Dubai Industrial City (DI), a member of Tatweer, has signed an agreement with IFFCO, one of the largest food and beverage companies in the region, to set-up a Dh1 billion ($272 million) facility in the township.

The deal is the largest single F&B project in the UAE.
IFFCO will produce its entire spectrum of F&B products in DI, ranging from breakfast cereals and edible oils to ice cream and processed meats.  These will be sold globally under its portfolio of over 20 brands that include Noor, London Dairy, Al Baker and Tiffany.
Iqbal Usman, group director, IFFCO, commented: “DI’s pro-business attitude, superior service, commitment to quality, and unique live-work-play-learn environment makes it a location of choice for F&B companies.”  IFFCO will consolidate a number of its manufacturing operations in the UAE at its new premises, and leverage DI’s world-class infrastructure and supporting services to drive its next phase of growth.
Khalid Al Malik, senior vice president of industry and knowledge, Tatweer, said: “The industrial sector is the largest non-oil contributor to the UAE economy, and has been increasing its dominance in the country. IFFCO’s decision validates DI’s value proposition for F&B players and adds to the vibrancy of our industrial ecosystem. We are pleased that DI’s efficient and professionally structured approach is drawing industry leaders into the city, and catalysing industrial activity in the region.”
Dubai Industrial City aims to provide investors with an ideal environment for both growth and success. As an innovative industrial township, the characteristics and benefits of DI will ensure the competitiveness of IFFCO and other partners on a global level. It also demonstrates DI’s strong belief in the potential of the food and beverage sector. The sector has been the largest recipient of investment within industry in recent years, accounting for over 45 per cent of all industrial investment in 2005.
Industry projections put the GCC packaged food market at over Dh50 billion, with annual growth of 10 per cent. In addition, more than 90 per cent of the region’s food and beverage needs are imported. IFFCO’s significant shift in business development will aim to reduce the Gulf Cooperation Council’s dependence on food imports, and help position the region as a self-sustaining sector in the F&B market.
Dubai Industrial City was set up on 560 million sq ft of prime land  with the aim of catalysing the growth and expansion of the industrial sector in the UAE – especially in high-value-added production in the sectors of machinery and mechanical equipment, transport equipment and parts, base metals, chemicals, food and beverage and mineral products.