Make it in the Emirates 2026 begins today: Everything to know about UAE’s biggest industrial event yet

Dubai: If you have a start-up that is focused on manufacturing, the biggest ever Make it in the Emirates (MIITE) is currently underway in Abu Dhabi, which can help you move your ideas to execution.

The fifth edition of MIITE will run from May 4 to May 7 at the the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) Centre Abu Dhabi, and can be particularly helpful if your start up is in an industry like manufacturing, AI and deep tech, clean energy or industrial support service.

Make it in the Emirates is the largest forum of its kind in the region, organised under the UAE’s industrial strategy. It is closely aligned with the UAE’s Operation 300bn, a 10-year strategy aimed at raising the industrial sector’s GDP contribution to 300bn by 2031, and helps boost innovation and growth in the UAE’s industrial sector.

The year’s edition is the largest in the event’s history, with a focus on 12 strategic sectors including AI, energy, aerospace and manufacturing.

As the event will be attended by ministers, sovereign entities, and major corporates, it will give startups access to funding conversations, strategic partnerships and opportunities to scale up.

The event also includes dedicated startup-focused spaces, such as innovation hubs, pitch sessions and SME programmes, which are designed to help early-stage businesses showcase their ideas, gain visibility and connect with potential partners.

Visitor entry is free, but requires prior registration through the MIITE website: https://www.miite.ae/en

If you do plan to visit, it is important to note that the parking at ADNEC Centre is for permit holders only. However, there is a free park-and-ride service, with shuttle buses transporting attendees directly to the venue, with three options to park at: