Middle East’s Top 10 Manufacturing Companies to Watch in 2022

Companion of Credibility
in the Commercial,
Residen al, and
Industrial Markets
Disrup ve Technology
Pioneering Technologies in
the Middle East
Manufacturing Industry
Inside Middle East
Manufacturing
Top Business Opportuni es
in Middle East’s
Manufacturing Space
Vol.05
Issue: 15
2022
Bin
Dasmal
Middle East's
Top
10
Manufacturing
Companies to Watch
in 2022
Group
www.bindasmal.com

editor
Bhushan Bhad
Managing Editor
n a world of astonishing technologies propelling
Ibusiness enthusiasts to uprise in the ever-evolving
market, the agile development of industrialists has
expanded the spectrum of global markets.
Known for the marvels that the technological revolution has
brought to the forefront, the manufacturing segment has
never missed the global speculation. With globalization
encapsulating almost every significant sector, geostrategic
regions have facilitated the great opportunity for the
industrial establishment, labor management, ease of doing
businesses, and the global transition of region-specific
industry into the global manufacturing-logistics-retail
system.
And one such global thread that connects the bipolar world
into a unified globalized village in the Middle East. As
known worldwide, the region exempts the business
fraternity’s high excise duty and also helps industrialists
with its ease of doing business facilitation. This has enabled
the region to be the cradle of opportunities that are not only
assisting companies in establishing themselves in this ever-
growing market but also enhancing the quality of life of the
local communities by utilizing the age-old skills required by
various industries.
With our latest edition, “Middle East’s Top 10
Manufacturing Companies to Watch in 2022,” we bring you
Into The Middle
East’s Manufacturers

the most resilient companies that exemplify the true nature
of technology leadership.
With Bin Dasmal Group on the cover, you will enjoy diving
into the marvels of Middle East manufacturers who have
successfully proved their mettle and exemplified the globe
with technology leadership.
As you flip through pages or scroll by the digital version,
ensure to read the industry expert opinion that unleashes a
window inside the business spectrum and enlightens the
world with technological wisdom.
Moving further and adding our flare to your reading leisure,
we have supplemented the edition with an in-house editorial
article.
I hope you enjoy the read!
- Bhushan Bhad
,
,
Middle East has opened up
new makrket and
propelled business growth
to unimaginable heights

Unholding a legacy of Qulity
AL Ain Farms
A Global Facilitator of
Frozen Foods
AL Islami Foods
Group LLC
Providing Value to coustomers
with Continuous Innovation
Gulf Centre
Cosmetics
DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY
Pioneering Technologies in the
Middle East Manufacturing
Industry
INSIDE MIDDLE
EAST MANUFACTURING
Top Business Opportunities in
Middle East’s Manufacturing
Space
20 36
Leon Farrant
Delivering Premium Quality Food
Products Since 1976
United Foods
Company (PJSC)
C
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O
14
24
28
32
40
Articles

Cover Story
08
Bin
Dasmal
Group
www.bindasmal.com

sales@insightssuccess.com
May, 2022
Circulation Manager Tanaji Fartade
Research Analyst Eric Smith
Editor-in-Chief Pooja M. Bansal
Anish Miller
Senior Editor
Kelly, David
Business Development Executives
Managing Editor
Sherin Rodricks
Business Development Manager
Bhushan Bhad
Art & Design Head
Art & Design Assistant
Visualiser David King
Co-designer
Rohil Shinganapurkar
Mrunalinee Deshmukh
Marketing Manager Joseph D'souza
Technical Consultants Prachi, Rajeshwari
Technical Head Jacob Smile
Assistant Technical Head
SME-SMO Executive Gemson
Digital Marketing Manager Alina Sege
Assistant Digital Marketing Manager Pooja, Atul
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Sales Executives Mark, Alice
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Assisting Editors Trishika, Shrutika
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Featuring Brief
Company
K. Jacob John
Chief Executive Officer
Alessa Industries Co
alessa.com.sa
Bin Dasmal Group
bindasmal.com
Al Ain Farms
alainfarms.com
Al Islami Foods
alislamifoods.com
Al Ghurair Group
alghurair.com
Al Ain Farms is one of the UAE's leading Dairy, Juice and
Poultry companies and is committed to being an environmentally
conscientious farm.
Al Ghurair Investment is one of the largest diversified family
business groups in the Middle East, with operations in seven
distinct industry sectors.
Al Islami Foods is a premium halal food company. They have
been maintaining their standards by exerting tight control over the
raw material, procurement, production, and supply chain
operations.
Alessa group was founded by Hamad Abdullah Alessa in 1935.
Today Alessa group is known as the Alessa Industries Company
(AIC).
Bin Dasmal Group have been conducting business globally
since 1976. We are dedicated to providing quality products and
expert services at competitive prices.
Willem Van Walt Meijer
Shahid N. Khan
Mr. Osama
Abdulaziz Alessa
Mr. Khalifa Abdulla
Ahmed Dasmal
Chairman
Mr. Yousry Hemdan
Ahmed Ibrahim
Lubrex FZC
lubrex.net
Qatar Steel
qatarsteel.com.qa
Gulf Cryo
gulfcryo.com
Gulf Center Cosmetics
gccmfg.business.site
Gulf Center Cosmetics Manufacturing LLC (GCCM) is Skin
Care, Personal Care and Home Care products manufacturing
factory in the UAE.
Gulf Cryo was the first gas manufacturer in Kuwait to provide
industrial gases such as oxygen and nitrogen to the booming
local petroleum industry.
Lubrex FZC is a leading lubricant manufacturing company,
registered in Hamriyah Free Zone, Sharjah, UAE. It was
established in 2005 as the flag bearer in the UAE of a group of
lubricant manufacturing oil exporting companies with decades of
experience.
Qatar Steel was established in 1974 as the first integrated steel
plant in the Arabian Gulf. Commercial Production Commenced
in 1978. The Company has operated as a wholly owned
subsidiary of industries Qatar since 2003.
Mr. Amer Huneidi
Executive Chairman
Abbas Moniri
Managing Director
Abdulrahman Ali
Al-Abdulla
Managing Director
& CEO
United Foods
Company (PJSC)
unitedfoods.ae
United Foods Company provides quality products to our
consumers – products that are safe, nutritious, healthy, and full
of flavor.
Fethi Khiari

