Al Khaznah Leathers Signs Strategic MOUs With ROX and UAE Ministry of Culture at Make It in the Emirates 2026
Al Khaznah Leathers (AKL), the UAE’s national sustainable leather factory, signed two strategic agreements during Make It in the Emirates 2026 aimed at strengthening industrial localisation, advanced manufacturing, and Emirati craftsmanship.
The agreements reinforce AKL’s position as the only leather manufacturing facility in the UAE operating with a fully integrated value chain and highlight its expanding role within the country’s industrial development agenda.
One of the memorandums of understanding (MOUs) was signed with ROX to explore opportunities in automotive leather solutions. The collaboration will focus on the development of finished leathers, advanced cut parts, and precision-engineered components designed for future mobility applications.
The partnership reflects growing efforts within the UAE to expand local manufacturing capabilities in high-value industrial sectors, including automotive and mobility technologies.
In parallel, AKL signed a cooperation agreement with UAE Ministry of Culture aimed at supporting Emirati craftsmanship and heritage-inspired leather products.
The collaboration will also focus on training initiatives and the integration of traditional leather craftsmanship into modern industrial practices, supporting the preservation of cultural identity alongside industrial innovation.
Shamsa Muaid Alahbabi said the agreements reflect AKL’s broader vision of combining advanced manufacturing with cultural preservation.
“These agreements reflect AKL’s dual role: advancing high-value industrial manufacturing for future mobility, while preserving and developing Emirati leather heritage,” she stated.
Alahbabi added that the partnership with ROX is intended to strengthen the UAE’s position within the automotive leather solutions sector, while the cooperation with the Ministry of Culture reinforces AKL’s commitment to craftsmanship, national identity, and heritage preservation.
The agreements collectively highlight AKL’s growing contribution to the UAE’s industrial strategy by bridging heritage, localisation, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing within a single integrated ecosystem.
