Quest Global Partners With UAE’s NextGen FDI Initiative To Boost Local Engineering Research And Development

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade has revealed that Quest Global, a Singapore-based engineering research and development firm, will expand into the UAE. This move is part of the NextGen FDI initiative, designed to attract influential global companies through streamlined market-entry processes like quick incorporation and expedited issuance.

Quest Global plans to establish several client-focused, high-value engineering centres (HVECs) across the UAE. These centres will support industries such as energy, defence, and advanced manufacturing. By leveraging engineering expertise alongside AI and digital technologies, Quest Global aims to enhance operations, drive innovation, and optimise supply chains for businesses.

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, expressed enthusiasm about Quest Global's entry into the UAE market. He stated that this move highlights the UAE's role as a growth platform. "The NextGen FDI initiative was created to attract forward-thinking, ambitious enterprises such as Quest Global to the UAE. By enhancing our engineering ecosystem and offering bespoke services to manufacturing companies, their cutting-edge research centres will support our industrial transformation goals, improve productivity and develop national talent."

Robert Vatter, Executive President of Quest Global, noted that the NextGen FDI initiative presents significant opportunities for the company. "Quest Global serves as a strategic ER&D partner to large global companies across energy, aerospace and defence, and other industries. By facilitating the establishment of high-value engineering centres in the UAE, the NextGen FDI Initiative will enable us to extend this support to companies based in the UAE and the wider GCC – helping them realize their business ambitions, develop their talent and accelerate their contribution to the development a knowledge economy."

Since its inception in 2022, the NextGen FDI Initiative has helped numerous innovative companies establish themselves in the UAE. This has fostered clusters of excellence in sectors like artificial intelligence, robotics, alternative energy and storage, hybrid aviation, and precision fermentation. Collectively, these efforts are aiding the UAE's shift towards an economy grounded in knowledge and innovation.

Quest Global's involvement underscores its commitment to supporting regional growth while contributing to a knowledge-driven economy. The company's expansion aligns with broader goals of enhancing productivity and nurturing local talent within key industries.

With inputs from WAM