Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group and Barakat Group, a UAE-based fresh food and juice producer, have announced the commencement of construction of a baby food manufacturing facility in KEZAD, Abu Dhabi.
The plant, developed through Barakat Group’s joint venture with Pure Baby Food Industries, represents the first facility of its kind in the Gulf Cooperation Council to be dedicated exclusively to the production of baby food purées at an industrial scale.
The project carries a total investment of approximately AED150 million.
GCC’s first industrial-scale baby food facility to be built in Abu Dhabi’s KEZAD
The facility will span 10,000 square metres and is expected to achieve an annual production capacity of 90 million units of baby food products once fully operational. These will include fruit and vegetable purées as well as protein-based meat and fish baby foods, supplied in both pouch and glass jar formats. A selection of ambient juice products will also be manufactured as part of the operation.
Products will be made using fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, and fish, with the facility designed to prioritise nutrition, freshness, and clean-label production in line with international standards for food safety, quality, and traceability.
The plant is being designed as a fully halal-certified manufacturing facility, with end-to-end halal certification applied across the complete baby food category, including protein-based meat and fish purées. This addresses a gap in the GCC market, where locally produced, halal-compliant protein baby foods remain limited in availability.
“By expanding our production footprint into premium infant nutrition, this facility reinforces Barakat Group’s mission to nourish the ambitions of the nation. 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,” Kenneth D Costa – Managing Director, Barakat Group said in a statement.
The facility is projected to create approximately 200 direct jobs across manufacturing, quality assurance, food safety, logistics, and operational support. Further indirect employment is expected across local supply chains, logistics, and agricultural sourcing.
“This investment reflects the scale and sophistication of food manufacturing projects now choosing KEZAD. The projected production capacity and employment impact underline how specialised manufacturing can deliver both economic value and strategic resilience within the food sector,” Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO of Economic Cities & Free Zones Cluster – AD Ports Group added.
The facility is expected to reduce the UAE’s reliance on imported baby food products and contribute to the development of a domestic, halal baby food manufacturing ecosystem.
The project supports national objectives related to food security, local manufacturing, and value-added food production, and marks a milestone in the continued expansion of Abu Dhabi’s food processing sector within KEZAD.
