Solico Group, one of the Middle East’s established food manufacturers, has expanded its regional operations with the opening of SoFood, a new AED 130 million production facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza). The site will act as the group’s GCC innovation and export manufacturing hub. This marks Solico’s largest investment in the UAE to date and supports the country’s role as a centre for high-value food production.
The facility opens today with an initial production capacity of up to 40 tonnes per day. It uses European manufacturing technology and sits on a 5,000 square metre site. The modular design allows the business to add new product categories with minimal disruption to operations.
“The UAE has created one of the most dynamic ecosystems in the world for food manufacturing and economic diversification,” said Mr. Gholamali Soleimani, Founder and Group Chairman, Solico Group. “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.”
Solico Group, known as the first builder of a milk refinery in Central Asia, will apply its advanced production methods to the UAE market. Most of the project execution will take place within the country, supporting local industry and strengthening domestic manufacturing.
The investment supports the UAE’s food security strategy by moving supply chains from trade-based models to value-added production. The project is designed to scale, with potential to increase total investment to two or three times its current level as operations grow.
In the first phase, the site will produce meat and protein products under Solico’s Pemina brand. These products will serve GCC markets and export destinations. Later phases will introduce cheese, dairy, premixes, sauces and co-packed solutions for airlines, hotels and food service operators. These categories align with regional tastes and offer strong export potential.
SoFood will also operate as Solico’s regional innovation centre. The site will develop products suited to Middle Eastern preferences, shorten supply chains to improve freshness and support local job creation, skills training and knowledge transfer.
His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World said: “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.”
Sustainability is built into the facility through energy and water efficiency systems and waste reduction processes. The site holds ISO 22000, HACCP, Halal and Dubai Municipality Grade A certifications.
Located within DP World’s Jebel Ali logistics zone, the factory benefits from direct access to global trade routes. This allows Solico to reach more than three billion consumers across nearby markets and supports the UAE’s “Make it in the Emirates” manufacturing programme.