Ducab celebrates 40 years of excellence in industrial manufacturing

Dubai Cable (Ducab), a leading manufacturer of high-quality cables in the region, is marking 40 years in service. 

Ducab, jointly owned by Investment Corporation of Dubai and Abu Dhabi General Holding Corp (Senaat), was inaugurated by the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum on 24 November 1979, with its first facility located in Jebel Ali and staffed by 86 employees.

Over four decades, Ducab has expanded in parallel with the UAE’s wider investments in industrial manufacturing, guided by the Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030 and the Abu Dhabi 2030 vision. With over 1,600 employees, Ducab today comprises four business units with six manufacturing facilities across four sites in the UAE. 

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, congratulated Ducab for its contributions to the UAE’s economic development over the last four decades. His Highness also praised the company’s role in supporting national economic diversification and expanding the reach of the UAE’s products across the world. He said the company is a role model in maintaining the highest international quality standards in industrial manufacturing.

“Since its establishment 40 years ago by the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Ducab’s exceptional growth and achievements have mirrored the UAE’s economic development. By providing the highest quality of products and services, the company contributes to the country’s reputation for excellence in international markets.”

His Highness underlined the important role industrial manufacturing plays in the UAE’s broader diversification strategy. "The industrial sector is a key pillar of our future strategy and ambitious development plans. The wealth of qualified human resources we have increases our confidence in the UAE’s ability to excel globally in this area and maintain a high rank in global industrial competitiveness indicators,” he added.  

Last year, Ducab’s sales rose to AED4.8 billion with over AED2.5 billion in exports. By staying at the forefront of global quality standards and pursuing its own R&D agenda, Ducab has also grown from only supporting UAE businesses to now serving customers worldwide in the fields of energy, general construction, defense, rail transport, mining, and other specialist industry sectors. Today, Ducab exports around 60% of its production across business units to 33 countries in the wider Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Overall exports sales have more than quadrupled in the last two decades.

With investments across state-of-the-art facilities in the UAE, Ducab is rapidly expanding its local production and support infrastructure. The company supplies cables and rods for some of the UAE’s largest projects such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and the Barakah nuclear power plant. 

Ducab, which expects its sales in 2019 to grow by 7% from last year to reach AED5.35 billion, is also exploring manufacturing bases in the region as it looks to capitalise on the Middle East's growing wind, solar and nuclear energy markets. The company is looking at opportunities in Iraq, Syria, North Africa, East Africa and India, to tap significant demand for cables in these regions. 

His Excellency Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, CEO and Executive Director of Investment Corporation of Dubai, said: “The UAE’s economic evolution over the past four decades has brought enormous value not only to people within the country, but also to the world. Within this time, Ducab has made significant contributions to our nation’s industrial capabilities and has been, as a result of the ongoing strategic cooperation between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, a main catalyst in diversifying the national economy.”

His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Rashed Al Hameli, Chairman of Senaat, said: “Optimizing our nation’s natural resources is essential as we move into the future. By championing new ideas and opening up strategic partnerships in the manufacturing field, Ducab has helped to elevate UAE industrial products on a global scale.”  Eng. Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Senaat, said “This fits with the industrial mandate of UAE as the group strives to establish its footprint across multiple sectors and geographies. It is indeed a very proud moment for all of us to take the industrial sector of UAE to the global market as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Ducab.”

Dr. Ahmad Bin Hassan Al Shaikh, Chairman of Ducab, said: “As a landmark cooperation between the governments of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Ducab has been able to thrive over the last forty years, and we will continue to foster the best talent, technologies, and standards within the UAE manufacturing landscape.”