Quest Global, a Singapore-headquartered engineering research and development firm, is the latest addition to the UAE’s growing NextGen FDI programme, the Ministry of Foreign Trade announced.

Through this government-backed initiative, designed to attract high-impact global firms, Quest Global will now establish several client-focused, high-value engineering centres (HVECs) across the country. These centres aim to support industries such as energy, defence, and advanced manufacturing.

The NextGen FDI programme offers international companies a streamlined entry into the UAE market with services like rapid incorporation and accelerated licensing processes. Since launching in 2022, it has helped draw cutting-edge firms working in areas including robotics, alternative energy, and artificial intelligence.

According to the ministry, Quest Global’s UAE presence will help local firms enhance operations by integrating advanced digital technologies and artificial intelligence, while also improving supply chains and supporting the broader transformation of the region’s industrial sector.

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, welcomed Quest Global’s arrival. “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. Quest Global’s participation in the initiative also helps reinforce the UAE’s status as an economic hub that facilitates expansion into regional and global markets.”

Robert Vatter, Executive President at Quest Global, said: “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.”

Quest Global’s move is expected to strengthen the UAE’s position in advanced engineering while contributing to its shift towards a knowledge-driven economy.