Dubai has strengthened its push toward food security as Solico Group opened a new AED 130 million SoFood production facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone.
The project marks Solico Group’s largest investment in the UAE so far. More importantly, it shifts the company’s regional strategy toward advanced, export-oriented manufacturing anchored in Dubai.
A manufacturing hub built for scale
The new SoFood facility will act as Solico Group’s GCC innovation and international manufacturing base.
Equipped with European processing technology, the plant can initially produce up to 40 tonnes per day. It sits on a 5,000-square-metre site and follows a modular design, allowing expansion without disrupting ongoing operations.
At a time when supply chain reliability matters as much as volume, the facility strengthens the UAE’s capacity to produce food locally and at scale.
Why Solico chose the UAE
Solico Group Founder and Chairman Gholamali Soleimani said the decision reflected confidence in the UAE’s industrial environment.
“The UAE offers one of the most supportive ecosystems globally for food manufacturing,” he said. “This investment allows us to deepen our regional presence, localise expertise and contribute to long-term food security.”
That confidence rests on regulation, infrastructure and access to global markets. Together, those factors made Dubai the logical base for Solico’s next phase of growth.
From trading to value-added production
The project signals a deliberate move away from trading-led models toward local value creation.
Solico Group brings decades of production experience, including building Central Asia’s first milk refinery. In the UAE, the company plans to execute much of the operation locally, supporting skills development and industrial employment.
Looking ahead, Solico expects the total investment to grow to two or three times the initial amount as capacity expands.
Phased rollout with export focus
The facility will launch in stages.
The first phase centres on meat and protein products under Solico’s Pemina brand, supplying the GCC while targeting export markets beyond the region.
Later phases will add cheese, dairy products, premixes, sauces and co-packed solutions for hotels, airlines and food-service operators. Solico selected these categories for their localisation potential and steady international demand.
At the same time, SoFood will function as a regional product development centre, tailoring offerings to Middle Eastern preferences while shortening supply chains.
Jafza’s role in industrial expansion
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said the investment reflects Dubai’s appeal to manufacturers with global ambitions.
“Jafza continues to attract companies that want to build in the region and export worldwide,” he said. “Solico’s expansion supports the UAE’s push toward competitive, value-added manufacturing.”
Efficiency and standards built in
Sustainability formed part of the facility’s design from the outset.
The plant uses energy- and water-efficient systems, waste-reduction processes, and complies with ISO 22000, HACCP, Halal, and Dubai Municipality Grade A standards.
Its location within DP World’s logistics network gives Solico direct access to global trade routes, helping the company reach more than three billion consumers while supporting the UAE’s Make it in the Emirates strategy.
A signal of industrial intent
The Solico Group’s investment in UAE food manufacturing goes beyond a single factory. It reflects a broader shift toward local production, export readiness, and supply-chain resilience.
As food security moves higher on national agendas, projects like SoFood show how global manufacturers are choosing the UAE not just as a market, but as a base for long-term industrial growth.
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