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Qatar Free Zones Authority and global automation specialist Emerson formalized a memorandum of understanding this week to set up a dedicated service and operations center that will strengthen industrial automation across Qatar and neighboring markets. The agreement was inked by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Faisal Al-Thani, chief executive of the authority, and Judson Duncan, group president for global sales at Emerson, during the Qatar Economic Forum UNGA Special Edition in New York, according to a statement from the authority. The partnership reflects continued momentum in Qatar’s free zones, which the authority has positioned as key platforms for technology transfer and high-value manufacturing aligned with national development priorities.
Emerson announced in a press release that the 3,500-square-meter Emerson Middle East and Africa Service Center will be located in Umm Alhoul Free Zone and will house the region’s first certified in-country flow calibration laboratory along with repair capabilities for field instrumentation and rapid spare-parts services. The facility will also include a training and experience center for customer teams as well as staging and integration services for distributed control systems, the company said. Phased operations are scheduled to begin in December 2026 with the calibration laboratory following in early 2027, according to the release.
The initiative will foster broader ecosystem growth by linking Emerson with local partners, suppliers, research centers and academic institutions to build industrial value chains and develop Qatari talent, QFZ stated. Such collaboration is expected to improve access to advanced solutions that enhance operational reliability and efficiency for energy and industrial clients throughout the region. Emerson’s press release emphasized that the center will help customers reduce turnaround times, lower costs and speed project delivery while supporting in-country value creation.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Faisal Al-Thani said in the authority’s statement that Emerson ranks among the world’s foremost industrial firms and that the authority was pleased to welcome the company to Qatar’s free zones. He added that the investment would allow Emerson to capitalize on substantial regional growth prospects while contributing to local expertise in automation technologies. The authority’s announcement further noted that Qatar’s industrial and digital ambitions, combined with the free zones’ infrastructure and connectivity, create a robust platform for such partnerships.
Judson Duncan stated in remarks carried by both the QFZ statement and Emerson’s release that the agreement marks a significant step toward expanding the company’s regional presence and capabilities. He highlighted how Qatar’s strategy for industrial and digital development, supported by the authority’s ecosystem and strategic location, offers strong opportunities for mutual benefit. The executive’s comments underscored the potential for enhanced reliability, efficiency and performance across customer operations in Qatar and beyond.
The development aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, which prioritizes economic diversification and knowledge-based growth, according to planning documents from the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. Emerson, which operates in more than 100 countries, has maintained a long-standing role in Qatar’s hydrocarbon sector and now seeks to broaden its footprint into wider industrial applications through the new center, the company said. Similar agreements signed by the authority in recent years with firms in energy services and advanced manufacturing have already begun translating into operational facilities that generate employment and technology spillovers across the free zones.
