Textile Industry in UAE

August 13, 2019 Middle East and Africa, Textile World, UAE

The textile industry is immense and affects all countries around the globe. This lesson discusses how the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become a part of this industry. UAE Textile Industry is second largest industry after oil in UAE.

Did you know that babies are constantly surrounded by textiles? Their clothes, shoes, diapers, blankets, and even car seats are all considered textiles. Textiles are products made from fiber, filaments, thread, and yarn, all of which make this industry a massive one.

There are two categories in textiles, conventional textiles, which represent clothing, rugs, and aesthetically pleasing products, and technical textiles, which are functional items such as air filters, conveyor belts, and seat belts.

Countries all around the globe are involved in textiles, whether by growing the natural materials, scientifically creating the raw materials, creating and making fabric, or creating the end products.

Another aspect of the textile industry that has become important is the hub for shipping products. This means that when China makes their ready-to-wear clothing, they pack it up and ship it to another country, that country then assesses the packaging, repacks as needed, and ships the package off to the end destination. This is an aspect in the process that the UAE has become involved in.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a large textile industry, although it is not advertised or marketed. They make products such as child safety seats, curtains, luggage, and some high end fashion for local purchase. However, their best selling textile are woven goods like knitwear. This industry has become so large in the country that textiles are only behind oil for income and employment.

Although the UAE sells to over 50 countries, they also have a large customer base domestically. In cities like Dubai, the local male consumer has become intrinsic to the growth of the high fashion industry.

Additionally, the UAE has garnered a lot of business from other countries moving their base of operation to Fujairah, an area in the UAE. Fujairah is called a ”free zone”, which means that companies located there are not required to pay taxes or pay any fees for repatriotization.

This is something that brought many companies and people into the UAE, which adds a larger customer base for their garments and textiles. In 2012, the UAE took advantage of this area and its growing population to add its own large textile mill. The size of this mill is larger than any other mill in the Middle East, and the employees wear roller skates to get around quickly and efficiently.

The United Arab Emirates has several advantages currently. The first is their location; due to their locality they have become a shipping hub for other countries’ textile industries.

This has created more business for them and created a good network for other trade. Secondly, the UAE has some areas where there are good economies and many customers with money to spend on their products. Due to tax breaks and other perks, many countries have moved businesses to the UAE, creating a larger customer base.