A significant milestone in the UAE’s food manufacturing sector has been reached with the opening of a state-of-the-art production facility that represents one of the region’s most substantial investments in value-added food production infrastructure.
Solico Group, a prominent Middle Eastern food manufacturer with over five decades of industry experience, has inaugurated its SoFood plant in Jebel Ali Free Zone on 15 January 2026. The AED 130 million ($35.4 million) facility marks the company’s most considerable financial commitment to the UAE and signals a strategic shift towards localized production in a nation historically reliant on food imports.
Spanning 5,000 square metres, the purpose-built site incorporates advanced European manufacturing technologies and boasts an initial production capacity reaching 40 tons daily. The modular design philosophy underpinning the facility’s construction allows for swift adaptation to new product categories without significant operational interruption.
Mr. Gholamali Soleimani, Founder and Group Chairman of Solico Group, emphasized the strategic importance of the investment. “The UAE has created one of the most dynamic ecosystems in the world for food manufacturing and economic diversification,” he stated. “This investment allows us to deepen our regional footprint, transfer our expertise into the UAE, and build manufacturing capability that will support food security for years to come. It is also a reflection of the values my family built this company on more than 50 years ago.”
The facility will function as Solico’s GCC innovation and international manufacturing hub, addressing rising consumer demand whilst strengthening the Emirates’ position as a centre for export-ready food production. Initial operations will concentrate on meat and protein manufacturing under the company’s established Pemina brand, with distribution networks extending across GCC markets and beyond.
Subsequent development phases promise to diversify the product portfolio considerably. Plans include introducing cheese, dairy products, premixes, sauces, and specialized co-packed solutions targeting the hospitality sector, airlines, and food service operators. These categories have been carefully selected based on their alignment with regional culinary preferences, localization potential, and export viability.
The investment demonstrates potential for significant expansion, with projections indicating the total committed capital could multiply by two or three times as operations scale up. This growth trajectory reflects both market demand and the facility’s inherent capacity for development.
Solico Group brings distinguished credentials to the UAE manufacturing landscape. As the first entity to construct a milk refinery facility in Central Asia, the company transfers proven advanced manufacturing and innovation capabilities to the Emirates. With 16 factories globally, a workforce exceeding 25,000 employees, and annual turnover surpassing $1 billion, Solico commands considerable industry presence across regional markets.
The SoFood venture, formally established as SoFood FZCO in 2021, represents more than industrial expansion. It embodies a strategic evolution in the UAE’s food security approach, transitioning from trading-led supply chain models to value-added production infrastructure that generates employment, develops skills, and facilitates knowledge transfer within the domestic economy.
His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, welcomed the development. “Jafza continues to attract manufacturers that want to build for the region and export to the world. Solico’s decision to make its largest UAE investment here reflects the strength of Dubai’s industrial ecosystem and we look forward to seeing it strengthen food security, create high-quality jobs and support the UAE’s ambition to grow a competitive, value-added manufacturing sector.”
The facility’s location within the DP World-operated Jebel Ali ecosystem provides substantial logistical advantages. Direct access to global trade corridors positions Solico to reach more than three billion consumers across neighbouring markets, directly supporting the UAE’s “Make it in the Emirates” manufacturing objectives. Jafza itself hosts over 12,000 multinational companies and sustains employment for more than 160,000 people, creating a robust industrial environment.
Sustainability principles have been integrated throughout the facility’s design and operations. Energy-efficient and water-conserving systems work alongside waste-minimizing processes to reduce environmental impact. The plant has secured ISO 22000, HACCP, Halal, and Dubai Municipality Grade A certifications, demonstrating compliance with international quality and safety standards.
Beyond production capabilities, SoFood will operate as Solico Group’s regional innovation centre. This function involves tailoring products to Middle Eastern taste preferences, shortening supply chains to enhance product freshness, and supporting local employment development. The facility will be executed largely within the UAE, reinforcing domestic manufacturing capacity and contributing to the country’s broader industrial development strategy.
Solico Group’s brand portfolio, which includes Kalleh, Kalleh Pro, Majan, Pemina, Shams, Sorbon, and Kuchin, has established market recognition across multiple territories. Founded in 1971, the company has built its reputation on combining innovation with quality production, creating foods that serve diverse markets whilst connecting cultures.
The establishment of SoFood enhances Solico’s sourcing, processing, and export capacity whilst positioning Dubai as the Group’s international base for future growth. The facility represents a convergence of European engineering excellence and more than 50 years of accumulated Solico expertise, applied specifically to support the UAE’s food-security vision through sustainable, high-quality production serving both GCC and global markets.
Jafza’s strategic position at the crossroads of a region providing market access to over 3.5 billion people creates significant competitive advantages. Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone together form an integrated multi-modal hub offering sea, air, and land connectivity, complemented by extensive logistics facilities. With over 40 years’ operational experience, Jafza functions as the leading business hub connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa, linking some of the world’s fastest-growing manufacturing and consumer markets.
The opening of the SoFood facility arrives at a pivotal moment for the UAE’s economic diversification efforts, demonstrating how substantial private sector investment can align with national strategic objectives in food security, manufacturing localization, and export development.