Yes - cars are now being made in the UAE. I can point to one clear case: ROX opened its 10,000 sq m factory in KEZAD, Abu Dhabi, and started building the ADAMAS there in September 2026.
If you want the short version, here it is:
ROX began UAE production on 3 September 2026
The factory officially opened on 6 September 2026
The site handles 80+ component types, plus assembly, calibration, rain testing, road testing, and final checks
Each vehicle gets the "Made in the Emirates" mark
ROX is aiming for 20,000 vehicles a year by 2027 and 300,000 by 2030
The project is linked to UAE industry plans and a stated AED 30 billion GDP contribution by 2030
The next step is the ADAMAS Abu Dhabi Edition, due in March 2027, which ROX says will be its first UAE-designed model
So this is not just a site that fits imported parts together at the end. I see it as a factory with local production work, testing in Abu Dhabi conditions, and design work happening on site too.
A few points stand out to me:
Production is already live, not just planned
Testing happens in Abu Dhabi, including rain and road tests
17 components use polyolefin materials from Borouge International in the UAE
Two of the first UAE-built vehicles were sent on a long test drive across about 12 African countries
The factory has support tied to KEZAD Group, ADIO, and MoIAT
This gives you the main answer straight away: the ADAMAS is one of the first clear examples of a car made in the Emirates at a live Abu Dhabi factory. The rest of the piece explains what that means in practice, how far local work goes, and what ROX plans next.
Inside ROX's 10,000 sq m factory in KEZAD
ROX's Advanced AI Manufacturing Centre in KEZAD is already building the ADAMAS in Abu Dhabi. This is what car-making in the UAE looks like on the ground. And it runs like a full manufacturing line, not just a final-assembly setup.
What happens on the production line
The line covers sub-assembly, assembly, testing, and final inspection. Each ADAMAS is assembled, tested, and inspected in Abu Dhabi before delivery. That includes calibration, rain testing, and road testing in Abu Dhabi conditions.
An AI robot applies the "Made in the Emirates" mark to each vehicle.
Why this is more than basic assembly
The bigger shift is what sits behind the line. This is not only about putting parts together.
Seventeen ADAMAS components are produced using polyolefin materials from UAE-based Borouge International. The site also brings together an on-site AI Lab and Design Studio, where AI work and vehicle design happen next to physical production. So more of the job stays inside the UAE.
Assembly-only operations versus ROX's Abu Dhabi factory: a comparison
Feature | Assembly-Only Operations | ROX Abu Dhabi AI Manufacturing Centre |
|---|---|---|
Localisation depth | Final fitting of pre-built imported kits | Sub-assembly of 80+ component types on-site |
Testing stages | Basic functional checks | Calibration, rain testing and road testing in Abu Dhabi conditions |
R&D integration | Handled at global HQ | On-site AI Lab and Design Studio |
How the ADAMAS became one of the first cars made in the Emirates
ROX ADAMAS: UAE Car Manufacturing Milestones 2026–2030
Key dates: from factory launch to first UAE-built ADAMAS units
Once the factory opened, the next big step was simple: build the first ADAMAS units in Abu Dhabi.
ROX started ADAMAS production on 3 September 2026 at its 10,000 sq m KEZAD factory in Abu Dhabi.
Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
3 September 2026 | First three ADAMAS units completed with the "Made in the Emirates" mark |
6 September 2026 | Official factory opening ceremony at KEZAD, Abu Dhabi |
September 2026 | Two UAE-built units sent on the Grand Tour testing drive across approximately 12 African countries |
That first batch didn’t sit on display. Two of the first UAE-built units went straight into Grand Tour Season 2, a testing drive across about 12 African countries to collect real-world performance data.
What local production means in practical terms
In plain terms, local production here means the ADAMAS is sub-assembled from more than 80 component types and then fully assembled, calibrated, rain-tested, road-tested, and inspected in Abu Dhabi before delivery.
The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology said the start of ROX ADAMAS production shows the UAE can localise advanced manufacturing, design, R&D, and AI.
So the first UAE-built units weren’t just for show. They gave a clear on-the-ground sign that the process was up and running. The next issue is scale.
ROX's production targets and the UAE industrial plan behind them
What the 2027 and 2030 production targets show
The first UAE-built ADAMAS units are already moving through the line. So now the focus shifts from launch to scale.
ROX is aiming for 20,000 vehicles a year by 2027 and 300,000 by 2030, in line with Operation 300bn - the UAE plan to lift the industrial sector’s GDP contribution to AED 300 billion. Those targets don’t point to a small assembly setup. They point to Abu Dhabi being built up for high-volume vehicle production.
How KEZAD, ADIO, and the Ministry support this project
That ramp-up depends on support from three main players.
KEZAD Group is providing the 10,000 sq m site and the industrial base needed for sub-assembly across more than 80 component types. ADIO is backing the push to localise supply chains, technology, and design. At the same time, MoIAT is supporting the project through Make it in the Emirates and the broader effort to grow In-Country Value and Emirati talent in advanced manufacturing.
Current output versus 2030 goal: a comparison
Stage | Output / Target | What it means for the Abu Dhabi plant |
|---|---|---|
Current (September 2026) | First three ADAMAS vehicles completed | Assembly, calibration, rain testing, road testing, and final inspection |
Short-term (2027) | 20,000 vehicles annually | Domestic demand and early regional supply |
Long-term (2030) | 300,000 vehicles annually | Full-scale export hub and integrated supply chain |
The next milestone is the March 2027 Abu Dhabi Edition.
What comes next: the ADAMAS Abu Dhabi Edition and UAE-designed cars
Why the Abu Dhabi Edition marks a new step
ROX has already shown it can build cars in Abu Dhabi. Now it’s moving into something bigger: design.
The next phase isn’t only about making vehicles in the UAE. It’s about shaping them there from the start. The ADAMAS Abu Dhabi Edition, due in March 2027, will be ROX’s first UAE-designed model.
This model is the first project from the ROX Design Studio in Abu Dhabi. It was developed with the Design Commission – Abu Dhabi and Al Khaznah Leathers. The design takes cues from Khoos, the Emirati palm-frond weaving craft, which gives the car a clear local identity.
That change matters. It shifts the story from local manufacturing to Emirati-led design.
Conclusion: what this case study shows about cars made in the UAE
ROX already makes the ADAMAS in Abu Dhabi. The March 2027 Abu Dhabi Edition is the next move towards a UAE-designed model.
FAQs
How much of the ADAMAS is actually made in the UAE?
The ADAMAS is built at a dedicated Advanced AI Manufacturing Centre in KEZAD, Abu Dhabi. This goes well beyond a small assembly setup, with most of the vehicle’s build happening on-site.
That includes sub-assembly of 80+ component types, along with full vehicle assembly, calibration, and testing. The site also uses locally sourced materials, including advanced polyolefins across 17 vehicle components.
Does "Made in the Emirates" mean full manufacturing or mainly assembly?
Here, Made in the Emirates means more than just final bolt-together assembly.
At ROX’s Abu Dhabi factory, the work goes much deeper. The site sub-assembles more than 80 component types and also handles full vehicle assembly, calibration, rain and road testing, and final inspection on site.
When will ROX launch its first UAE-designed car?
ROX plans to launch its first UAE-designed vehicle, the ADAMAS Abu Dhabi Edition, in March 2027.
The model is being developed by the company’s local design studio. Its styling draws from Khoos, the Emirati craft of weaving palm fronds, giving the vehicle a look shaped by a familiar local art form.
