Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD Group) has begun construction of a dedicated baby food manufacturing facility in partnership with Barakat Group. The project is being developed through Barakat Group’s joint venture with Pure Baby Food Industries within KEZAD, marking a significant step in expanding the UAE’s food manufacturing capabilities.
The development represents the Gulf Cooperation Council’s first industrial-scale facility dedicated exclusively to the production of baby food purees. With a total investment of approximately AED150 million, the project is expected to strengthen local food manufacturing capacity and meet growing regional demand for locally produced infant nutrition products.
Once fully operational, the 10,000-square-metre facility is projected to achieve an annual production capacity of up to 90 million units. The plant will produce fruit and vegetable purees as well as protein-based meat and fish baby foods, using fresh ingredients. Products will be packaged in both pouch and glass jar formats, and selected ambient juice products will also be manufactured as part of the integrated operation.
The facility is expected to generate around 200 direct jobs across manufacturing, quality assurance, food safety, logistics and operational support roles. Additional indirect employment opportunities are anticipated across supply chains, logistics services and agricultural sourcing networks.
Designed as a fully halal-certified manufacturing plant, the facility will apply end-to-end halal certification across the entire baby food category, including protein-based meat and fish purees. This addresses a gap in the GCC market, where locally produced halal-compliant protein baby food options remain limited.
Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO of the Economic Cities & Free Zones Cluster at AD Ports Group, said the investment highlights the scale and sophistication of advanced food manufacturing projects choosing KEZAD. He noted that the facility’s production capacity and employment impact demonstrate how specialised manufacturing can deliver economic value and enhance food sector resilience.
Kenneth D’Costa, Managing Director of Barakat Group, said the expansion into premium infant nutrition reinforces the company’s commitment to supporting national development goals. Establishing dedicated production capacity within KEZAD, he added, will allow the company to meet regional demand efficiently while maintaining high standards of quality, food safety and halal compliance.
Built to meet international benchmarks for food safety, traceability and clean-label production, the facility aims to reduce reliance on imported baby food products while contributing to the growth of a domestic halal baby food manufacturing ecosystem. The project supports national objectives related to food security, local manufacturing and value-added food production, further strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a regional food processing hub.