Abu Dhabi, 21 May, 2025 – In a forward-looking move that embodies the ambition of the leadership and the nation’s vision, the Tawazun Economic Programme (Offset) has, since its inception in 1992, established itself as one of the UAE’s foremost instruments for industrial empowerment.
The programme was initially conceived as a foundational institution focused on policy, strategy, and long-term economic diversification. It has since become a strategic pillar shaping the country’s industrial landscape, a key enabler in the UAE’s pursuit of economic diversification and fostering an innovative production base grounded in knowledge transfer and technological localisation.
In alignment with the UAE’s strategic vision, the programme has accelerated the transformation of defence-related investments into high-impact and value-generating projects that enhance manufacturing and local innovation in all its forms. Under the stewardship of Tawazun Council, the programme has enabled more than 130 strategic initiatives and played a pivotal role in establishing high-value investment entities, whose contributions continue to support the nation’s sustainable development to this day.
Its expansive network of partnerships includes leading global companies in defence, aerospace, security, and advanced technologies, many of which have established fully owned subsidiaries—“landed companies”—within the UAE. This strategic localisation attracts high-value foreign direct investment, drives technology transfer, strengthens local supply chains, and develops Emirati talent. By fostering an integrated ecosystem of international industrial collaboration, the programme creates high-skilled job opportunities and firmly positions the UAE as a global leader in next-generation industries.
Launched during the “Make it in the Emirates” in 2023, the “Go to UAE” initiative—established in partnership between Tawazun Council, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, and global leader Thales—serves as a living embodiment of the Tawazun Economic Programme’s objectives. The initiative has enabled the development of over 20 national companies working across more than 30 advanced industrial technologies, including PCB assembly, customised cable harnessing, electromechanical systems, and precision mechanical components.
Further demonstrating its impact, the programme allocated business packages worth AED600 million. This reinforces its commitment to generating real economic value, strengthening national industrial self-sufficiency, and enhancing technological readiness across local supply chains.
Among the programme’s flagship achievements is the Coastal Control Radar, the first radar fully developed, manufactured, and exported from the UAE in collaboration with SAAB. The project was executed entirely by SAAB in the UAE, a landed company within the UAE, and led by national engineering talent. It represents a significant enhancement in national security through the localisation of advanced defence technologies. The radar, engineered to detect small and complex marine targets in demanding environments, offers precision and superior tactical responsiveness while strengthening the UAE’s technological sovereignty.
The programme also supported the establishment of a facility for the production of R150 remote weapon control systems within the UAE, a joint venture between Emirati company Shielders Advanced Industries and Australian firm EOS. This milestone underscores the nation’s growing capacity to meet global defence market demands.
In another strategic development, the Radar Centre of Excellence was established in Abu Dhabi through a partnership between Tawazun Council and Thales Emarat Technologies. Designed as a platform for the development and maintenance of next-generation radar systems, the initiative is expected to attract AED2.6 billion in investment over ten years, from its launch phase in 2025–2026 through to full operational maturity by 2035.
