A view of Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, part of the AD Ports Group. — File photo
In Abu Dhabi, the AD Ports Group's extensive operations across various sectors such as industry, trade, logistics, and more, were instrumental in contributing 22.9 per cent to the emirate's non-oil GDP in 2022 at current prices, amounting to a total value-added contribution of Dh132.7 billion. On a national level, AD Ports Group facilitated 11.6 per cent of UAE non-oil GDP, equivalent to Dh150.6 billion at current prices in the same year. The findings from a study conducted by Oxford Economics, based on 2022 data, highlighted the Group's increasing economic and social contributions as a key player and facilitator of a non-oil-based economy in Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
According to Oxford Economics, AD Ports Group significantly boosted the growth of the non-oil economy post-Covid-19, with its share in non-oil GDP in Abu Dhabi rising from 21 per cent in 2020 to 22.9 per cent in 2022. As a strategic gateway to Abu Dhabi, the economic powerhouse of the UAE and one of the fastest-growing economies in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena), AD Ports Group manages an expanding international network of ports, economic cities & free zones, maritime & shipping, logistics, and digital services. Operating in over 50 countries across the Middle East, Northern Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Central and Southeast Asia, and Europe, the Group is a driving force for non-oil economic growth through its industrial development, transport, and logistics activities.
The estimates by Oxford Economics were derived from the Group's operational metrics, capital expenditures, tourism linked to its operations, and activities within its industrial zones. In 2022, the Group's contribution to UAE and Abu Dhabi non-oil GDP was largely driven by its Economic Cities and Free Zones Cluster (EC&FZ), which accounted for 95 per cent of its total impact. The Group's activities supported an estimated 398,400 jobs in the UAE, both directly and indirectly, representing 14.1 per cent of total employment in the nation's non-oil sector. Additionally, it supported about 8 per cent of employment in the UAE's construction and manufacturing sectors, respectively. Within Abu Dhabi, the Group supported a total of 261,700 jobs directly and indirectly, including 32.1 per cent of employment in the capital's manufacturing sector.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, managing director and group CEO of AD Ports Group, stated: “The recent findings affirm the Group's expanding economic influence and its ongoing capability to establish the groundwork for a sustainable, diversified economy in Abu Dhabi, the UAE, and for future generations. Under the guidance of our visionary leadership, the Group is committed to exploring new economic frontiers that provide cutting-edge infrastructure and employment opportunities.”
Ross Thompson, group chief strategy and growth officer of AD Ports Group, added: “Through an expanding global presence and market-leading roles in industrial development, transport, trade, and logistics, AD Ports Group is showcasing the best of Abu Dhabi and the UAE to the world, while also bringing global excellence to Abu Dhabi's doorstep. As the Group continues to grow and diversify, so too do the economies of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.”
The contributions to non-oil GDP growth by the Group's EC&FZ Cluster were primarily led by the over 2,000 business tenants of Kezad Group, a significant component of EC&FZ and the largest economic zones ecosystem in Mena. Alongside its leadership in manufacturing, the EC&FZ Cluster also spurred activity across sectors such as construction, professional services, transportation and storage, admin and support, mining and quarrying, finance, information and communications technology, wholesale and retail trade, and real estate. AD Ports Group's recent global expansion has significantly contributed to both its own growth and the economic diversification of the UAE and Abu Dhabi economies.
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