Abu Dhabi has taken another step toward strengthening its position as a regional automotive manufacturing hub after Chinese automaker ROX began local production of its ADAMAS vehicles.
The company has completed its new Advanced AI Manufacturing Centre in Abu Dhabi, with the first three ADAMAS vehicles rolling off the production line carrying the “Made in the Emirates” mark. The development marks an important milestone in ROX’s plans to build a larger manufacturing and technology presence in the UAE.
New Manufacturing Centre Opens in Abu Dhabi
The facility is located within Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD) and covers approximately 10,000 square metres.
Beyond vehicle assembly, the centre can locally sub-assemble more than 80 types of vehicle components and includes facilities for calibration, rain testing, road testing and final vehicle inspection.
ROX says the facility will initially support production of around 20,000 vehicles annually in 2027, with plans to increase capacity significantly as operations expand.
Production Could Reach 300,000 Vehicles by 2030
ROX has set an ambitious long-term target for its Abu Dhabi manufacturing operations. The company plans to increase annual production capacity to as much as 300,000 vehicles by 2030.
The vehicles are expected to serve the UAE market while also supporting exports to other countries across the Middle East and international markets.
The scale-up is part of Abu Dhabi’s broader effort to attract advanced manufacturing projects and develop local industrial capabilities that can contribute to economic diversification.
AI and Technology at the Centre of the Strategy
The Abu Dhabi facility is not being positioned simply as an assembly plant. ROX is building a wider ecosystem around artificial intelligence, vehicle design, engineering and manufacturing.
The company has also established an AI Lab and Design Studio in Abu Dhabi. The AI Lab will support development of ROX’s AI platform, while the Design Studio brings together designers from the UAE, China and other markets.
ROX plans to unveil its first UAE-designed vehicle in March 2027, with the project expected to incorporate elements inspired by Emirati culture.
Supporting the UAE’s Industrial Strategy
The project is being developed in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and is supported by the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology under the Make it in the Emirates initiative.
The investment aligns with the UAE’s wider Operation 300Bn strategy, which aims to strengthen the country's industrial base, encourage technology-intensive manufacturing and increase the contribution of industry to the national economy.
For Abu Dhabi, attracting automotive manufacturing also means developing supporting supply chains, engineering capabilities and skilled jobs around the sector.
From Abu Dhabi to Global Markets
ROX sees Abu Dhabi as more than a production location. The company wants the emirate to become an important part of its global growth strategy.
The first locally manufactured ADAMAS vehicles will also be used in ROX’s second GRAND TOUR, travelling across several African countries before reaching Morocco. The company says the journey will showcase the capabilities of UAE-manufactured vehicles in different markets and conditions.
The start of ADAMAS production therefore represents more than the arrival of another vehicle assembly line. It reflects Abu Dhabi’s growing ambition to combine manufacturing, AI, design and global exports within one industrial ecosystem.
As ROX prepares to scale production and introduce its first UAE-designed vehicle next year, the project could become an important part of the emirate’s push to establish itself as a competitive destination for next-generation automotive manufacturing.
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