2026 MIITE Awards

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The Make it in the Emirates Awards is one of MoIAT’s key initiatives, recognising excellence and innovation in the industrial sector. It celebrates the pioneers, visionaries, and game-changers that are shaping the future of industry in the UAE and beyond. 

The awards support the UAE’s transformation to becoming a global hub for manufacturing and innovation.

1. A national platform that recognises leading manufacturers and strengthens ecosystem collaboration  connecting industry, investors, enablers, and innovation partners

2. Inspires manufacturers by showcasing UAE industrial champions locally and globally.

3. Acts as the annual national barometer for industrial excellence, Industrial growth, Industry 4.0 adoption, quality and youth.

Award Category Section

The "Riyada" Tech Frontier Award

Advanced Technology & Industry 4.0

Quality & Compliance Award

Standards & Quality

National Industrial Growth Award

Industrial Growth, Enablement & National Value Creation

Next-generation industrial leaders

UAE Youth Innovators under 35

Inspirational industrial leaders

UAE Industrial Leader above 35

2026 Timeline

Jan 29, 2026
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Approve Categories & Launch Digital Platform

Jan 29, 2026
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Outreach & Call for Applications

Jan 29, 2026
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Screening & Technical Review

Jan 29, 2026
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Final interview & Jury Endorsement

Senior Jury of the Awards

Ministers/Secretary Generals

H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri
Minister
Ministry of Economy and Tourism
H.E.  Thani Al Zeyoudi
Minister
Ministry of Foreign Trade
H.E. Shamma Al Mazrui
Minister
Ministry of Community Empowerment
H.E. Faisal Al Bannai
Secretary General
Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC)

Government & Semi-government Sector/Strategic Partnerships

H.E. Khalfan Belhoul
Chief Executive Officer
The Dubai Future Foundation
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi
Chairperson
Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP)
Badr Jafar
Special Envoy for Business and Philanthropy
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
H.E. Amina Ahmed Mohammed
Chief Executive Officer
Emirates International Acceditation Centre

International/Industrial

Tahar Kerkeni
Lead, Next Generation Industrial Operating Systems
World Economic Forum
Hanan Hanzaz
Chief, Regional Bureau for the Arab States
UNIDO
Representative from ISO
Representative
International Organization for Standardization

Private Sector/Research Institutes

Professor Eric Xing
President
MBZUAI
Dr. Najwa Aaraj
Chief Executive Officer
Technology Innovation Institute

Executive Team Structure

Governance

H.E. Osama Amir Fadhel
Assistant Undersecretary of Industry Accelerators Sector
Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology
H.E.  Salama Alawadhi
Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Growth
Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology
H.E. Dr. Farah AlZarooni
Assistant Undersecretary for Standardization Affairs Sector
Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology
H.E. Ibtisam Ali Alsaadi
Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Industrial Development Sector
Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology
Maitha Kolthoum
Director of Strategy and Future Department
Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
Omar Al Braiki
Vice President for Strategic Relations Management
ADNOC Group

Technical Leads

Mahaba Al Saleh
Head of Technology Development Section
Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology
Shamma Al Ansari
Director of Industrial Empowerment Department
Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
Ahlam Ali AlMarzooqi
Director of Conformity Affairs Department
Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology
Asma Al Abdooli
Strategy
Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology
Shamma Alhosani
Industrial Engineer
Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology

Advisory & Overall Execution

Fatma Essa AlMheiri
Director of Technology Adoption and Development
Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology
Anca Westley
Industrial Partnerships and Investment Department
Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology
Rayah Al-Dmour
Principal Project Manager
Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
Fatma Al Falasi
Investment Specialist
Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology