• The project will create approximately 700 jobs including highly skilled research, engineering, and advanced manufacturing positions.
  • The 500,000 square feet, sustainable facility will be ready to welcome Eaton teams in 2026.

Dubai, UAE – Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) and Eaton, a global intelligent power management company, today signed an agreement to build a new sustainable campus, bringing together Eaton’s Dubai-based commercial, manufacturing, and support functions while providing capacity for growth in the future.

The project will extend Eaton’s research, engineering, and manufacturing capacity and aims to significantly boost Dubai's capabilities in the advanced manufacturing of electrical and electronic components that are required to deliver safe and efficient power for several industries including data centres, buildings, and solar energy.

The construction of the facility, covering more than 500,000 square feet, will begin in 2025 and is expected to be completed in 2026. The manufacturing capability will be complemented by a new R&D facility to house a state-of-the-art centre dedicated to sustainable manufacturing, power management, machine learning, AI, and other related fields. The project will create approximately 700 jobs, ranging from high-skilled engineering roles to advanced manufacturing positions. 

The campus will leverage sustainable technology and demonstrate how commercial and industrial buildings can play an important role in the energy transition. The manufacturing centre will be fully digitally enabled, using automation, analytics, and advanced robotics to enhance production processes, fully embracing Industry 4.0 principles. It will set a benchmark for sustainable buildings and advanced manufacturing in the region.

The signing ceremony took place at Jafza in Dubai, attended by His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of DP World, Craig Arnold, Chairman and CEO of Eaton, and senior management from both companies.  

Speaking at the signing ceremony, H.E. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said: “This strategic partnership with Eaton is a significant advancement in our efforts to develop smart manufacturing facilities in Jafza, directly supporting Dubai's D33 strategy.  We aim to further strengthen Dubai’s standing as a global leader in high-tech and automated manufacturing. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to generate a substantial impact on the UAE’s economy, contribute towards the transition to sustainable energy and provide valuable opportunities for young Emiratis." 

Craig Arnold, Chairman and CEO, Eaton, added: “This new partnership with DP World and Jafza underscores our commitment to growth in the region, and supports Dubai’s D33 transformation to position the city as a leader in high-tech manufacturing and innovation.  Our efforts are pivotal in promoting green and sustainable manufacturing through smart factory initiatives and increasing our R&D capability. This will drive the continued development of Emirati talent, and help our customers and partners achieve a sustainable energy transition.”  

For DP World media enquiries, please contact:
Jack Rigby
Director Corporate Communications
jack.rigby@dpworld.com

About Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza)

Jafza is one of the world’s leading free trade zones and is home to over 10,000 multinational companies. Jafza accounts for a significant FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) flow ‎into Dubai, sustaining the employment of more than 135,000 people in the United Arab Emirates.

Strategically located at the crossroads of a region providing market access to over 3.5 billion people, Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone create an integrated multi-modal hub offering sea, air and land connectivity, complemented by extensive logistics facilities. ‎

Jafza is the leading business hub between Asia, Europe and Africa, connecting some of the fastest-growing manufacturing and consumer markets globally. With over 30 years’ experience, Jafza focuses on long-term customer relationships, building alliances with global investors and providing world-class infrastructure and support. In addition to quality-driven value-added services and incentives, Jafza is a business opportunity enabler, offering its customers easy and efficient access to substantial business opportunities in the region.

About Eaton

Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy sources, helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges, and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come.

Eaton was founded in 1911 and has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange for more than a century. We reported revenues of $23.2 billion in 2023 and serve customers in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.