Al Ghurair Foods to invest Dh1b in 3 food processing plants in Abu Dhabi

DUBAI: Abu Dhabi’s Kezad Group has added more capacity to its food safety program by signing a 50-year land lease agreement with Al Ghurair Foods for three “major food processing projects”. These investments will total more than AED 1 billion.

The agreement also marks the first phase of investment by the Al Ghurair Foods division in KEZAD, part of AD Ports Group. The first two projects will also launch the first starch processing plant of its kind in the region, in addition to being “one of the top broiler producers in the UAE”.

A third project – the details of which will be revealed later this year – will see the company enter KEZAD, Abu Dhabi’s food hub, which will create a whole new supply market for the UAE.

Al Ghurair Investment Group CEO John Iossifidis said: “We look forward to working with KEZAD to provide quality food through a future-proof supply chain platform, strengthening the country’s role as a regional food hub.”

“We are confident that this agreement will advance the country’s food security agenda and further Kezad’s goals of improving domestic food supply and strengthening the country’s ability to meet future challenges,” said Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO of AD Ports Economic Cities and Free Zones group.

Kezad’s recent joint venture with Dubai-based Gassan Abd Group Establish a wholesale food trade center there.

For the food entity’s parent company, Al Ghurair Investment, the latest deal expands its footprint into Dubai, the Northern UAE and beyond. “Beyond economic benefits, the factories will also support the country’s sustainable development agenda by introducing a range of sustainable practices,” the statement added.

According to Ibrahim Al Ghurair, Non-Executive Director of Al Ghurair Investment, “To have a real impact at scale, we have to be bold and determined. By launching these instrumental projects, our impact will be felt across the UAE and beyond as we continue to redefine the The benchmark for regional family business groups.”