Silver Line Gate Group (SLG Group) has officially commenced construction on its AED 200 million integrated hub at Dubai Industrial City, a leading manufacturing and logistics center in the Middle East and one of the 10 dynamic business districts under TECOM Group PJSC in Dubai.
The facility, which encompasses 1.37 million square feet of manufacturing, warehouse, and corporate office space, is set to open next year. The announcement was made during SIAL Paris 2024, the renowned global food exhibition held from October 19 to 23 at Paris Nord Villepinte, France.
SLG Group, known for its prominent food and beverage (F&B) brands such as Lancy, Gardo, Silva, Sama, and Zain, will boast an annual production capacity of 90,000 tonnes of milk powder and 10,000 tonnes of butter at this new hub. This facility will enhance the manufacturer’s range of milk, whey, and specialty products, including fruit and vegetable-based seasonings.
“Food security is a cornerstone of economic prosperity, and sustainable F&B value chains are essential to embed resilience in the global future,” said Saud Abu Alshawareb, Executive Vice President of Industrial at TECOM Group, representing Dubai Industrial City. “Advanced manufacturing is an essential pillar to achieve this vision, and our ecosystem has been purpose-built to nurture this growth.”
“Customers like SLG Group embody Dubai Industrial City’s direct contribution to the UAE’s food security agenda and our commitment to driving economic excellence through collaborative innovation in the manufacturing sector. We welcome such partnerships to collaboratively realise the vision for a global food-secure future in line with the goals of Operation 300bn, Make it in the Emirates, and Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’.”
Shereen Saeed, General Manager at SLG Group, stated: “The commencement of work on our manufacturing facility at Dubai Industrial City is a major milestone in our journey and will strengthen the regional value chain for F&B products. Our state-of-the-art facility will leverage Dubai Industrial City’s infrastructure to fortify the regional manufacturing economy, ensuring a resilient and agile supply of essential milk-based products. Dubai’s emergence as a global industrial hub makes it the strategic choice for our growth, and this facility will fuel our expansion into new markets.”
The progress on this integrated manufacturing hub is a significant step in Dubai and the UAE’s emergence as a global manufacturing powerhouse, aligning with the long-term vision of the National Food Security Strategy 2051. Once operational, the new hub will cater to clients, including bakeries, restaurants, ice cream manufacturers, hotels, and caterers across the GCC, African, and Southeast Asian markets.
Equipped with fully automated machinery and equipment to ensure operational and quality excellence, SLG Group’s facility is expected to create 300 new jobs, significantly contributing to Dubai’s and the UAE’s manufacturing and logistics sectors. The company will also benefit from Dubai Industrial City’s strategic location, which offers proximity to essential transport networks, including Al Maktoum International Airport, Jebel Ali Port, an Etihad Rail freight terminal, and key regional roadways, facilitating seamless connectivity for its planned market expansion.
Dubai Industrial City currently hosts over 1,000 local, regional, and international customers, along with 300 operational factories that enhance the ‘Made in UAE’ brand worldwide, including industry leaders such as A.P. Moeller-Maersk, Patchi, and Al Barakah Dates.
At SIAL Paris 2024, as part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism’s (DET) delegation, Dubai Industrial City highlighted the role of its Make Brilliance global awareness campaign in promoting industry excellence. Launched in May 2023, Make Brilliance represents a strategic partnership with the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to advance manufacturing in the food sector and with DET to attract international manufacturers to establish and export from Dubai and the UAE.
Among the largest manufacturing hubs in the region, Dubai Industrial City is a key part of TECOM Group’s portfolio of business districts, which includes Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Design District (d3), and Dubai Science Park.