Abu dhabi: Abu Dhabi Airports' commercial free zone arm, Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone (ADAFZ), has signed landmark agreements with key players in Abu Dhabi's business ecosystem, Abu Dhabi Food Hub and Wio, the UAE's leading digital bank, during its participation at Make it in the Emirates (MIITE) 2026.
According to Emirates News Agency, ADAFZ manages one of the emirate's largest free zone land banks, spanning approximately 90 million sqm of gross land area across three strategic airport locations: Zayed International Airport (AUH), Al Bateen Executive Airport (AZI), and Al Ain International Airport (AAN). Home to more than 500 registered companies, ADAFZ offers a fully integrated, multi-sector business and logistics ecosystem with airside and landside access, bonded corridors, and a flexible regulatory framework that supports 100 percent foreign ownership and zero import or export duties.
Its portfolio includes the flagship strategic logistics hub at Al Falah, spanning 8.3 million sqm of prime land in close proximity to AUH, EMEA's fastest-growing mega airport; Logistics Park, a specialised 800,000 sqm zone that is already home to FedEx and DHL; and East Midfield Cargo Terminal (EMCT), a state-of-the-art 90,000 sqm facility that will handle 1.5 million tonnes of cargo annually when fully operational in 2027.
As a rapidly growing platform for industrial and manufacturing growth, ADAFZ's presence at MIITE coincided with a period of exceptional momentum in Abu Dhabi's non-oil economy. Latest figures from the Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi show that the emirate witnessed a record 36 percent increase in non-oil trade in 2025. This follows a 6.8 percent surge in non-oil GDP in the first nine months of 2025, with transport and storage growing 13.8 percent in the third quarter alone.
The first six months of the year also saw a nearly 50 percent increase in new business setups, highlighting Abu Dhabi's rapidly growing role in global trade and industrial development. Ahmed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, emphasized the strategic role of ADAFZ in this growth, stating that the zone's infrastructure and investment decisions are unlocking significant potential for industrial and trade businesses.
Key announcements at MIITE 2026 included the signing of an MoU with Wio Bank to cooperate on streamlining the opening of bank accounts for free zone companies, with joint onboarding and co-marketing benefits, as well as Wio becoming a preferred banking partner for ADAFZ clients. Additionally, an MoU with Abu Dhabi Food Hub was signed to collaborate on developing a central consolidation capability, enhancing logistics and trade ecosystems for food supply chains.
ADAFZ's participation at MIITE supports the acceleration of its offerings in front of manufacturers, industrial investors, and supply chain companies in Abu Dhabi and beyond.