Dubai Industrial City attracts 212 new companies in 2012

Dubai Industrial City, a member of TECOM Investments, attracted 212 new companies during 2012 marking an increase of 82 per cent in the number of new companies that opted to use the various industrial real estate services and facilities on offer by the leading industrial destination in Dubai, as companies in DI grew from 259 to 471 during the 12 months period. Dubai Industrial City, which is one of the largest specialised hubs in light to medium manufacturing sectors in Dubai, has also witnessed a growing demand for industrial land, as a growing number of industrial investors such as Othman Mohamed Sharif, Al Barakh Dates Factory, and Interpro Wood Industries have leased more than 5 million square feet of industrial land in 2012, marking an increase of 14 per cent in industrial companies in DI compared to 2011. Warehouse occupancy rate has also increased to reach 82 per cent of a total of 7 million square feet of storage facilities available in the city, in addition to a 100 per cent occupancy rates recorded in the city's 3 million square feet of open storage lands. A large number of local and regional companies chose Dubai Industrial City as a preferred destination for their storage and logistical facilities, including Juma Al Majid Group, Home Centre, Al Gurg Unilever and Al Futtaim Logistics, which have occupied a combined area of more than 940,000 square feet of warehouses in the city. Designed according to the highest standards of safety and security and offering two types of storage units of 5,000 and 10,000 square feet per warehouse, The storage facilities in DI can also be utilised as workshops for light Industrial use, or to meet various storage requirements, such as low temperatures, chemicals, as well as general storage. Dubai Industrial City is considered the largest industrial real estate project in Dubai and is spread across 55 square kilometres (560 million square feet) of land. The industrial destination was established to serve as a catalyst for the growth and expansion of the industrial sector in the United Arab Emirates - with specific emphasis on Machinery and Mechanical equipment, Transport Equipment and parts, Base Metal, Chemicals, Food and Beverage and Mineral Products.