Barakat launches baby food manufacturing facility at KEZAD

Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD) Group and Barakat Group have begun construction of a dedicated baby food manufacturing facility within KEZAD, a project developed through Barakat’s joint venture with Pure Baby Food Industries. The 10,000 square metre plant represents a Gulf Cooperation Council first: an industrial-scale facility exclusively focused on baby food purées. The development carries a total investment of approximately $40.8 million (AED 150 million) and is projected to deliver an annual production capacity of 90 million units when fully operational.

“This investment reflects the scale and sophistication of food manufacturing projects now choosing KEZAD. The projected production capacity and employment impact underline how specialized manufacturing can deliver both economic value and strategic resilience within the food sector,” said Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO Economic Cities & Free Zones, AD Ports Group.

Project details and capabilities

Kenneth D’Costa, Managing Director of Barakat Group, described the strategic intent behind the expansion: “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.”

• Investment: approximately $40.8 million (AED 150 million)
• Site area: 10,000 square metres
• Annual capacity: expected 90 million units
• Product range: fruit and vegetable purées, protein-rich meat and fish baby foods, selected ambient juice products
• Packaging formats: pouch and glass-jar formats
• Employment: around 200 direct jobs with additional indirect roles across supply chains and logistics
• Certification: the plant is being designed as a fully halal-certified manufacturing facility

The integrated operation will produce products using fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, with an emphasis on nutrition, freshness and clean-label production. Designed in line with international best practices for food safety, quality assurance and traceability, the plant will apply comprehensive halal standards across the full baby food category — including protein-based meat and fish purées — addressing a notable gap in the GCC market where locally produced halal-compliant protein infant foods have been limited.

Outlook

Developers say the facility will bolster local food manufacturing capacity and reduce reliance on imported baby food products, while supporting regional demand for high-quality infant nutrition. The project is expected to create approximately 200 direct jobs across manufacturing, quality assurance, food safety, logistics and operational support, with additional indirect employment opportunities anticipated across agricultural sourcing networks and logistics services.

Beyond immediate production goals, the new plant positions KEZAD as a location for specialised, high-value food manufacturing projects and signals investor confidence in Abu Dhabi’s industrial ecosystem. With an output target of 90 million units annually and halal certification embedded into its design, the facility aims to strengthen the domestic halal baby food manufacturing ecosystem and supply the wider GCC market with locally produced infant nutrition products.