The UAE continues to consolidate its position as a global center for advanced food industries

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, affirmed that the UAE continues to consolidate its position as a global center for advanced food industries, by investing in innovation, developing production chains, and enhancing the competitiveness of national products in global markets. His Highness pointed out that the date industry represents a successful model for transforming the country’s agricultural heritage into a modern industry with high added value, which contributes to supporting the national economy and enhancing food security.

This came during His Highness’s visit to the “Al Baraka” factory, the largest date factory in the world owned by the private sector in Dubai Industrial City, which extends over an area of ​​800,000 square feet, and whose production capacity reaches 100,000 tons annually, and is considered one of the most prominent advanced industrial models in the food industry sector.

His Highness said: “We continue to invest in vital sectors that affect human life, most notably the food sector, and we are working to develop our national industries to be more competitive globally, by adopting the latest technologies, enhancing production efficiency, and opening new horizons for our products to reach diverse global markets.”

His Highness added: “The date industry is part of our identity and heritage, and its development reflects our vision of transforming our resources into sustainable development opportunities. Our humanitarian initiatives in this sector, including supporting food projects related to combating malnutrition, confirm the UAE’s commitment to its role in improving the quality of human life and contributing to finding practical solutions to food challenges worldwide.”

During his tour of the factory, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum listened to an explanation from the founder of the factory, businessman Salim Mohammed, and the factory director, his son Yousef Salim Mohammed, about the production lines and stages of manufacturing and packaging. He also listened to an explanation about the various products offered by the factory, which include canned dates, date molasses, date paste, and date powder.

In the presence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of TECOM Group, Malek Al Malek, His Highness was briefed on the global markets to which the factory’s products reach, which are exported to 97 countries around the world. The United States is the first destination for exports of date paste and date molasses, which are used in many food industries, followed by the United Kingdom and the European Union countries, while Bangladesh, India and Indonesia top the list of main destinations for exports of canned dates.

The Al Baraka factory is located in Dubai Industrial City, one of the specialized business complexes of the TECOM Group, which was launched in November 2004 and celebrated the 20th anniversary of its founding in November 2024. The city is an integrated industrial platform that embraces more than 350 factories and employs more than 17,000 employees, which reflects its vital role in supporting the industrial sector and strengthening value chains in the emirate.

Dubai Industrial City is distinguished by its strategic location, which allows its customers to access an integrated transportation network, including its proximity to Jebel Ali Port, Al Maktoum International Airport, and the freight station of Etihad Rail, ensuring streamlined operational operations and easy connectivity with regional and global markets.

The “Al Baraka” factory is considered a model of the success of the private sector in developing the food industry, as it was founded by businessman Salim Mohammed, who began his career in Dubai in 1983 in the field of food trading, before moving during the nineties of the last century to specialize in trading and manufacturing dates.

Mohammed bin Rashid:

• The date industry is part of our identity and heritage, and its development reflects our vision of transforming our resources into sustainable development opportunities.

• We continue to invest in vital sectors that affect human life, especially the food sector, and we work to develop our national industries to be more competitive globally.