For the UAE's largest port and terminal operator, creating industry-specific clusters is the economic path to the future.

Dubai's Jebel Ali Free Zone is doing just that with its focus on the construction sector.

This coincides with forecasts that suggest the construction sector can expect a solid recovery to reach a value of Dh490.5 billion by 2027.

"JAFZA is continuing to attract SMEs and multinational companies due to the availability of customizable production plots, light industrial units/warehouses, offices and ready-to-occupy showrooms, all spread across 3.4 million square meters," the Dubai entity said in a statement.

The optimistic predictions around the construction sector are shared by many in the industry.

Next year will see Dubai and the UAE accelerate the next round of infrastructure and urban expansion projects.

The private sector is also working hard to launch new off-plan real estate. Some of these projects will be iconic in their own way.

JAFZA already has a sizeable construction cluster worth Dh26.7 billion.

By the end of 2021, the cluster had more than 1,000 companies, accounting for about 30 percent of Dubai's Dh92 billion industry trade.

"The Jebel Ali Free Zone has been a consistent contributor to the growth of the construction industry despite global inflation, increased construction costs, supply chain disruptions, and legal restrictions," it said in a statement.

The UAE construction market, which has witnessed a downturn over the past few years, is set to experience significant activity as new landmark projects, recovering oil prices and improved investor confidence take hold.

Growth will be driven by the government's commitment to steering progress in the sector and the country's development agenda focused on enhancing industrial, transportation, residential and energy infrastructure.

It is a given that Jebel Ali Port plays a key role in raising the profile of JAFZA as a destination for suppliers to the construction industry.

As the largest port between Rotterdam and Singapore, the Port of Jebel Ali can handle "all types of cargo" through its 1.4 million square meter general cargo terminal.

"A seamless and transparent supply chain is key to transporting raw materials and final products," the JAFZA statement said." The port is therefore ideal for construction materials and construction companies."

The length of the terminal - more than 5 kilometers with 27 berths and a 1.2 million square meter general cargo yard - is efficient for the import and export of construction materials to and from the deal'.

"One of the biggest advantages is the proximity to the port of Jebel Ali, which offers construction companies access to more than 3.5 billion current and potential consumers in the MEASA region. This, together with the multimodal transport model, ensures that the free zone supports 12,300 port customers."