Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s Berain Water has planned to set up a new water bottling plant in the food industry zone of Al Ain Industrial City. The plant will be developed by ZonesCorp, one of the largest developers of economic zones in the UAE, at a cost of AED138-million ($37.5 million).
Mahdi Nasser Al- Qahtani, CEO of Berain Water, said, the new plant – a 36,000 sqm facility, is expected to commence operation in 2020 and will enhance the com- pany’s capacity to produce around 70,000 bottles of 200-600ml per hour. “The plant will also be able to produce bottled water and beverages in a variety of packaging types, such as glass and plastic bottles.
It will also be equipped to manufacture bottles and plastic caps.”
Abu Dhabi is fast growing as a hub for food manufacturing on the back of a booming domestic market and increasing exports, and Berain Water’s investment emphasises that growth. “The UAE and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong historical relations, and our latest partnership with the Saudi company Berain Water testifies to the strength of those ties,” said Saeed Eisa Mohammed Al Khyeli, director general of ZonesCorp.
Berain Water’s facility will also create 424 jobs in manufacturing, market- ing, distribution and sales which may increase to 807 jobs within two years with the addition of new production lines in 2021, Al Khyeli said.
ZonesCorp has devel- oped dedicated zones for the food industry that span areas in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
The two cities currently host several operational facilities, ranging from medium to large facto- ries that produce bottled drinking water, soft drinks, dates, animal feed, poultry products, dairy products and other food items.