Bin Dasmal
Group Companion of Credibility
in the Commercial,
Residential, and Industrial
Markets
Over a period
of more than
four decades, the
Bin Dasmal
Group has been
expanding its
market reach
and developing
its overall
corporate values.
C
o
v
e
r
S
t
o
r
y
Bin Dasmal Group - Head Oﬃce - Shelkh Zayed
Road - Dubai
Bin Dasmal Group - Manufacturing & Trading
Facilities in Dubai Industrial City
Bin Dasmal Group - Manufacturing & Trading
Facilities in Dubai Investments Park - 1

The needs of an ever-increasing world population are
unlimited. Meeting their rising demands is a
challenging task for every industry globally. One
sector that has been doing non-stop work comprehensively
to raise the standard of living is the manufacturing industry.
The most critical factor in business is manufacturing the
product, which leads to a smooth flow of marketing and
sales processes. Whether for commercial, residential, or
industrial purposes, the production of many quality
products necessitates skilled labor, equipment, technology,
and expertise.
It is well known that today, people trust brands that have
built an excellent reputation in the market over the years.
This reputation comes from providing quality products that
fulfill the clients' requirements. When it comes to offering
top-quality products and services, the Bin Dasmal Group
has been the market leader in manufacturing and supplying
them to consumers.
The company manufactures and supplies a vast range of
products and services for any project, whether commercial,
residential, or industrial. Some of the products and services
of the company's offerings include air handling units, fan
coil units, refrigeration compressors, evaporators,
condensing units, adhesives, coatings, sealants, plumbing,
automated doors, material overseeing equipment, lifting
gear, ducting solutions, MEP services, paint, paper bags,
and many more.
Mr. Khalifa Abdulla Ahmed Dasmal founded the Bin
Dasmal Group in 1973 in Dubai, UAE. He is still the active
Chairman of the group. In the earlier days of its inception,
it was a general contracting company, then known as Bin
Dasmal Contracting, that is now specialized in MEP
projects, indoor air quality solutions, and energy
optimization of buildings.
A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with A Single
Step
Over the years, the Bin Dasmal Group has added several
companies under its umbrella—some as organic expansions
and some as joint ventures. The first expansion took place
in the 1980s with the addition of Bin Dasmal General
Trading, representing some of the world's leading brands in
air-conditioning and refrigeration materials.
From the 1990s onwards, the focus was on manufacturing,
where most of the group's business is today. More
specifically, the group developed its brands. To name a few,
in the space of air-conditioning, Trosten Industries, KAD
Air-conditioning, Delta Duct Air-conditioning, and the most
recent JV finalized at the start of this year, EH Price Gulf.
In the space of automatic doors, Bin Dasmal Doors and
Accessa. In the space of lifting and safety equipment,
Dutest and Gripton.
Talking about the USPs of the group, Mr. Khalifa says, "At
Bin Dasmal Group, we put our people first. The owners and
managers work closely to ensure that attention is given to
all important matters. An effort is constantly made to ensure
that nothing is overlooked or neglected. This is essentially
the main USP of the group."
Middle East's Top 10 Manufacturing Companies to Watch in 2022

