Can you walk us through the rebranding of Al Ghurair and how it will affect your divisions, specifically the food-related ones?
The rebranding of Al Ghurair is more than just a visual change, it’s a reflection of our evolution as a group, and our renewed commitment to purpose-led growth. For the food division, it reaffirms our role in shaping the future of food in the region. We’re focusing on quality, reliability, and long-term impact ensuring that every ingredient we produce supports better nutrition, stronger food systems, and a more secure tomorrow. The new identity brings all our businesses under one unified vision rooted in legacy but built for the future.
Food security often comes at a steep cost; can you share with us about how the concept will affect you as a company especially that the UAE plans to triple food production by 2030?
Food security is a national priority and as one of the region’s key food producers, it’s also a strategic focus for us. Yes, it comes with investment, but it also comes with opportunity. We’re rethinking how to use resources more efficiently, how to localise production without compromising quality, and how to build supply chains that are both agile and resilient. We see food security not as a challenge, but as a responsibility and we’re aligning our capabilities to contribute meaningfully to the UAE’s vision for 2030.
Local food production does not always mean scalability or a profitable venture, yet you are doubling down on this, especially since you signed a landmark 50-year lease deal for new facilities. Can you elaborate more?
It’s true, local production comes with complexities. But we see it as an investment in long-term resilience. Our 50-year lease reflects a deep commitment to the UAE’s food future. It gives us the scale and flexibility to innovate, grow, and respond to market needs from right here at home. We believe that local production, when done smartly, and in areas of demand, can be both scalable and sustainable. We plan to produce product such as starch, sweeteners, poultry, cage free eggs and liquid eggs. Our approach is to build systems that are lean, tech-enabled, and designed for efficiency over the long haul.
In a world which is more and more interconnected, it is rather odd to speak of food security. Is this related to some national-trait for Al Ghurair?
For us at Al Ghurair, food security is not about isolation, it’s about readiness. It’s about having the capacity to produce, process, and supply essential food locally, while still staying connected to global innovation and trade. Our roots are in this region, and that gives us a deep understanding of its needs and a sense of duty to support its resilience.
Do you see the future of food production as being sustainable? If so, how?
Sustainability is no longer a distant goal; it’s the direction the entire food industry must move toward. Whether it’s reducing waste, conserving water, optimizing energy, or designing smarter packaging, we’re actively working across our operations to create a more sustainable model. But sustainability also means building for future generations. For us, that includes investing in local talent, supporting the farming community, and innovating with purpose. We believe the future of food must serve both people and the planet, and that’s the future we’re building towards.
