UK’s Emtelle, KEZAD Group join hands to build $50m manufacturing facility

UK’s Emtelle has signed an agreement with Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD Group) to build a $50m production facility to manufacture fibre optic ducting and pre-connectorised solutions.

The facility will serve as Emtelle’s global hub for its fibre-optic network solutions. It is expected to provide the company with the opportunity to expand its manufacturing capacity of micro ducting, bundled ducting and pre-connectorised solutions.

Emtelle said that the production plant will be located on a 48,000 sqm land plot that will be leased under a build-to-suit agreement with KEZAD. The UK-based firm said opening a facility in Abu Dhabi will turbocharge its network deployment both in the Middle East region and globally.

“The introduction and opening of our new KEZAD manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi align perfectly with our strategic direction and keep us truly focused on what we deliver best. It significantly shortens the supply chains and guarantees both existing and new customers the security of supply,” said Tony Rodgers, the CEO of Emtelle Group.

Emtelle’s facility will export 95 per cent of its manufactured products globally, leveraging the end-to-end infrastructure presented to us by KEZAD.

Founded in 1980, Emtelle is one of the world’s biggest producers of fibre optic ducting and pre-connectorised solutions. The company operates manufacturing facilities in the UK, Germany, Denmark, Dubai and the US.

The deal with KEZAD is the latest step in Emtelle’s expansion strategy in the Middle East, following the acquisition and rebrand of AfriPipes Middle East in 2021.

We signed an agreement recently with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development to ensure a smooth exchange of information and expedite the development of industry-oriented programmes, such as land rebate incentives to help attract new industrial investment. pic.twitter.com/6M6tFlli69

— KEZAD Group (@kezadgroup) December 16, 2022

Emtelle comes to KEZAD

Meanwhile, The Emtelle facility is the second build-to-suit agreement that KEZAD Group has signed. The integrated and purpose-built economic zones operator and Dubai-based online retailer noon.com broke ground on the UAE’s largest fulfilment centre in November 2022.

The 252,000-square-metre fulfilment centre, which is being designed and developed by KIZAD under a build-to-suit agreement, is scheduled for delivery in 2024.

Read: KEZAD Group breaks ground on noon’s 252,000 sqm fulfilment centre

“The UAE has always been at the forefront of technological advancement in the region,” Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, the CEO of KEZAD Group said adding that the digital connectivity of the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region will be made in KEZAD.

Last September, KEZAD said it will construct a 25,000 square metre facility. This facility will be operated by NWTN for the manufacturing, research and development and vehicle testing of electric vehicles.

Under the agreement, NWTN’s operations initially will have an annual capacity of 5,000 to 10,0000 units of semi-knocked-down electric vehicles.

NWTN plans to introduce several new electric vehicle models and expand the capacity to 50,000 units annually.

Korean companies, Petrolyn Chemi join forces

Three South Korean companies, Korea Electric Power Corporation, Samsung C&T Corporation and Korea Western Power, also joined forces with the UAE’s Petrolyn Chemie to build a $1bn green hydrogen and ammonia production plant in KIZAD Industrial Area.

KEZAD is a subsidiary of AD Ports Group and its infrastructure and services span 12 economic zones located in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra Region covering a total area of 550km2 and includes more than 40 staff accommodation complexes under its subsidiary KEZAD Communities.

AD Ports merged KEZAD Communities with Al Eskan Al Jamae to develop to create Abu Dhabi’s largest integrated staff accommodation company with a combined equity value of approximately Dhs7bn.

Also read: AD Ports Group announces merger of KEZAD communities with Al Eskan Al Jamae

KEZAD Communities business traces its roots back to 2005 and it was previously operated under ZonesCorp.