Prioritizing Customer Satisfaction
When it comes to manufacturing, Bin Dasmal Group excels
in international accreditation. A lot of effort is put into R&D
to ensure that all products are ahead in terms of quality and
reliability.
"Customer satisfaction is paramount. This is further
supported by the timeliest delivery of products and after-
sales service," Mr. Khalifa cited when asked about how Bin
Dasmal Group ensures the best products in the market.
Keeping Pace with Technology
Technology is everywhere in every segment of various
industries. It is reshaping so many processes in a concise
space of time. With the use of technology, accuracy and
speed can be achieved in every industry. Technology has
enabled significant upgrades in the manufacturing industry
too.
Putting his views on technology's impact on the
manufacturing industry and its adaption to the company's
units, Mr. Khalifa says, “I would say automation and
digitalization have been some of the most important
developments in recent times. Our group has invested much
in these areas to ensure that consistency, streamlining, and
timeliness of operations are prevalent, and that the highest
customer satisfaction level is achieved.”
Conquering the Challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge in almost
every part of the world for the last two years. It has affected
the operations of many industries. When asked how his
company rose against the pandemic situation, Mr. Khalifa
said, "Initially, we noticed that it became more of a
challenge to keep the factories running at full capacity as
the number of orders had decreased in the domestic
markets. This pushed us to focus more on exports, which is
now where we anticipate large growth.”
“The other challenge is inflation and the rising cost of raw
materials and supply-chain hurdles. This has pushed us to
focus on improving our sourcing options without
compromising quality,” he adds.
In terms of the safety of its employees, the company has a
dedicated QHSE department that constantly supervises the
health and safety of its employees.
Today, energy and health are key areas where the group is
more focused. More specifically, related to its business, this
means energy-efficient air-conditioning products aimed to
deliver the best indoor air quality solutions.
Leadership Ethics
Mr. Khalifa has earned a concrete set of leadership qualities
over the years. He has seen ups and downs in the industry
and managed to scale his group of companies through all
this. In response to what leadership qualities, he believes to
be the most significant for successfully handling
manufacturing operations, he said, “Leadership is
responsibility. In the manufacturing industry, this starts
with the factory staff. Those are the ones that end up
making your factory work well. Take care of them, and
you're halfway there.”
A Pro cient Leader
Mr. Khalifa Abdulla Ahmed Dasmal started his
journey in 1973. This was a couple of years a er the
UAE was formed in 1971. Star ng out with just one
engineer and an accountant, he started out at a small
office in Deira.
A er securing his first project, he hired his first
workforce from India. This was the group's humble
start to marvelous things to come.
Through his ability to influence, persuade, and
inspire his people to achieve goals that some mes
seem impossible, he has had a significant role in
what the group has achieved ll date. His unyielding
support of entrus ng and empowering his people is
the reason they love and respect him, and they never
think twice about dedica ng their maximum efforts
all the me.

He further states that “customer satisfaction is the other
part. That is where the executives play their role. For us,
that means understanding the customers' requirements
precisely, which are in the areas of timely deliveries,
meeting the highest international standards, and supporting
them with quality after-sales services.”
Words of Guidance
As a top-notch leader, Mr. Khalifa has a broad
understanding of the manufacturing industry. His 40-plus
years of experience can offer valuable wisdom to
entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into the manufacturing
industry.
As a word of guidance for such people, Mr. Khalifa asks
them to focus on automation. product certification, export,
energy efficiency, and mobility to ensure the effective
commencing of their career path.
The Way of the Future
Thanks to its competent and dedicated teams, supported by
good leadership and the great support from the government,
the Bin Dasmal Group has been able to overcome the
challenges of the past two years and aim for future growth.
Shedding light on scaling the company's operations
eventually, Mr. Khalifa said, “It is aimed at adapting our
product offerings to the current market requirements and
developing our export business.”
“We will continue to focus on our core strengths- techno-
commercial competencies, solid administrative support, and
good leadership moving ahead,” he added.
Ÿ Delta Duct Air Condi oning Best Accredited Inspec on
Body cer ficate awarded from Dubai Accredita on
Ÿ Department (DAC) – Dutest Inspec on Services
Accredita on Cer ficate for Performance Tes ng by
Emirates Interna onal
Ÿ Accredita on Centre (EIAC) – Trosten Industries
Taqdeer Award for Labor Welfare 2018/2019 –
Par cipa ons
Ÿ Foster – Diamond Award – Distributor of the Year –
2017/2018 Bin Dasmal General Trading.
Corporate Social Responsibili es (CSR)
Ÿ Blood Dona on Campaign at the group's staff camp
Ÿ Suppor ng and Par cipa on in the "Human
Fingerprints" Ceremony held by "The Rashid Center for
People of Determina on" in Dubai.
Team Building Ac vi es
Ÿ Dubai Fitness Challenge - Dubai Ride 2021 – Bin Dasmal
Group
Ÿ Annual Sports event at Topgolf, Dubai – Bin Dasmal
Contrac ng
Ÿ Annual Cricket Event 2020/2021 – Bin Dasmal Group
Ÿ Celebra on of "World Refrigera on Day" 2020 – Bin
Dasmal General Trading
Ÿ Cer fica on Distribu on by Highfield Awarding Body to
Bin Dasmal Group Employees for Compliance (HABC)
Awards and Recogni on
Since its incep on, these accolades prove that Bin Dasmal
Group's significant and exponen al achievements are
reaching greater heights.
CBNME MEP Awards 2022 – Sustainable Ini a ve of the
year.
Ÿ Bin Dasmal Contrac ng
MEP Awards 2021 – Highly Commended Awards for:
Ÿ Supplier of the Year – Trosten Industries
Ÿ Retrofit Project of the Year – Bin Dasmal Contrac ng
Climate Control Award 2019– Short listed among the
best 3 companies in UAE for:
Ÿ Manufacture of the Year – KAD Air Condi oning
Ÿ HVAC Accessories Manufacture of the Year – Delta Duct
Air Condi oning.
MEP Middle East Awards – 2019 Short listed among the
best 3 companies in UAE for:
Ÿ Supplier of the Year – KAD Air Condi oning Enterprise
Transforma on Summit and Awards – 2019/2021
Ÿ Bin Dasmal Group
Annual MEP UAE conference 2019/2020
Ÿ Bin Dasmal General Trading
Ÿ KAD Air Condi oning

