Abu Dhabi to host one of region’s largest automotive marketplaces

AD Ports Group, the region’s premier facilitator of logistics, industry, and trade, has partnered with UAE-based, multi-business conglomerate Ghassan Aboud Group to establish one of the region’s largest automotive export and distribution hubs in Kizad.

The launch was announced at the official ceremony held in Abu Dhabi in the presence of key stakeholders and officials.

The Regional Auto Hub - Abu Dhabi will foster global trade partnerships bringing together buyers, sellers, logistics services providers, government enablers, facilitators, and financial service providers whilst offering access to integral sources and consumption markets through sector-specific infrastructure and multimodal connectivity by sea, land, and air.

Spread over 3.3sqkm in Kizad, the Regional Auto Hub – Abu Dhabi will be one of the largest in the region. The project’s ecosystem will feature dedicated areas for showrooms, storage, spare parts, workshops, test tracks, auction houses, social and office spaces in addition to logistics services, government support and commercial support services.

The hub is being designed to include freezone and domestic areas to facilitate international trade of all automotive products such as new and used passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, electric vehicles, heavy equipment and machinery and spare parts connecting Europe and the Far East to the Middle East, Africa, CIS, the Indian Subcontinent, and beyond.

The partnership between AD Ports Group and Ghassan Aboud Group is designed to support and accelerate the government’s vision for economic diversification and industrial growth by enhancing automotive trade flow through the UAE.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group, said, “AD Ports Group is continuously working to develop state-of-the-art industrial infrastructure across key sectors within our Economic Cities & Free Zones Cluster as part of our commitment to driving national efforts towards the UAE’s economic diversification goals and Operation 300bn strategy.”

“By offering an efficient and integrated business environment that nurtures a highly skilled workforce and enhances operational productivity, we believe the Regional Auto Hub – Abu Dhabi will be a key driver in strengthening the UAE’s position at the centre of the region’s evolving global automotive and mobility supply chain,” he added.

Ghassan Aboud, Founder and Chairman of the Ghassan Aboud Group, said, “The Regional Auto Hub – Abu Dhabi is master-planned to serve the automotive industry within the region and wider global markets. We trust that it will provide a competitive edge by offering advanced infrastructure, ease of doing business, conducive policies, and space availability.”

“The Regional Auto Hub - Abu Dhabi builds on our partnership with AD Ports Group and our confidence toward the economic ecosystem in Kizad. Earlier this year we have announced the Regional Food Hub - Abu Dhabi in collaboration with Rungis. We are committed to bringing international expertise to the UAE and Abu Dhabi through our collaborations and to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a major economic hub. We are confident that these new initiatives and public-private investments mark a pioneering step in the UAE’s position as an important axle for future growth.” he said.

The Regional Auto Hub - Abu Dhabi will also leverage cutting-edge technology to offer a digital marketplace that will provide a range of services and cater to automotive trade and export needs, ensuring continuity while easing business by supporting key synergies between Abu Dhabi’s government entities and trade enablers.

Established in 2006, AD Ports Group today serves as the region’s premier facilitator of logistics, industry, and trade, as well as a bridge linking Abu Dhabi to the world. Listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, AD Ports Group’s vertically integrated business approach has proven instrumental in driving the emirate’s economic development over the past decade.

Operating several clusters covering Ports, Economic Cities & Free Zones, Maritime, Logistics, and Digital, AD Ports Group’s portfolio comprises 10 ports and terminals and more than 550 square kilometres of economic zones within KIZAD and ZonesCorp, the largest integrated trade, logistics, and industrial business grouping in the Middle East.

Established in 2010 and operational since 2012, Kizad is a subsidiary of AD Ports Group, under its Economic Cities & Free Zones portfolio. Strategically located between Abu Dhabi and Dubai - with the deep-water Khalifa Port as its maritime gateway - Kizad is Abu Dhabi’s integrated trade, logistics and industrial hub facilitating sustainable growth in metals, polymers, food, automotive, water and oil and gas. Kizad is one of the world’s largest industrial zones, spanning across 410 square kilometres.