Eaton: Why New Dubai Manufacturing Hub is State-of-the-Art

Intelligent power management company Eaton has begun construction on a sustainable, advanced manufacturing and engineering centre in Dubai.

The facility, which opens in 2026 and will provide 700 jobs, will have centres for advanced manufacturing, engineering, customer experience, innovation and training.

Eaton says it will enhance its ability to make advanced electrical and electronic components critical for industries including data centres, commercial buildings and utilities across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The development is in partnership with the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), the flagship free zone of DP World, and will use 20 Industry 4.0 technologies and achieve LEED Gold certification.

Dubai commitment is underscored

Writing on LinkedIn, Eaton says the project is “transformative”, adding that it will “champion sustainability”.

Eaton says the 36,000 square metre factory “underscores Dubai’s commitment, as laid out in its D33 strategy, to high-tech industrial growth and its emergence as a global hub for manufacturing and innovation”.

It adds: “The multi-million-dollar investment will create over 700 jobs, including highly skilled research, engineering and advanced manufacturing positions to further support Eaton customer needs across Europe, Middle East and Africa.”

Safe, sustainable and efficient

Eaton CEO Paulo Ruiz is excited about the development, which he says lines up with the aims of Eaton and the Dubai government.

Paulo says: “Our latest advanced, sustainable manufacturing facility and engineering centre will further enable Eaton to meet the growing demand to deliver power safely, sustainably and efficiently across the region and beyond.

“We are proud to work alongside DP World and Jafza to align with the Dubai government’s vision of accelerating sustainable industrial growth in the region, positioning the nation as a global leader in advanced manufacturing and innovation.”

Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation, the economic development arm of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, says: “Eaton’s investment reinforces Dubai’s emergence as a global centre for advanced manufacturing, powered by high-skilled talent, R&D investment and next-generation automated factories,” said His Excellency.”

He adds: “We welcome the continued confidence shown by global manufacturing champions like Eaton, reflecting the opportunities Dubai provides through world-class infrastructure, a pro-business environment and exceptional talent, building a future-ready industrial ecosystem that positions Dubai at the forefront of global innovation.”

The facility’s design reflects Eaton’s, Jafza’s and Dubai’s “ambitious, shared sustainability objectives, incorporating renewable energy technologies and energy-efficient processes”, Eaton adds.

Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and MD, DP World GCC, highlights Jafza’s role in driving Dubai’s industrial growth.

He says: “We’re proud to welcome Eaton to Jafza as part of Dubai’s push to lead in advanced manufacturing.

“The sector contributed over AED 37.6 billion dirhams to GDP in 2024 and with the Dubai Industrial Strategy targeting a US$5bn industrial boost by 2030, projects like this are essential.

“Jafza’s infrastructure and connectivity will help Eaton drive efficiency, innovation and sustainability.”

All about Eaton

Eaton was founded in 1911 and has continuously evolved to meet the needs of its market.

It describes itself as “an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere”.

Eaton makes products for the data centre, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets.

Its 2024 revenue was nearly US$25bn and the company serves customers in more than 160 countries. 

It says: “By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalisation, we’re helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come.”

All about Jafza

Jafza is one of the world’s leading free trade zones and is home to 10,890 multinational companies.

It sustains the employment of more than 135,000 people in the United Arab Emirates.    

Strategically located at the crossroads of a region providing market access to over 3.5 billion people, Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone is an integrated multi-modal hub with sea, air and land connectivity, complemented by extensive logistics facilities. ‎

It says about itself: “Jafza is the leading business hub between Asia, Europe and Africa, connecting some of the fastest-growing manufacturing and consumer markets globally.

“In addition to quality-driven value-added services and incentives, Jafza is a business opportunity enabler, offering its customers easy and efficient access to substantial business opportunities in the region.”