kimberly Khoury
Paving her Way in Sustainability Development
&
&
The
20
BUSINESSWOMEN
to Watch, 2020
Most

| May 2022 www.insightssuccess.com
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15

16

17

PIONEERING
Technologies in the Middle East
MANUFACTURING
INDUSTRY
Apart from the current technological upgradations, there
were a few upgradations applied in the 18th century to
transform the manufacturing industry, and those
transformations are-
• At the end of the 18th century, the first industrial
revolution took place through the design of steam
engines, and industry 1.0 came into existence in Britain
and offered machines for production.
• After that, the technological revolution, or industry 2.0,
made the major railroad networks and telegraph for the
ease of shifting people's thoughts.
• Now, the digital revolution and Industry 3.0 transforms
analog and mechanical systems into digital systems.
Technology Re-shaping the Manufacturing Industry
Many transformations are taking place in the Middle East's
manufacturing industry. These transformations are based on
digital and decentralized systems that bring technological
advancements in manufacturing products.
However, to adopt more advanced technologies,
entrepreneurs are pushing towards more diverse approaches
like
• Industry 4.0
After the industry 3.0 or digital revolution, industry 4.0
inculcates extensive restructuring of the production method
Science and technology are the two primary
Sdevelopment sources of the world; scientific or
technological transformation leads every business
sector across the globe. Every country is economically
developing after innating the technological advancement;
similarly, Middle East Countries have tapped the potential
of the technology and adopted many technological
advances.
Middle East countries are also focusing on becoming the
leading destination for the manufacturing industry globally.
They are providing an opportunity to entrepreneurs and
business icons from all over the world to come and
establish their businesses in the middle east region.
In case you have observed earlier, the manufacturing
industry was in a fix, but today, it faces stiff global
competition, and its business environment is growing
rapidly. It has become essential to develop new products
that can manage the changes in production volume and
product life quickly and flexibly.
Due to the technological transformations, there are
numerous advantages in the business world; the concepts
like Cognitive Computing, IoT, Digitalization, and Cyber-
Physical Systems (CPS) have collected pertinence across
the industries, especially in manufacturing. These
advancements have re-evaluated industry 4.0, the German
high-tech approach by Hofmann and Rusch.
- Yannick Schilly
"Never before in the history of mankind has the pace of innovation and
technological acceleration been faster than it is today.”
20

Disrup ve Technology
21

by substituting their analog and centralized workflows into
the decentralized and digital production method.
Industry 4.0 helps businesses design the roadmaps from
their earlier cases, ROI, technology, skills, and budgets to
accelerate the digital transformation. It enables the
industries to bring transparency to the manufacturing
processes and produce more variety of products.
• Digital Manufacturing
We all have heard about digital technology or advancement.
But how could the production be done digitally? Digital
manufacturing doesn't mean that the production of goods
gets done digitally. An organization takes advantage of
digital technologies to handle its manufacturing operation.
With its help, manufacturers create a connected, networked,
and fully integrated factory and support to reduce the
bottlenecks, decrease inventory, enhance the quality, cut
time to market, and meet the customer's demand.
As per Deloitte, digital manufacturing has an average
increase of 10 percent in product output, 11 percent in
factory potential utilization, and 12 percent in labor
potency.
• Artificial Intelligence
In the next two decades, AI will do all the jobs that humans
perform. Every industry is opting for the substitute human
with the help of AI; it helps the industries to reduce the
inventories and decrease the cost.
• Internet of Things (IoT)
Internet of Things (IoT) plays an essential role in the
manufacturing industry, as it will analyze the production
quotas and accumulate the control rooms. It also can help in
creating the designs for predictive support future. With the
combination of Augmented Reality (AR) and customer
feedback analysis, several important insights can help in
driving innovation.
• Virtual Reality (VR)
The manufacturing industries in the Middle East are using
VR to know the upcoming threats; after getting an
intimation, the industries take appropriate actions and kill
all threats.
Many industries have integrated VR to examine the
production lines and the possible hazards to maintain
quality, safety, and security.
• Augmented Reality (AR)
Artificial Intelligence helps sort the complicated process of
maintaining databases and inventory but selecting products
from a warehouse still requires human resources;
accordingly, AR helps to overcome the dilemma and makes
the process accurate and fast.
• Cyber-Physical Systems
The manufacturing industries in the middle east are
implementing Cyber-Physical Systems. The system is a
combination of calculation, networking, and physical
methods. It is a federation of all systems from various
fields, and it focuses on the primary objective of managing
the physical process by using real-time feedback.
It initiates the new production methodologies to match
tomorrow's manufacturing industry standards.
There are many other technological reforms that
manufacturing industries in the middle east will adopt, and
few already have implemented; such advancements are
analytics, cloud, digital customer experience, cyber
security, big data, and many more.
Conclusion
The new technological transformations lead to new hopes
for the manufacturing industry in the middle east region,
and it will help the industry to reduce costs, maintain
inventories, and streamline organizations' functioning.
The entrepreneurs or business icons will also get an
excellent opportunity and a business environment to
flourish their businesses in the country. Similarly, there is a
vast scope for manufacturers to enrich their production with
the effective utilization of technology and resources.
- Madhu Guleria
22

