Solico Group Jafza Investment, one of the Middle East’s most established and trusted food manufacturers, has announced a Dh130 million investment to develop a new SoFood manufacturing facility at Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza). The project marks one of the group’s most significant manufacturing commitments in the region, underscoring how global and regional food producers are increasingly viewing the UAE not just as a trading centre, but as a base for large-scale value-added production.
The investment comes at a time when food security, supply-chain resilience and domestic manufacturing capacity have moved to the top of national economic agendas. For Solico Group, the Jafza facility represents a long-term strategic play, one that blends production scale with logistics efficiency and access to international markets from a single, highly connected location.
Overview of the Investment
The upcoming SoFood plant is designed as a modern, high-capacity food manufacturing operation, incorporating advanced processing and packaging technologies. According to the company, the facility will be capable of supporting a broad portfolio of food products, catering to both mass-market and specialised segments.
Located within Jafza, the plant will benefit from seamless access to ports, road networks and international shipping routes, significantly reducing lead times for exports and imports of raw materials. The integration of temperature-controlled storage and efficient logistics infrastructure is expected to play a critical role in maintaining product quality and operational efficiency.
Industry experts note that food manufacturers are increasingly prioritising such integrated industrial zones, where production, storage and distribution can be managed within a single ecosystem, lowering costs while improving responsiveness to market demand.
Significance of the Investment
Beyond its commercial rationale, the investment aligns closely with the UAE’s broader economic and food security strategies. The UAE has placed growing emphasis on strengthening local food production, reducing over-dependence on imports, and building resilient supply chains capable of withstanding global disruptions.
The SoFood facility is expected to contribute directly to these goals by expanding domestic processing capacity and ensuring a more stable supply of key food products. By producing locally for both domestic consumption and export, the plant supports the shift from a predominantly import-led food model to one anchored in regional manufacturing and global distribution.
Government and industry stakeholders have consistently highlighted the role of private-sector investment in achieving these objectives, particularly in sectors such as food processing that combine economic value with strategic importance.
Economic Impact
The Dh130 million investment is also expected to generate meaningful economic spillovers. Solico Group Jafza Investment has indicated that the project will create direct employment opportunities across manufacturing, quality assurance, engineering and management functions, alongside indirect jobs in logistics, packaging, maintenance and support services.
Large-scale food manufacturing facilities typically act as anchors for wider industrial activity, stimulating demand for raw materials, cold-chain services, transport operators and export-related services. In Jafza’s case, this multiplier effect is amplified by the zone’s dense concentration of logistics providers, distributors and international trading companies.
Officials associated with Jafza have repeatedly pointed to such projects as examples of how industrial investment strengthens Dubai’s position as a regional economic engine, one that connects production with global markets efficiently and at scale.
Long-Term Outlook
Looking ahead, the SoFood facility has been planned with future expansion and scalability in mind. Company executives have signalled that the site allows room for additional production lines and new product categories as market demand evolves.
Analysts view Solico Group’s decision as part of a broader trend: food manufacturers consolidating and expanding operations in the UAE to serve the Middle East, Africa and beyond from a single, stable base. In an increasingly competitive regional food market, the ability to produce at scale, ensure consistent quality and distribute efficiently can be a decisive advantage.
Ultimately, the Dh130 million Jafza investment reflects more than just corporate expansion. It signals sustained confidence in the UAE’s industrial infrastructure, regulatory environment and long-term vision, positioning the country as a key node in the global food manufacturing and distribution network.
