DIP attracts world-class armoured vehicles manufacturers to UAE

Dubai Investments Park [DIP], the largest integrated commercial, industrial & residential community in the Middle East and wholly-owned by Dubai Investments PJSC [DI], is emerging as the preferred manufacturing hub for world-class armoured vehicles, with more and more companies setting up base within the business park.

As on date, four leading armoured vehicles manufacturers from across the world, which includes Inkas Vehicles LLC, Mezcal Security Vehicles, Shell Armored Vehicles LLC and Saxon Armor, are operational within DIP – producing a total of 1,600 armoured vehicles every year.

Some of these companies are fast expanding their presence with additional manufacturing units within DIP, even as the Middle East and North Africa registers sharp growth in the armoured vehicles sector. This growth and expansion comes amidst a surge in the global armoured vehicles market, which is projected to reach $28.62 billion by 2019 with the primary drivers being the Middle East, North Africa and Asian markets.

As the regional market evolves, Inkas Vehicles LLC – one of the world’s leading manufacturers of quality armoured transport and special purpose vehicles and based in DIP, is set to reinforce its leadership with another manufacturing facility in the business park. Built at an investment of AED 55 million, Inkas’ new facility will be the biggest-of-its-kind in the region, spread across 159,700 square feet within DIP 2.

The new facility will be the Inkas’ second plant within DIP. Inkas currently operates a 110,000 square feet manufacturing factory, producing over 1,000 quality armoured transport, executive SUVs, armoured cars, luxury sedans and special purpose military vehicles every year, and catering to the UAE and exported to Middle East, North America, North Africa & Asian markets.

The surge of armoured vehicles manufacturing within DIP is a result of a number of strategic advantages on offer within the park for the sector, which includes world-class logistics, manufacturing and storage facilities, and close proximity to Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport.

Omar Al Mesmar, General Manager of DIP, said: “Over the last 17 years, our endeavour at Dubai Investments Park is centered on supporting UAE’s GDP by attracting big businesses to our business park. These include some of the leading names across a wide array of sectors. Apart from world-class logistics, DIP offers business-friendly environment and proximity to key transit points for exports. These are the key requirements for the armoured vehicles manufacturing which is evident in the growing number of companies in the sector within DIP.”

Ulugbekhon Maksumov, CEO of Inkas Vehicles, said: “DIP offers a unique infrastructure that is tailored for the armoured vehicles industry. At present, Inkas is manufacturing 1,000 vehicles annually at our existing plant within DIP, and this will be augmented to 1,600 vehicles with the new factory. Certified by recognized ballistics laboratories worldwide, Inkas armoured vehicles ensure 100% compliance with the world standards, and we aim to further build on our market leadership with the new facility. We expect sales of AED 1.2 billion in the coming two years.”

Accommodating the production of up to 50 vehicles per month in the UAE, 40 vehicles in Canada and 20 vehicles from an additional service workshop, Inkas is accustomed to turning around large orders in limited timeframes with its superior engineering and design capabilities.

Since its inception, DIP – the torchbearer in the development and management of business parks in the region, has attracted over 3,500 companies across a wide array of sectors, offering a range of medium to light industries across aluminium, steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, plastics, oil & gas, construction, building materials and contracting sectors.