Al Islami
Foods Group LLC
I am a rm believer
in expanding capacity and
making investments that
are in line with the growth
of the business – and our
ve-year plan re ects
those principles.
In a world of ever-evolving technology, rising market
dynamics, and market uncertainties, business one of
the dynamic market segments that has efficiently
served humanity and simultaneously built trust-based
relationships across the consumer pool has been food
manufacturers.
With its industry expertise and upgraded tech-based
workflow, food manufacturers have top the leaderboard
even in the most uncertain times like COVID.
Understanding this essential role of food manufacturers, we
crossed paths with one of the award-winning manufacturers
in UAE—Al Islami Foods Group LLC. Headed by
Shahid N.Khan as the Chief Executive Officer of the
organization, this group has grabbed all the spotlight
amongst the global business circle.
Without further ado, let's dive into the interview to learn
more about the entrepreneurship journey that made Al
Islami Foods a remarkable success.
Below are the interview highlights.
Please brief our audience about your company, its USPs,
and how it is currently positioned as a leader in the
manufacturing industry.
Al Islami Foods is an award-winning halal food company
founded almost 50 years ago by Hajj Saeed Lootah. Today
it is one of the largest frozen food manufacturers in the
UAE and the wider GCC region. Recently Al Islami Foods
won 'Best Halal Consumer Brand' at the 2020 iHalal
International Awards, given by the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC), an organization of 57 Islamic countries.
Our product portfolio has expanded over the years from
whole chicken and chicken portions to include processed
foods that we produce in our state-of-the-art factory in
Hamriyah Free Zone. These include beef and chicken
burgers, chicken nuggets and breaded pieces, chicken and
beef Frankfurters. We also have a line of frozen fruit and
vegetables, French fries, and seafood, including shrimp,
white fish fillet, squid rings, and seafood cocktails, as well
as some children's items under the Aladdin brand. We
import our meats directly from halal-certified
slaughterhouses in Brazil. Our processing facility employs
24

Shahid N.Khan
CEO
AL Islami Foods
Group LLC
25

the latest equipment and highest safety standards and is
certified in accordance with the BRC, FSSC 22000, and
HACCP schemes. The requirements of these programs are
put into practice thanks to our highly experienced QA team
and in-house laboratory for conducting microbial analyses.
What are your distinct offerings, and how do they
impact the Middle East's Manufacturing Industry and
your clients?
We remain strong in our home region of the GCC –
particularly in UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait, and we
will continue to bolster these core markets. Then, from
2023 we have identified new markets where we see the
potential for our products, such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan,
Iraq, and Malaysia. In the second stage, we will target large
Muslim diaspora countries in Europe and North America.
Please brief us about the featured person's(s) journey in
the industry and how they have contributed to the firm's
success.
I was appointed CEO of Al Islami Foods in March 2020 –
and being placed at the helm of the firm right at the start of
a global pandemic was undoubtedly a challenge. However,
ultimately Al Islami went on to enjoy one of its most
successful years in business to date – thanks in part to my
illustrious background as an FMCG business leader, with
strong achievements in building power brands, turning
around problem businesses, and launching greenfield
projects.
I joined Unilever as a trainee and spent 17 years working
across Asia, Europe, and the US. Further, I was Vice
President by the time I left in 2000, when I moved to Dubai
with my family and became Managing Director of branded
business at IFFCO Group. During my time at IFFCO I
developed and launched a mega brand called London Dairy,
a premium ice cream that we created from scratch, and is
now the biggest ice cream brand in the Middle East.
In 2005, I was headhunted by Kuwait's Al-Ghanim
Industries, where I initially led their large FMCG
distribution company before moving to their Electronics
Retail business. I spent many years in Kuwait, before
returning to Dubai to join Al Islami Foods. We have a very
passionate and talented team in Al Islami, and we work
very well together to build a great organization and I have
been very happy with the company's performance since
then.
Being an experienced leader, share your opinion on how
the adoption of modern technologies has impacted your
industry and how is your company riding the technology
wave?
Indeed, the company has made substantial investments in
its processing technology, equipment, machinery, and
logistics in recent years, including the construction of a
cutting-edge master kitchen for conducting R&D and
working on the development of new products.
We also use this facility to carry out sensory testing with a
tasting panel in order to make product comparisons,
benchmark with the competition, and aid the development
of new products.
Other recent investments include X-ray technology for
finished goods inspection and high-speed slicers for salami,
while we have tripled our marination capacity and we are
investing in a new coating line for making breaded
products. We will be expanding the refrigeration capacity of
our factory. Regarding distribution, we have almost doubled
our storage capacity, and we employ third-party logistics
providers when needed for seasonal peaks such as
Ramadan. Everything we supply has to be transported at
minus 30 degrees Celsius, which requires extremely careful
management and a fleet of high-tech vehicles. Every truck,
van, and lorry in our fleet is fitted with a GPS tracking
device to ensure route optimization.
26

