McDonald's UAE Umm Suqeim All-female Team at restaurant launch Image McDonald's UAE

McDonald’s UAE opens first outlet with all-female staff, features partial solar PV roof, EV charging ports

The latest venue features another ‘first’, as the branch has also introduced curbside ordering, allowing customers to place orders digitally from designated parking spaces

food threats

Heat, conflicts and export bans: Global food threats are on the rise

The extreme heat engulfing swaths of Asia, Europe and North America is just the latest challenge driving fluctuations in the global commodity markets and impacting food prices

millet

This humble grain is showing up on Michelin-starred menus

Consumer goods companies are betting on increasing demand with innovative, millet-based snacks

Bloom market

Dubai Municipality opens Bloom Market; largest retail space for exotic fresh produce: First look

The Bloom Market is a Dubai Municipality venture to increase the competitiveness of the emirate in sourcing and selling a range of products from across the world

commodity

Five key charts to watch in global commodity markets this week

The global oil market, climate change, Ukraine’s grains exports and the aluminium sector are among the top commodity markets to keep an eye on this week

Agthia Ventures launched Image Agthia Group

Abu Dhabi-based Agthia Group launches $54m CVC fund

The fund is stage-agnostic and will invest primarily in companies with clear product-market fit that are demonstrating revenue growth

Red Sea Global

Red Sea Global awards contracts worth $2.4bn to Saudi Airlines Catering

The partnership is expected to create more than 500 new jobs for local talent across the kingdom

aspartame

World Health Organization to assess cancer risk of diet-soda sweetener aspartame

The US Food and Drug Administration has considered aspartame safe since 1974, but others have questioned that finding

Mohammad A. Baker, Deputy Chairman and CEO of GMG and Mahmood Ameen, Chief Executive Officer, Emirates Flight Catering announcing the partnership Image GMG

Emirates Flight Catering, GMG ink deal to provide ready-to-go meals

The meals will be prepared based on a menu curated by Emirates Flight Catering chefs

plant based meat Thryve

IFFCO’s 100% plant-based meat Thryve set to debut in Saudi Arabia

Plant-based meat is increasingly being considered as an alternative to meat products in order to reduce the global carbon footprint of existing food systems

Ahmed Al Naqbi, CEO Emirates Development Bank Image Emirates Development Bank

Emirates Development Bank launches UAE’s first agritech loans programme

The programme is targetted at farmers, local producers, technology providers, equipment suppliers, and those involved in the agriculture support ecosystem

al khayyat investments _ interview with Managing director Zaid Al Khayyat Image Supplied

Zaid S Al Khayyat of Al Khayyat Investments shares the company’s expansion plans

The holding company’s managing director highlights how the company has been charting its growth path as it supports Dubai’s grand economic vision

G20 MEET

UAE calls for ensuring food security at G20 Agriculture Ministers’ meet

The G20 Agriculture Ministers meet called for the need to establish sustainable agricultural systems capable of adapting to climate change and biodiversity loss

Food security AgriTech GCC

GCC: How tech can support food security

We explore the role of innovative technologies in achieving food security in the GCC region

Bateel Bakery Image credit Bateel

Bateel International expands culinary portfolio with launch of Bateel Bakery

The new concept is backed by a rapid expansion plan in the region and internationally, across malls, commercial centres, airports and standalone street locations

Americana Restaurants on MSCI UAE Index

KFC, Pizza Hut holding firm Americana Restaurants lists on MSCI UAE Index

The index is widely recognised as an important benchmark for investment decision-making by investors in emerging markets

food security through IFPA

The UAE is the new headquarter of International Islamic Food Processors Association

IFPA works to promote intra-OIC trade and investment between agri-food private-sector businesses across the entire ecosystem and food supply chain in member states

IHC photo twitter IHC official

Abu Dhabi-based IHC posts 20.5% rise in Q1 net profit to Dhs4.3bn

The company achieved a robust revenue increase of 50 per cent versus Q1 2022, reaching Dhs15.7bn during Q1 2023

Green Corp

Bahrain’s agribusiness platform Green Corp takes a stake in Badia Farms

Established in 2016, Badia Farms’ sustainable farming techniques produce fruits and vegetables without sunlight or soil

Operation Falafel

Operation Falafel adds two new outlets to its UAE portfolio

Both outlets will serve a Middle Eastern menu largely focused on sandwiches, platters and an option to build your own bowl

Al Ghurair Foods

KEZAD Group, Al Ghurair Foods team up for Dhs1bn food processing projects

The agreement will mark the first phase of Al Ghurair Foods division’s investments in KEZAD

Oreo Cafe

Oreo Cafe opens at Doha’s Hamad International Airport

The cafe in the new North Node offers a wide selection of sweet inventions including Oreo milkshakes, muffins and cheesecakes

Eid Al Fitr

Meals to make Eid Al Fitr truly festive

Treat your loved ones to unique gourmet experiences this Eid

GMG's new Dubai Investment Park facility is one of the UAE’s largest food manufacturing facilities

GMG eyes global expansion, launches four food manufacturing units

GMG’s Dubai Investment Park facility – one of UAE’s largest food manufacturing facilities – includes three factories to process added-value meat, poultry, and seafood items

ADQ AgTech Park commences operations with vertical farming project

ADQ’s AgTech Park begins operations, launches vertical farming project

At full scale, the 200-hectare AgTech Park will target production volumes of over 40 kilotonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables annually

Yolk Brands

Yolk Brands acquires 1762

The eatery joint joins Pickl and BonBird in the group

Middle East and tackling food security

Here’s how the Middle East can feed the world sustainably

GCC countries could produce food cheaply from bioreactors because their renewable energy costs can be lower than the global average

Plant-based meat

Dubai opens 100% plant-based meat factory

Dubai Industrial City will be home to IFFCO’s Thryve factory, which is catalysing the move towards a healthier food supply chain

RedSea and Saudi Downtown Company sign MoU

PIF-owned Saudi Downtown Company, RedSea to work together

The new partnership, underscored by an MoU, aims to build and operate RedSea greenhouses at SDC locations

The COFE Team Image location courtesy: Emirati Coffee Co.

COFE raises $15m in Series B funding round

Last year, COFE announced a partnership with the Saudi Coffee Company with a mandate to invest SAR1.2bn in the kingdom’s coffee sector by 2030