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Fahad Riaz: Driving Dubai's Rise as a Global Automotive Export Hub

  //automotive-transportation.news-articles.net/co .. ai-s-rise-as-a-global-automotive-export-hub.html
  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Monday, December 22nd 2025 at 5:49 GMT
      Locale: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Fahad Riaz: The Driving Force Behind Dubai’s Global Automotive Export Success

Dubai’s meteoric rise as a motor‑trade hub is often attributed to its strategic positioning, free‑trade zones and a government keen on diversification. Yet, behind the headlines of record‑breaking export volumes lies a cadre of industry pioneers who translate policy into profit. Among them, Fahad Riaz stands out as the linchpin that has turned Dubai’s modest automotive trading beginnings into a global powerhouse. A profile published by TechBullion, titled “Fahad Riaz: A Driving Force Behind Dubai’s Global Automotive Export Success,” chronicles the career, vision and influence of this remarkable entrepreneur.

1. A Career Rooted in Passion and Perseverance

Riaz’s journey began in the late 1990s when he was part of a small import‑export outfit that dealt with a handful of car models. “We were shipping cars from the U.K. to the Gulf, and that was my first exposure to the logistics, customs, and finance that underpin the industry,” he says in the article. By 2002, he had founded Dubai Automotive Traders (DAT), a boutique company that specialised in high‑volume vehicle imports and distribution across the UAE and the wider Middle East.

The article notes that Riaz’s early years were characterised by relentless networking, a hands‑on approach to problem‑solving and an unwavering belief that the UAE could become a global automotive distribution node. “We started with a modest team and a single dealership licence,” he recalls. “The vision was simple – build a system that could deliver cars efficiently to customers across the Gulf while keeping costs competitive.”

2. Scaling Up with Innovation and Partnerships

Under Riaz’s stewardship, DAT evolved into a multi‑faceted logistics provider, dealer network and distribution hub. A key element of the company’s growth was its embrace of technology. The TechBullion piece details how Riaz invested heavily in supply‑chain software that tracks inventory in real time, automates customs clearance and provides customers with transparency regarding the status of their orders. This digital transformation gave DAT a competitive edge, allowing it to handle a volume of vehicles that surpassed 3,000 units annually by 2015.

Riaz’s strategic vision also involved forging partnerships with manufacturers and distributors from the United States, Europe and Japan. “Dubai’s position between the East and West made it an ideal place for trans‑pacific trade,” he notes. The article cites several joint‑venture agreements Riaz brokered, including a partnership with a leading Japanese auto‑parts supplier that opened a regional distribution centre in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA). This centre became a critical node in the supply chain, reducing delivery times and logistics costs for all parties involved.

3. Policy Advocacy and the Creation of a Business‑Friendly Ecosystem

The article highlights Riaz’s influence beyond the corporate sphere. He has been a vocal advocate for policy reforms that reduce bureaucratic barriers and encourage foreign investment in the automotive sector. Riaz participated in several advisory committees under the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) and the UAE Ministry of Economy, contributing to the design of streamlined customs procedures, tax incentives for importers and the development of a “Dubai Automotive Expo” that attracts buyers and manufacturers worldwide.

One of the most significant policy wins credited to Riaz, according to TechBullion, was the introduction of a 15‑year free‑trade visa for automotive professionals. This initiative, which opened in 2018, has attracted thousands of engineers, logisticians and sales managers to Dubai, further bolstering the sector’s talent pool. “The visa policy is a game‑changer,” Riaz remarks. “It allows us to build a more skilled workforce that can innovate and drive growth.”

4. The Numbers Behind the Narrative

The TechBullion article offers a compelling set of statistics that underscore Riaz’s impact. In 2022, Dubai’s automotive export value reached an all‑time high of $1.2 billion, a 22 % increase from the previous year. DAT, now rebranded as Riaz Global Motors (RGM), accounted for roughly 18 % of that total, shipping over 12,000 vehicles to markets in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and beyond.

The article also cites a 2023 report by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce that lists the UAE as the sixth‑largest automotive exporter in the world. While the UAE competes with countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey, Riaz’s business model is praised for its focus on niche luxury and electric vehicles – a sector that is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15 % over the next decade.

5. Challenges and the Road Ahead

No growth story is complete without acknowledging obstacles, and the TechBullion piece does not shy away from this. Riaz highlights rising freight costs, geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf and the need to adapt to stricter environmental regulations as the main challenges facing the industry. He points out that the shift toward electric vehicles (EVs) is both an opportunity and a logistical puzzle: “We’re now investing in charging infrastructure in the free zones and working with battery manufacturers to ensure a steady supply chain for EVs in the Gulf.”

Looking forward, Riaz is committed to deepening Dubai’s position as a hub for second‑hand luxury cars, as well as expanding into the burgeoning Middle‑East “gig‑economy” market for vehicle rentals. “The next wave of automotive commerce will be less about ownership and more about mobility solutions,” he predicts.

6. Conclusion: A Legacy in the Making

The profile of Fahad Riaz on TechBullion paints a portrait of an entrepreneur who has successfully navigated a complex industry, leveraging technology, strategic partnerships and policy advocacy to transform Dubai from a regional trading post into a global automotive export nexus. Riaz’s career demonstrates that vision, coupled with relentless execution, can produce outcomes that reverberate beyond the boardroom and into the fabric of a nation’s economy.

The article’s blend of personal anecdotes, hard data and contextual analysis offers readers a clear understanding of how a single individual’s drive can catalyse sector‑wide growth. For anyone interested in the dynamics of the automotive export industry, Dubai’s transformation and the people at its heart, Fahad Riaz’s story remains an indispensable case study.