Economic ecosystem barriers to the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies in Dubai’s Chemical Sector: An exploratory study 2025

Abstract

Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMT) adoption is characterised by low-tomedium levels in Dubai’s chemical manufacturing sector, despite the emirate’s ambition to become a regional industrial hub. This research addresses two key gaps in the literature: first, most prior research generalises manufacturing ecosystem barriers without focusing on the specific challenges faced by the chemical sector; second, to the best of the researcher’s knowledge, limited work has examined Dubai’s unique industrial context. The research aims to identify the economic ecosystem barriers hindering AMT adoption in this sector and to explore how the sector's top management team perceive these barriers in 2025. A qualitative, interpretivist approach was applied through semistructured, open-ended interviews with the manufacturing top management team selected via expert sampling. Four were most frequently mentioned by participants as areas with potential for enhancement: availability of specialised labour, financial requirements, infrastructure development, and regulatory clarity. These perceptions highlight opportunities for targeted training programmes, financial incentives, infrastructure upgrades, and the continued refinement of policy frameworks to support AMT adoption further. The findings are interpreted through established economic theories, including Human Capital Theory, Barrier Theory, Public Interest Theory, Dynamic Capabilities, Transaction Cost Economics, and the Technology–Organisation– Environment framework. While limited in scope due to the small sample, this research provides insights that may help policymakers and industry stakeholders explore ways to promote AMT adoption and advance sustainable industrial growth in Dubai.