Beverage

Government Investment• Education: 

– K-12– Vocational– University– Graduate

• Infrastructure:– Airports– Seaports– Rail– Roads– Healthcare

• Investment/Industrial Sites• Accelerator businesses

Private Sector to Develop the Mid and Down Stream: Longer Term Growth

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How is the private sector being helped?

Investment Promotion & Investor Services

Investment 

Promotion

•Forums•Conferences•Trade Shows•Promotional tools

Information Services

•Abu Dhabi and Investment information•Incentive programs•Special requests

Linkage 

•Stakeholders•Partnering companies•Site visits

After Care

•Meet existing investors•Experience of investment process•Solutions to investor issues

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Investment Activities

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Today’s Investor is Tomorrow’s Exporter

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Export SupportServices & support delivered

to companies

Export Development Executives (EDE)

EDE evaluate the company and recommend type of

support & works with sector’s export development

Strategic Sectors

Int’l Traded Services

Const. & Eng. Other Mfting New 

Exporters

Renewable Tech.; Semiconductors; Pharmaceuticals, Biotech & Life Sciences; Aviation, Aerospace & Defense; Transportation, Trade & Logistics; Chemicals 

Education; Media; Financial Services; Telecom/ICT; Healthcare Equip. & Services; Oil & Gas Services; Other Services

Const. & Engineering; Engineered Metal Products; and Electrical Equipment

Food & Beverage; Packaging, Textiles & Consumer Goods; Oilfield Equipment; Energy; and Metals

Companies with little or no exporting experience, capabilities development of the basic skills to export

Export Capability Building 

Market Info & Intelligence

Market Connection Advocacy

EDE Engagement, Network Building, Export Skills & Training, Mentors, Graduate Export Program

Seminars, Market Intelligence Center, SME Helpline, Sector Reports

Trade Fairs, Export Sales Missions, Inward Buyers Visits, Custom Market Program

Market Development & Entry

Services

Sectors

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Export Support Activities

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Thank you