UAE’s largest operators of purpose-built economic zones, ZonesCorp has signed an agreement with Block 7 Investments, a joint venture between EFire Capital Holdings of Abu Dhabi and Serba Dinamik Holdings Berhad of Malaysia in order to establish a new research and innovation hub in the emirate.
The Block 7 Innovation Hub, which will cover an area of 820,000 square meters in the heart of the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD), will contain a variety of dedicated IT facilities, smart office complexes, exhibition centers, as well as retail and entertainment spaces.
Block 7 is designed to function as a breeding ground for innovation-driven industries with ultra-modern infrastructure, robust facilities, and a unique setup that links intelligent living space leveraging ZonesCorp’s established manufacturing ecosystem and serves as a forum for tech start-ups.
According to the company statement, the development of the Block 7 Innovation Hub will take advantage of ZonesCorp’s Advanced Manufacturing Cluster, a leading regional manufacturing hub that will also service the biopharma, environmental technologies, mobility, and ICT sectors amongst others.
Abdullah Al Hameli, Head of the Industrial Cities and Free Zone Cluster at Abu Dhabi Ports said, “The announcement of the Block 7 Innovation Hub development in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi marks a key milestone in the emirate’s progressive efforts to position Abu Dhabi as a world-leading hub for innovation.”
“In line with the leadership’s vision to foster a sustainable economy driven by innovation, the Innovation Hub’s promise of intelligent living will complement Abu Dhabi’s industrial strength and create numerous opportunities for coming generations of youth to venture into some of the world’s most transformative industrial fields,” he further added.
Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed CEO – ZonesCorp
“Our collaboration with Block 7 is in line with ZonesCorp’s strategy of developing Abu Dhabi as an industrial and innovation hub. Leveraging ZonesCorp’s growing industrial ecosystem, this project will not only deliver ground-breaking concepts and solutions for the benefit of the global manufacturing industry but will also showcase how we can combine technology, innovation, and the human element within a single environment. This project fits well with our existing plans to advance Abu Dhabi’s industrial and manufacturing sectors bringing R&D, education, and technology to the world as well as a model for others to emulate.”
“We trust that this project will be a catalyst for sustainable development in Abu Dhabi, serving the demand from the Middle East, Europe, Central Asia, United States, China, and African countries. This project will fulfill Abu Dhabi’s aspiration to foster economic growth through advanced manufacturing and innovation patents,” commented Dato’ Dr. Ir. Mohd Abdul Karim Bin Abdullah of Serba Dinamik International Ltd and Block 7 Investments LLC.
