Abu Dhabi, November 17, 2025 – Italiacamp announces the official opening of the new Hub for Made in Italy in Abu Dhabi, a strategic platform dedicated to the growth and internationalization of Italian companies in the most dynamic economic context of the Middle East in the sectors of Energy, Finance, Agritech, Manufacturing, Tourism, Innovation, and AI.

Located on the 37th floor of the Sky Tower on Reem Island, the Hub operates under the license of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) – one of the most important financial centers in the region – covering 700 square meters and hosting private offices, meeting rooms, coworking spaces, and event areas. Following the opening of the first Hub for Made in Italy in Dubai, this new headquarters in Abu Dhabi strengthens Italiacamp’s presence in the United Arab Emirates as an organization dedicated to building a systemic platform for the promotion of Made in Italy in the MENA region.

The goal is to offer Italian companies and those from the Gulf region a stable operational and relational base in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, promoting strategic connections, commercial exchanges, and institutional synergies.

“With the opening of the Abu Dhabi Hub, we are consolidating the presence of Made in Italy in the United Arab Emirates, creating a permanent bridge between the Italian system and the economic and institutional fabric of one of the most solid and innovative markets in the Gulf area,” says Leo Cisotta, General Manager of Italiacamp EMEA. “The Hub is more than just a physical space: it is a platform for relationships, planning, and development, designed to support companies on a path of sustainable and long-term internationalization.”

Through a qualified network of local partners, institutions, and regional stakeholders, the Hub promotes collaboration between Italian excellence and the main economic players in Abu Dhabi, in line with the city’s strategic vision based on innovation, sustainability, and economic diversification.

Companies that join the membership program can rely on a set of integrated services designed to support their growth and establishment in the Emirati market.

The Hub provides representative and networking spaces, as well as strategic support and consulting services, aimed at supporting the internationalization processes and partnerships between Italian companies and local players.

Through dedicated initiatives, Italiacamp also promotes opportunities for dialogue with institutions, investors, and decision-makers, strengthening the role of Made in Italy as a significant interlocutor within the MENA region’s economy.

“This project is born from the values that have always guided Italiacamp: building connections, generating impact, and promoting Italian excellence worldwide,” says Fabrizio Sammarco, CEO of Italiacamp. “With the Abu Dhabi Hub, we want to strengthen the presence of Made in Italy in the most advanced international economic contexts, providing companies with concrete tools to grow and innovate.”

The Hub is managed by Italiacamp EMEA FZCO, a company established in 2022 by Italiacamp Srl.  Since 2024, SIMEST (CDP Group) has joined the shareholders’ structure as a minority shareholder, supporting the development of the project through the Venture Capital Fund, managed in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).

“The opening of this new facility confirms the business opportunities available to Italian companies within the framework of the excellent relations between Rome and Abu Dhabi,” said the Ambassador of Italy to the United Arab Emirates, Lorenzo Fanara. “The Hub for Made in Italy marks a further step forward in strengthening the economic and commercial ties between our two countries, facilitating the establishment and growth of new enterprises.”

Founded in 2010, Italiacamp is an organization that promotes collaboration between institutions, businesses, and territories. With the opening of the Abu Dhabi Hub, Italiacamp extends its mission towards the international projection of Italian expertise, placing Abu Dhabi at the center of a strategy of connection, innovation and growth of Made in Italy worldwide.

Rome, 03 July 2024 – SIMEST, the company of the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Group that supports the internationalization of Italian companies, is contributing EUR 1.2 million to the growth of Italiacamp in the United Arab Emirates. Italiacamp is an innovative SME based in Rome and Milan, specialized in providing consultancy services on sustainability, impact economy and innovation for public and private organizations and institutions. With this investment, SIMEST acquired a minority stake in Italiacamp EMEA FZE, a service company established by Italiacamp at the end of 2022, based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Italiacamp EMEA is dedicated to internationalization pathways to support and enhance Made in Italy and manages the Dubai Hub for Made in Italy, a space of over 2,000 square meters through which consultancy activities are provided to support the internationalization of companies, networking with local institutions, education and training on Made in Italy topics. The Hub is located in the Convention Tower of the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), a free zone dedicated to international trade, one of the world’s leading exhibition centers and a reference point for MENA and Asian countries.Italiacamp EMEA operates in three different areas:

• Space: to develop relations between Italian companies with institutional and business partners in the MENA region;

• Advisory: to support Italian companies setting up their business in the area through a network of relationships and access to a ‘phygital’ platform of services for business acceleration and internationalization;

• Education: to provide training and know-how on Made in Italy to local graduates and professionals through specific training programmes.

Thanks to SIMEST’s investment, the Company will be able to act as a business accelerator for SMEs in the Gulf countries, fostering the development of Italian companies in strategic priority sectors for this geographical area such as agritech, design, healthcare, fintech, mobility, fashion, tourism and where Made in Italy is a best practice to look up to. The Venture Capital Fund, a facilitating instrument that SIMEST manages in agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, is also involved in the operation. Italiacamp was founded in 2010 with the aim of creating social and economic value for the country by harnessing organizational, relational and project skills, a mission that has evolved over time and now aims to promote the internationalization of Italian companies in the leading markets for Made in Italy. The organization’s share capital includes some of the country’s leading companies: Poste Italiane, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, Invitalia, Rcs MediaGroup, UnipolSai, TIM and, as the majority shareholder, the Italiacamp Association. The investment is in addition to SIMEST’s current equity portfolio of more than 220 projects worldwide, amounting to approximately EUR 800 million. In 2023 alone, through its activity of entry into the capital of enterprises, SIMEST has recorded equity transactions totalling approximately EUR 170 million, of which EUR 94 million from its own resources and EUR 74 million from the Venture Capital Fund’s resources.