Apave Group strengthens its presence in the United Arab Emirates with a new laboratory in Abu Dhabi

Led by Philippe Maillard, CEO of the Apave Group, and Muffakham Shareef, Managing Director of Apave-Lonestar, around 120 guests attended the inauguration of the new premises. Some had the opportunity to visit the state-of-the-art laboratory, before discovering the thematic stands highlighting the expertise of Lonestar and Apave. From geotechnics and surveying to civil construction, mechanics and analytical chemistry, specialists were on hand to showcase the group's enhanced capabilities, answer questions and demonstrate how Apave is ready to meet the growing demand in the United Arab Emirates.

The Apave Group's presence in the United Arab Emirates has been significantly strengthened since 2023 through a series of key strategic integrations. These include the re-establishment of Apave's activities via :

• The acquisition of TIV (Technical Inspection Verification) - (formerly the technical inspection and verification business of the ABS Group),
• An increased majority stake in Certifer, the French rail and guided mobility expert recognized as an Independent Safety Assessor (ISA) by the French Roads and Transport Authority,
• And the acquisition of Lonestar, a leading local player with over three decades' experience in laboratory and geotechnical testing.

The new Abu Dhabi site, inaugurated today, testifies to the combined strength of these entities.

Equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation, the laboratory sets new standards for precision and reliability in civil construction materials testing, geotechnical soil investigations and topographic surveying. It provides essential testing functions that will help reinforce the UAE's commitment to innovation, safety and sustainable industrial development.

By 2025, the United Arab Emirates' testing, inspection and certification (TIC) market has become a strategic pillar of the country's industrial growth. Valued at $2.37 billion in 2024 and set to grow steadily through to 2030, this sector is driven by increasing consumer demands for safety, tightening regulations, rapidly evolving technologies and the globalization of trade. ICT services are now essential to ensure that products, systems and services comply with safety standards and protocols, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, automotive, aerospace and healthcare, which are experiencing unprecedented growth.

With over 300 test solutions, Apave's new laboratory, located in the heart of Abu Dhabi, marks the culmination of nine months' work and an investment of AED 2 million. This milestone reinforces the Apave Group's position as a global partner for risk management in the United Arab Emirates, and provides essential support for the country's ambitious economic and development strategies. Designed to meet the expectations of major UAE companies such as ADNOC, ENEC and Emaar, the new facility reflects the Group's strong commitment to the development of the national economy and local industrial growth.

These developments strengthen Apave's presence in the UAE, where it employs over 650 people, supported by the Group's global expertise in providing solutions tailored to local realities.