SDF Partners With Machina Labs to Boost Advanced Manufacturing

The Strategic Development Fund (SDF), an Abu Dhabi investment organisation fully owned by EDGE Group, has announced a major partnership with Machina Labs, a US-based leader in AI-powered manufacturing and robotics. The agreement was finalised after discussions at the Dubai Airshow 2025. This new collaboration aims to create a strong framework for a future joint venture that will focus on producing advanced metal structures using Machina Labs’ software-defined factory technology.

As part of the agreement, SDF has made an initial investment, with the possibility of additional funding that could reach up to AED125 million. This investment will help both organisations evaluate how Machina Labs’ advanced manufacturing system can be introduced and expanded within the UAE and the wider region. The partnership will also study key sectors such as aerospace, defense, mobility, and other industries that require high-tech production solutions.

Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE Group, said that this partnership reflects the UAE’s long-term goal of strengthening its industrial capabilities. He explained that working with companies that offer next-generation manufacturing systems helps support EDGE’s development plans and the nation’s vision for technological excellence.

Supporting this view, SDF’s Managing Director and CEO, Abdulla Naser Al Jaabari, said the collaboration aligns with SDF’s hybrid investment model. This model includes investing in advanced startups while also forming strategic partnerships that help bring high-value technologies to the UAE. He also shared that the project with Machina Labs has the potential to meet several important needs across SDF’s portfolio and the broader EDGE ecosystem.

Machina Labs brings its RoboCraftsman™ platform as its core technology. This platform combines forming, scanning, trimming, drilling, and welding into one intelligent robotic manufacturing cell. The main advantage of this system is that it does not require traditional tooling, allowing faster production, greater design flexibility, and scalable manufacturing of complex metal assemblies.

Edward Mehr, CEO and Co-Founder of Machina Labs, said that the UAE’s strong commitment to innovation and EDGE Group’s forward-thinking approach make the region ideal for adopting such advanced technologies. He added that once the partnership is finalised, it will help Machina Labs expand its manufacturing capabilities more quickly for defence and strategic industries.

Machina Labs’ factory model is designed for rapid deployment—full-scale production can be set up in weeks instead of years. This capability could significantly strengthen the UAE’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem and improve supply chain resilience.

SDF will now work closely with its partners to examine how these technologies can be implemented locally and what benefits they could bring to the UAE’s growing industrial sector.