Considering the pandemic crisis, what is your future
strategy to manage the company operations?
Indeed, Al Islami's achievements during the past year
include continuing to operate despite challenging
circumstances, such as supply chain disruptions in
transshipment ports throughout Europe and elsewhere. Our
supply chains are very long, and we had to ensure that we
didn't run out of product, so we took a calculated risk and
ordered more than we required to avoid running out.
The gamble paid off, and we were able to further strengthen
our market share while motivating our sales executives in
order to maximize our availability and visibility in the
marketplace. We motivated the entire team to overcome
these challenges, and this proved extremely valuable during
the pandemic.
From a consumer perspective, the company has also
managed to cleverly highlight the purity and pristineness of
frozen products compared with fresh produce
Shoppers tend to pick up products such as fresh fruit and
vegetables to feel them, often replacing them several times
before making a selection, which is not ideal in a pandemic.
Moreover, while the consumer may think they are buying
something fresh, if you look at the supply chain of fresh
vegetables, they often have quite a long journey from the
farm in whichever country they were grown, to being
cleaned, sorted, packed, transported and kept in cold
storage, before finally arriving on the supermarket shelf.
Frozen products can therefore actually be 'fresher' than
fresh produce. Take spinach, for example. Within an hour of
being picked, it is washed and frozen at minus 30 degrees,
which locks in the freshness and taste for an entire year
until its expiry date.
Indeed, frozen vegetables offer convenience because there
is no need to stock up on fresh products every time you
want to cook a meal, and they still taste as fresh as the day
they were picked – without the need for any additives.
Consumers have come to understand and appreciate this
concept thanks to the company's media campaigns, like
'Frozen is the new fresh', while not wanting to make
frequent visits to crowded supermarkets during the
pandemic has led shoppers to stock up their freezers. This
has undoubtedly given us an edge over competitors in the
fresh produce sector.
How do you envision scaling your organization's
operations and offerings in 2022 and beyond?
As consumers prioritize hygiene, nutrition, and long shelf-
life in their purchases, alongside the phenomenal rise in
popularity of plant-based diets and demand for halal food
products worldwide, Al Islami will surely continue to enjoy
a competitive edge in the market going forward. The
company's ethics also play an important role, particularly
our halal positioning and quality-conscious attitude,
together with our range of great products that we do not
compromise on, in any way.
I am a firm believer in expanding capacity and making
investments that are in line with the growth of the business
– and our five-year plan reflects those principles.
In the second half of that plan, we would like to reach the
Muslim population in regions like North America, where an
authentic halal brand such as Al Islami would be welcomed,
and in order to do that we would even explore the
possibility of using third-party or white-label manufacturers
in those locations. If we wanted to sell frozen halal chicken
burgers and nuggets in Canada, for example, it would not
be financially sustainable to import the chicken from Brazil,
carry out the manufacturing in the UAE and then export the
products to Canada. Instead, we would need to find the right
partners who would adhere to halal principles and produce
Al Islami products locally under our supervision.
While broadening production to reach distant markets is
one aspect of the company's growth, the second, equally
important aspect is finding the right distributors in those
markets. We can do our own distribution in the UAE, but in
all other markets, we require importers and local
distributors, so I am very open to networking with those
who would like to bring Al Islami products into their local
markets.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs
who aspire to venture into your industry space?
My advice to young entrepreneurs is to focus on market
knowledge, learn about different segments and make a
proper business plan before venturing into any new area.
The food & Beverage market is massive, but if you
understand consumer habits and attitudes, you will be able
to carve out your niche successfully.
27

