The facility will strengthen local food manufacturing capacity
Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi–KEZAD Group and Barakat Group, the UAE’s leading fresh food and juice producer, today announced the commencement of construction of a dedicated baby food manufacturing facility through Barakat Group’s joint venture with Pure Baby Food Industries, in KEZAD.
The project marks the development of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s first industrial-scale facility dedicated exclusively to the production of baby food purées. Representing a total investment of approximately AED 150mn by the company, the facility will strengthen local food manufacturing capacity and support growing regional demand for locally produced infant nutrition.
Once fully operational, the 10,000sqm facility is expected to achieve an annual production capacity of 90mn units of baby food products, covering fruit and vegetable purées as well as protein-rich meat and fish baby foods.
Job creation
The facility is projected to create approximately 200 direct jobs, spanning manufacturing, quality assurance, food safety, logistics, and operational support roles. Additional indirect employment is expected across local supply chains, logistics, and agricultural sourcing.
“The projected production capacity and employment impact underline how specialised manufacturing can deliver both economic value and strategic resilience within the food sector,” stated Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO, Economic Cities & Free Zones Cluster, AD Ports Group.
“Establishing dedicated capacity within KEZAD allows us to meet regional demand efficiently while creating skilled employment and maintaining the highest standards of quality and halal compliance,” commented Kenneth D Costa, Managing Director, Barakat Group.
