Abu Dhabi to Host One of the Region’s Largest Automotive Marketplaces at KIZAD

Partnership between AD Ports Group and Ghassan Aboud Group to establish a 3.3 sqkm Regional Auto Hub in KIZAD serving the automotive industry within the region and wider global markets

Abu Dhabi, UAE – March 31, 2022: 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 3.3 sqkm 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 free zone 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.