28

29

b
30
,

Leon Farrant
CEO and
Co-Founder
Green Li-ion
32

WHY PROFIT IS
NOT A DIRTY
WHEN IT COMES TO
CLEAN TECH!
Irefuse to accept that every green business venture
needs to pay a "green premium / tax" in order to make
a positive impact on the environment. For the savvy
investor or entrepreneur it is my belief that clean or green
technology and innovation needs to be the first port of call.
WHY you ask? There are many reasons, to list a few:
Ÿ It has a deeper importance and purpose to a larger
audience. As it has been said by Elon and many others
that the first Trillionaire is likely a climate tech
breakthrough company. There are more investors that
understand the importance of these . Bill Gates says in
his book "How to Avoid a Climate Disaster' that one of
the greatest need is to invest and fund innovators in this
space.
Ÿ Do you want to profit significantly and leave your
children with loads of money and no environment to
enjoy the money in? And if you do not have kids or plan
on having these little balls of joy then I am sure you can
find many examples of how the planet sustains your
current lifestyle and happiness. Perhaps investing in its
sustainability would be a good idea?
Ÿ Its profitable: Event without the opportunity to produce
and sell green or carbon credits. There are many
businesses that can be clean and still make the green
(Greenbacks that is). Beyond this if you can also
leverage government grants, subsidies and commissions
there a number of exceptionally profitable sub sectors
especially in the energy transition area.
Ÿ There is a warning attached however; do not be caught
green washing. One way to loose all credibility, value
and market positioning is to embark on an endeavour
that you do not truly believe in and or that you overstate
the benefit to the environment. You do not need to
remove all 51 billion tons of CO2 to be a worthy and an
impressive startups that will make a change for the
better. Making a small difference will get people's
attention and if you believe in the purpose it will shine
through. As mentioned, there are many opportunities for
innovation and profit, one area dear to my heart is the
creation of circular economies. The more circular
economies we can create, the less we rely on
environmental degradation. The energy transition
depends greatly on energy storage and so this is why we
are passionate about the creation of a circular economy
for batteries. To do this we need to make batteries that
are easily recycled and rejuvenated and is not only
commercially viable but profitable too!
Green innovation and investment by LEON FARRANT
33

In the recent years, there has been a rapid growth of
demand for precious metals such as cobalt, nickel and
lithium – therefore, demand on traditional mining has been
escalated. At the same time we have discarded 95% of all
the spent lithium ion batteries we have consumed; many of
them ending up in landfill. Mining is a valuable source of
revenue to resource rich countries like Indonesia for Nickel;
The Democratic Republic of the Congo for cobalt and Chile
for lithium. however these operations come at an
environmental and social cost.
Some of these critical battery materials only have a few
more decades of known reserves and interestingly all of
them can be fully rejuvenated millions of times from spent
batteries. According to Pitchbook Data, Inc (Published on
September 30 ,2021) – the market pertaining the battery
recycling industries would increase from $2 Billion in 2021
to $27.3 Billion in 2030. So one can quickly see there is a
commercial opportunity for anyone who can rejuvenate and
extract these materials and make anode and cathode
material ready for re-use in Lithium-Ion batteries. And, this
is not to mention the millions of tons of batteries in landfill
world wide. Any one for some urban mining? With a
forecast of EV sales rise from 5.7% to 15.6% in 2021 and in
2030 a rise to 34.7% This bought rise to an opportunity for
Green Li-ion when it entered the market and joined in the
battery recycling industry, with our technology.
As the eloquent Elon Musk says "we need a tonne of
batteries" to keep up with our consumer, transport and
energy transition demands. Green Li-ion enters the market
with a solution amidst the scarcity of precious metals and
closes the loop on battery rejuvenation. The Green Li-ion
GLMC technology can turn the equivalent of 56,000 spent
iPhone 8 batteries into brand new battery grade cathode
material in every 24 hours that quadruples the recyclers (or
battery maker) profit. As you can see your profits do not
need to be dirty, there are considerable wins still left in the
innovation and creation of circular economies.
To conclude; what is best for the planet is now also likely to
be very healthy for your wallet. With a financing trend
regarding battery recycling industry, last year and in the US
alone, $757.1 Million was injected into similar companies
to Green Li-ion such as Redwood Materials, Battery
Resources, and Nth Cycle – according to Pitchbook Data,
Inc. Green. clean and climate technology not only deserves
your attention should be a focus for investors and
innovators for years to come.
GREEN
LI-ION
34

Top
BUSINESS
in
MIDDLE EAST
Manufacturing
S P A C E
anufacturing is the primary function of any
Meconomy, and its main objective is to produce
more goods at the minimum expenses. The
industry can achieve this objective by depending upon the
automated heavy equipment.
The other business sectors are also dependent on the
manufacturing industry. In the earlier past, the
manufacturing industry had been declining. The service
sector has been growing in a few countries, which caused a
massive deficit in the world economy.
But in the recent past, the economic deficiency has been
declining because there has been significant growth in the
manufacturing sector in all the countries, especially in
Middle East countries. The country has been leading in
other business sectors as well.
The country provides massive opportunities for running the
business in the middle east region, especially in United
Arab Emirates (UAE). Holding the company in UAE is a
very lucrative and profitable option for global business
icons and entrepreneurs.
The country is convenient for all types of businesses; it
became feasible because the UAE’s government has been
working tirelessly to establish the region as one of the
thriving destinations globally for the manufacturing sector.
It attracts more business from all over the world.
The Freedom for the Manufacturing industry in Middle
East Country
Middle East country has become a vast space for the
manufacturing industry, and the government is also
allowing to set up manufacturing plants. This immigration
of the global entrepreneurs and business icons will bring
considerable opportunities to the country.
The Middle East has several tangible benefits for
manufacturers, and it has become the natural trade hub and
a maritime crossroads between Europe, Africa, and Asia.
All the gulf states have great conditioned port and airport
facilities and excellent road transport services.
The entrepreneurs and businesspeople will get a readily
accessible Indian market. The General Certificate of
Conformity (GCC) states has a $1.5trn market.
The manufacturing sectors became crucial for the region’s
diversification or economic growth. It has been the key
pillar for 2030’s vision of the middle east states like Saudi
Arabia, Bahrain, UAE-Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.
Aside from the other states of the middle east country, the
UAE or Abu Dhabi’s 2030s vision recognized that the
industrial sector could become the strategic driver for the
sustainability of the region’s economy.
According to the Oxford Economics data, UAE’s industrial
36

