Umm Al Quwain: Ecocoast In 2018, marine protection firm Ecocoast became the first company to set up in Umm Al Quwain’s New Industrial Area. Eight years later and Ecocoast stands as a proud pioneer for the thriving Umm Al Quwain manufacturing hub, helping supply some of ADNOC’s biggest energy projects from their factory. “We’re here when something is needed,” says Mark Boomsma, Ecocoast’s Global Director of Operations and Delivery. “And we’re here if something goes wrong. We are very quick.” And that responsiveness matters when your products are designed to protect the marine environment. For ADNOC’s Hail & Ghasha development, Ecocoast supplied oil booms through contractor DSV, providing equipment designed to contain oil spills. At Ruwais LNG, its contribution includes oil booms and silt curtains supplied through ITD Cementation. The latter help prevent sediment disturbed during marine construction from spreading into surrounding waters. And for Project Volta, Ecocoast supplied silt curtains, navigation buoys and marine lanterns through Al Hassanain. For Boomsma, it is the essence of Make it in the Emirates, an initiative launched in 2021 by the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) to encourage local and international companies to manufacture products within the UAE. “ICV is basically keeping the value in the Emirates,” he says. All these products are designed and manufactured in Umm Al Quwain, where Ecocoast has doubled its UAE manufacturing capacity since relocating from Dubai. Founded in the UAE in 2009, the company has since expanded internationally, delivering projects in around 70 countries.