As geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz persist, uncertainty continues to cloud Korea's trade with the Middle East, with businesses here increasingly exploring ways around that risk while looking to best capitalize on growing regional demand for Korean goods. Khalid Al Marzooqi, vice president of Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi (KEZAD) Group, said the United Arab Emirates and KEZAD are well positioned to support such efforts as regional manufacturing, assembly and distribution hubs for Korean companies, noting that the implementation of the Korea-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) makes this an opportune time for Korean businesses to establish operations there. “Korean businesses are increasingly viewing UAE as an outstanding base for manufacturing location for their global operation and also viewing UAE as a stable, innovation‑driven base for regional and global expansion,” Al Marzooqi told The Korea Times in an interview on Tuesday during his visit to Seoul. “And today we see more interest for production activity, not just export. Companies se