Abu Dhabi to create regional semiconductor hub

Abu Dhabi on Tuesday announced plans to bring the global chipmaking industry to the Middle East, as the oil-rich emirate seeks to diversify its economy into knowledge-based industries.

Ibrahim Ajami, chief executive of the state-owned Advanced Technology Investment Company, said his company would invest in building an advanced technology cluster on a 3km-square piece of land just outside the Abu Dhabi international airport.

Besides building infrastructure, Mr Ajami said Atic would also increasingly explore “the various modes of investment required” to start attracting other semiconductor companies to Abu Dhabi.