Inside Middle East Manufacturing
37

sector inculcated with extraction, utilities, construction, and
manufacturing and increased three times from 2007-to 17.
It is predicted that it will grow three times more in the next
decade. The states like Sharjah, Emirates of Abu Dhabi, and
Dubai had contributed 98.11% to the country’s GDP.
As per Tufts University’s 2017 Digital Planet Report, UAE
is listed as a ‘Stand Out’ region, and it has been recognized
as digitally advanced and displaying its high strength.
Opportunities for Other Business Sectors in Middle East
Manufacturing Space
In the middle east manufacturing space, increasing the new
business venture will help to grow the region’s economy,
and such businesses are-
• Logistics and Transport
In the middle east region, the Oman location has the
strategic advantage for rising the logistic sector and
international trade; with the support of the objective,
Oman’s various industries are integrating with government
agencies to standardize the procedure or create a resilient
pipeline of the industrial inputs and outputs. Due to these
efforts, Oman became 1st rank among the GCC states in the
world bank’s- trading across borders index.
There are many other businesses like Power and Energy,
Health Care, Retail, and many more
that have great opportunities in the region.
Advantages for Businesses in the Middle East
These entrepreneurs have many benefits from starting their
businesses in the middle east country, and a few of the
benefits have been discussed here –
• Location
The location is best suited to many business icons and
entrepreneurs because it includes the proximity of markets
and raw materials, labor availability, cost-effective energy,
and the transport facility. All the states of the Gulf country
have excellent airports and port facilities.
• Decentralized and Diversified Center
The region must succeed because it has great strengths that
indicate its strengths and challenges. In the last few years,
the Bahrain state of the Middle East alone has had a vast
number of global manufacturers. They have set up the
regional hubs in the kingdom, from giant Mondelez to F1
equipment supplier of Bell Racing Helmets.
• Raw Material
Another significant advantage for the manufacturers in the
region is the availability of raw materials. Bahrain has the
largest aluminum site globally, which brings massive
opportunities for companies that want to establish
aluminum manufacturing plants.
• Bright Future
Economic diversification can be a long process that can be
stretched for generations, and the companies like QDB,
SIDF, and Asyad put their efforts that are possible with the
suitable investment in automated manufacturing, training
programs, cunning skills, and the customized support for
the industrial SMEs.
These companies are participating in the campaign for
industrialization, which acts as an equalizer as the GCC
country is diversifying its economy slowly through various
establishments.
Concluding Words
The Middle East is an excellent destination for vacation,
with bright lighting and tall or creative architectural
buildings. The country is also renowned for petroleum oil
production.
Apart from these, the country opened the gate for
entrepreneurs, business people, and manufacturers to come
up and establish their ventures in the region.
This diversification will bring economic diversification and
leads the country towards the number one manufacturing
destination globally.
- Madhu Guleria
38

40
“

Mr. Fethi Khiari is the CEO of United
Food Company. He began his journey
in the food industry in Paris, where he
did his university graduation. His ﬁrst
job at Nestle promised him the chance
to travel around the whole world. He
puts, "I have been ﬁrst in Spain, then in
Mexico as a category manager of the
ice cream and frozen food products in
each of the markets.”
After nine years with the Swiss-based
multinational, in 1992, he moved to
Chupa Chups, the worldwide champion
of guerrilla marketing at that time. He
handled the Africa-Mena region from
Barcelona before moving to Colombia
and later to Brazil to start local
industrial setups.
Fourteen years later, he joined Iffco in
Dubai to manage and grow their
Tiffany confectioneries business. He
shares, "It was a memorable journey.
Each of the three companies has its
own philosophy, business model, and
market approach.”
In 2012, ten years ago, he decided to
quit the sugar-based confectionery and
bakery activities and take on a new
challenge: to manage a pure edible oil
commodity industry. At the time,
United Foods was heavily relying on its
exports to Syria, substantially
overlooking its local UAE market.
"AlHamdulellah, we succeeded in
changing the business model," he says
of successfully tackling that challenge.
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Middle East’s Top 10 Manufacturing Companies to Watch in 2022

Middle East’s Top 10 Manufacturing Companies to Watch in 2022

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