UAE’s KIZAD earns top prizes at fDi’s Middle East Free Zone awards

By Rahul Vaimal, Associate Editor
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KIZAD
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One of the largest free zones in the region, Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Industrial Zone (KIZAD) secured three outstanding honors at fDi Magazine’s Global Free Zones of the Year 2020 awards including the “Best Free Zone in the Middle East at the Large Tenants category. 

KIZAD was cited at the fDi Magazine Awards, part of the Financial Times Group for its exceptional progress within its community of large companies. The Free Zone currently hosts more than 600 entities including some of the largest organizations in the World.

fDi’s SME Free Zone of the Year

KIZAD was awarded the Free Zone of the Year, SME honor for its innovative initiatives to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs), its continued focus on providing cost-effective infrastructure solutions and for creating an investment-friendly environment that encouraged companies of any size to expand their operations within its free zone.

fDi’s Bespoke Award for Supplier Development

KIZAD’s industry cluster-based approach which keeps businesses close to their suppliers and customers resulting in overall cost-effectiveness earned high praise at the event and was subsequently honored with fDi’s Bespoke Award for Supplier Development.

fDi Magazine’s Global Free Zones of the Year 2020 awards

This year’s winners were selected from over 100 free zone competitors from across the world, with one of the highest concentrations being from the Middle East. Greater focus was given this year to the core growth of free zones over the past 12 months, both in terms of tenants and an increase in the total area taken up. The team of judges also considered facilities available within the free zones and implementation of new offerings to tenants.

Abdullah Al Hameli
Abdullah Al Hameli
Head
Industrial Cities & Free Zone
Abu Dhabi Ports

“We are proud of winning these prestigious fDi Magazine awards, which validates our efforts for attracting industry, in line with the vision and forward-thinking approach of the leadership of the country, KIZAD works closely with its customers and partners to offer solutions for specific requirements that enable businesses to leverage Abu Dhabi as the base for their operations.

“Despite the global challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen continued growth in KIZAD over the last year, a clear indication that our strategy to promote Abu Dhabi as a destination for manufacturing and industrial investments is delivering results.”

Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD)

Spread across a total area of 410 sq.km of which 100 sq.km is specifically designated as a free zone, KIZAD is the largest industrial hub for integrated trade and logistics in the region, offering investors a highly-efficient base for their trading, manufacturing units, export operations, and related activities.

The industrial zone is part of Abu Dhabi Ports’ Industrial Cities and Free Zone portfolio, which has over 544 sq.km of industrial land, as well as 1400 local, regional and international investors operating within the food, logistics, automotive, polymers, metals, oil and gas, life sciences, and advanced technology industries.

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