01/10/2026 05:36 AST
Qatar Development Bank (QDB) launched the Advanced Manufacturing Hub (Manarat) to accelerate the adoption of advanced technology solutions and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies by next-generation factories in the country.
Speaking at a press conference Wednesday, Dr Hamad Salem Mejegheer, executive director of SME Development at QDB, emphasised that Manarat is the first industrial complex of its kind in Qatar.
Mejegheer explained that Manarat advances Qatar's national vision for a highly developed industrial sector by fostering an integrated manufacturing ecosystem that promotes the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies and smart infrastructure, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
QDB's announcement Wednesday was held in partnership with the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI).
On the sidelines of the event, Dr Abdulla Hamad al-Qahtani, senior manager of Manufacturing Hub at QDB, told Gulf Times that applications are now open for tech-driven companies to occupy a new 16-unit industrial complex in the New Industrial Area.
According to al-Qahtani, Manarat or "lighthouses," reflects the centre's ambition for its factories to become role models in advanced manufacturing and operational excellence, positioning them to join the WEF's Global Lighthouse Network, one of the world's leading benchmarks for industrial transformation.
Through Manarat, QDB seeks to bring together Qatar-based manufacturers, companies adopting advanced technologies, and international investors to exchange knowledge and expertise while strengthening industrial value chains within a unified ecosystem that fosters growth and innovation. QDB also provides Manarat factories with comprehensive support, including advisory services, financing, and export solutions.
Mejegheer said Manarat represents a significant step forward in QDB's journey towards building a more developed, sustainable, and competitive industrial sector, in line with the Qatar National Manufacturing Strategy 2024-2030, which seeks to increase the manufacturing sector's contribution to non-hydrocarbon GDP, support the localisation of production, and create specialised jobs in advanced technology.
"Through this industrial complex, we are working with our partners to empower companies to accelerate their growth, expand production capacities, attract global expertise, and enrich specialised knowledge locally," he added.
Dr Abdulaziz Khalid al-Ali, C4IR director, said: "Manarat is a major step towards stimulating innovation and elevating the competitiveness of Qatar's industrial sector through the smart infrastructure and standards it provides, which align with global efforts supported by the WEF to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies."
Abdulla Ghanim al-Maadeed, director of the Industrial Development Department at MoCI, said the ministry is working to accelerate digital transformation across the industrial sector, enhance factories' digital readiness, and encourage the adoption of automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced digital solutions to improve production efficiency and strengthen the competitiveness of national industries.
He added: "Manarat supports these efforts by expanding the adoption of advanced technologies and facilitating the exchange of knowledge and expertise, in line with the objectives of the Qatar National Manufacturing Strategy 2024-2030. Cumulative investment in the industrial sector reached QR248.44bn in the second quarter of 2026."
According to QDB, Manarat targets technology-driven, strategically important manufacturing fields, primarily medical devices, pharmaceuticals, electronics and telecommunications, robotics, and chemicals, alongside other related industries.
Applications are assessed in two main stages: the first focuses on eligibility requirements and technical readiness, while the second evaluates the technical and commercial viability of the proposed projects.
Gulf Times
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