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Qatar Development Bank unveiled the Advanced Manufacturing Hub known as Manarat: Qatar’s Gateway to Industry 4.0, Smart Manufacturing in partnership with the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Qatar News Agency reported. The initiative provides 16 plug-and-play factory units in the New Industrial Area and opens applications for technology-focused manufacturers seeking to scale operations with integrated advisory services, financing and export support. Officials positioned the project as a key element in building an integrated ecosystem that promotes automation, artificial intelligence and digital systems to enhance productivity across the sector.
According to a statement from the bank, Manarat targets companies with a Smart Industry Readiness Index score of at least 2.0 that demonstrate readiness for high-tech production while excluding trading, warehousing, low-tech labor-intensive or packaging-only operations. The assessment process involves two stages, beginning with eligibility and technical evaluation before examining commercial viability, a Qatar Development Bank release distributed via official channels indicated. Successful applicants gain access to the facilities along with specialized programs aimed at accelerating their transition to smart manufacturing models.
Dr. Abdulaziz Khalid Al Ali, Director of the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution at the Ministry of Finance, described the launch as a major step towards stimulating innovation and elevating the competitiveness of Qatar’s industrial sector through the smart infrastructure and standards it provides. His comments, carried by Qatar News Agency, aligned the project with global efforts supported by the World Economic Forum to advance Industry 4.0 adoption. Abdulla Ghanim Al Maadeed, Director of the Industrial Development Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, added that the hub creates fertile ground for automation and advanced technologies in line with national priorities.
Hamad Salem Mejegheer, Executive Director of SME Development at Qatar Development Bank, emphasized that Manarat represents the first industrial complex of its kind in the country and advances the Qatar National Manufacturing Strategy 2024-2030 by expanding the share of non-hydrocarbon GDP and localizing production. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry placed cumulative investment in the industrial sector at QR 248.44 billion in the second quarter of 2026, with 11 new factories beginning production during that period. The World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network, which includes a Qatar site that boosted throughput by 9 percent and cut emissions by 7 percent through Fourth Industrial Revolution solutions, offers a benchmark for the hub’s participants, a forum report noted.
The hub prioritizes strategically important sectors that rely heavily on technology, primarily medical devices, pharmaceuticals, electronics and telecommunications, robotics, and chemicals as well as closely related industries, according to the bank’s published criteria. By combining physical infrastructure with ecosystem enablement, Manarat aims to help both local and international investors move from pilot stages to full-scale smart production. Qatar Development Bank noted that the name, meaning lighthouses in Arabic, reflects the goal of establishing tenant facilities as role models for operational excellence in the region.
Applications for the units are open through the bank’s dedicated portal, with support extending beyond occupancy to include guidance on digital integration and market expansion opportunities. The project builds on earlier ready-built factory programs but maintains a strict focus on high-tech activities that incorporate significant automation and innovation, a QDB assessment found. This approach addresses gaps in the manufacturing landscape by fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration with international partners including the World Economic Forum center.
