QDB unveils Advanced Manufacturing Hub 'Manarat' in Qatar

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has launched Manarat, an Advanced Manufacturing Hub designed to accelerate adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies and to cluster manufacturers and technology adopters within a single industrial ecosystem. The initiative — developed in partnership with the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry — opened applications for 16 ready-built factory units located in Qatar’s New Industrial Area. QDB says Manarat will couple physical infrastructure with advisory, financing and export support to attract domestic manufacturers and international investors focused on advanced manufacturing.

“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 specialized knowledge locally, reflecting our belief that investing in advanced manufacturing is a key pillar in strengthening Qatar’s position as a leading regional hub for industrial innovation and enabling our factories to join the WEF’s Global Lighthouse Network,” said Dr. Hamad Salem Mejegheer, QDB’s Executive Director of SME Development.

Manarat is positioned as a purpose-built cluster to boost technology-driven manufacturing across strategically important sectors. The complex provides 16 turnkey factory units and is supported by QDB’s suite of services — advisory assistance, financing solutions and export support — aimed at helping tenants scale production, commercialise advanced manufacturing processes and integrate digital and automation technologies.

Dr. Abdulaziz Khalid Al-Ali, Director of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) at the Ministry of Finance, framed Manarat as a strategic move to raise competitiveness through smart infrastructure and standards. “The announcement of 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 World Economic Forum to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies,” he said.

Abdulla Ghanim Al-Maadeed, Director of the Industrial Development Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, described the hub as central to national industrial policy and digital transformation. “The Ministry of Commerce and Industry 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. 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,” Al-Maadeed added.

Eligibility for Manarat targets manufacturers in technology-led fields. Applications are evaluated in two stages: an initial assessment of eligibility requirements and technical readiness, followed by a second-stage evaluation of technical and commercial viability of proposed projects. The hub specifically targets sectors including:

• Medical devices
• Pharmaceuticals
• Electronics and telecommunications
• Robotics
• Chemicals
• Other related advanced manufacturing industries

By combining physical factory space with financial and advisory support, QDB intends Manarat to act as an extension of its broader industrial strategy: accelerating economic diversification, building local knowledge capacity and preparing manufacturers for global Industry 4.0 benchmarks. The initiative is explicitly tied to national objectives under the Qatar National Manufacturing Strategy 2024–2030 and aims to attract both local and international partners to strengthen industrial value chains and promote specialised expertise inside Qatar.