"Development of strategic sectors" Signs a preliminary investment agreement in preparation for a partnership with "Makena Labs"
ABU DHABI, 11 December / WAM / The Strategic Sectors Development Fund, an Abu Dhabi-based investment company wholly owned by EDGE Group, today announced the signing of a preliminary partnership and investment agreement with Machina Labs, a US-based company specialized in next-generation manufacturing technologies and robotics powered by artificial intelligence, following discussions that took place during the Dubai Airshow 2025.
Through the partnership, a framework is being established to work towards establishing a joint project between the two parties, focusing on the production of advanced metal structures in the region, using Makena Labs’ software-based smart factory.
This agreement is supported by an initial investment with additional financing from the Strategic Sectors Development Fund – which could reach 125 million dirhams – as the two parties work to evaluate opportunities to employ Makena Labs’ manufacturing capabilities in the UAE and the region.
The two companies will collaborate to evaluate and meet strategic requirements across a range of priority sectors, including aviation, defence, mobility and other key sectors.
Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE Group, said that the cooperation between the Strategic Sectors Development Fund and Makena Labs is in line with EDGE Group’s vision aimed at accelerating the UAE’s growth in the field of advanced industrial capabilities and future technologies.
He pointed out that partnerships that explore a new generation of manufacturing solutions and technologies play an important role in supporting the EDGE Group’s development roadmap, and strengthening the country’s position towards industrial sovereignty and excellence through innovation.
For his part, Abdullah Nasser Al-Jaabari, Managing Director and CEO of the Strategic Sectors Development Fund, said that the Fund’s cooperation with Makena Labs represents an extension of its hybrid investment approach, which combines investment in emerging companies that develop next-generation technologies for dual-use industries, and building strategic partnerships that contribute to the localization of high-value technologies within the country.
He added that the fund has identified a set of requirements through which this project can contribute to supporting the EDGE Group system and its investment portfolio companies, noting that this first step has been taken and the fund’s initial investment in Makena Labs has been announced, which will expand with the development of the partnership and areas of cooperation.
Makena Labs’ core capabilities are based on its RoboCraftsman™ platform, a software-based robotic manufacturing system that integrates shaping, scanning, trimming and drilling operations with advanced welding and assembly systems without the need for traditional manufacturing tools.
This model allows faster production cycles, greater design flexibility, and increased ability to manufacture complex metal structures.
Edward Mehr, CEO and co-founder of Makena Labs, expressed pride in cooperating with the Strategic Sectors Development Fund to explore opportunities to employ the company’s smart robotic technologies in the UAE.
He said that the UAE’s commitment to supporting industrial innovation, along with the strategic vision of the EDGE Group and the pioneering investment plans of the Strategic Sectors Development Fund, creates an ideal environment for adopting next-generation manufacturing technologies.
He added that this partnership, once completed, will enhance the company’s ability to expand its business through rapidly operating production capabilities in the defense sector and other strategic fields and programs.
The Makena Labs factory is designed to enable rapid commissioning of full-scale manufacturing capabilities, reducing turnaround time and allowing new manufacturing environments to be created within weeks rather than years. This technology provides important capabilities to support the growth of the advanced manufacturing system in the UAE and enhance the flexibility and readiness of supply chains.
The partnership between the two sides represents a deliberate step within the framework of adopting promising technologies that can support the future industrial needs of the UAE.
The Fund will continue to work with its partners to study the feasibility and desired benefits of adopting these technologies and capabilities within the local market.
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