Hayatna Participates in the Dairy Olympics 2025

Mr. Mazen Alrefae, сould you tell us about your company? How long have you been in this business?

— Our group consists of six companies, one of which is the largest animal feed factory in the UAE. We have two production facilities — in Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi. Every year, we produce 700,000 metric tons of feed, making us the largest feed producers in the UAE. We also have farm complexes where we breed Holstein cows. Our cows are the fifth generation bred in the UAE. We produce around 55 million liters of milk annually and currently hold 10% of the country’s dairy market. We’ve been in this business for over 20 years, and during this time, we have not only developed production but also modernized our facilities, creating state-of-the-art infrastructure for milk and dairy product production.

What makes your company different fr om other players in the UAE market?

— We stand out because we control the entire production cycle. We produce our own feed, manage the farms wh ere we breed cows, and have our own milk bottling lines. We also have our own veterinary clinic — one of the first in the region, which gives us an additional advantage. We fully control the quality at all stages of production.

Compared to competitors, many companies are involved only in part of the process, such as producing feed or bottling milk. We, however, are integrated across the entire cycle — from feed to packaging. This allows us to better control product quality and enhance its efficiency.

What are your goals for the near future?

— In the next two years, we plan to increase our herd to 10,000 cows. This will help us significantly expand production. We are also considering the possibility of opening organic dairy farms, as has already been done in the northern Emirates. We will continue to work on improving the sustainability and efficiency of our processes.

Additionally, one of our key goals is to improve food security in the UAE. We are actively developing production, localizing it, and aiming to enter international markets. It’s important that we can meet the needs of the domestic market while also contributing to the growth of exports.

Recently, Hayatna has been implementing many innovations. Could you tell us about one of them?

— Yes, we have several major innovation projects. One of the latest is our collaboration with SIG Combibloc, a global leader in packaging. We are implementing the latest packaging technologies, such as Prisma Edge from Tetra Pak. Together with SIG, we are developing new bottling and packaging lines that will be more sustainable and efficient. We hope that within the next 18-24 months, the new packaging will be introduced at our production facilities.

How do you see the future of the dairy industry in the UAE?

— The future of the dairy industry in the UAE looks very promising. We will continue to invest in technological innovations, sustainable development, and production expansion. It is important not only to meet the country's needs but also to contribute to international food security. We are confident that with the implementation of new technologies and strengthening our market position, we will be able to reach a new level.

Dairy Olympics 2025 is an international conference taking place April 7-10, 2025, in the UAE. It will bring together leading experts and specialists from the global dairy industry. This event will serve as a crucial platform for discussing current trends, innovations, and challenges facing the dairy sector. The Olympics will showcase cutting-edge technologies, sustainable solutions for dairy production, the prospects of digitalization, environmental concerns, and the growth of new dairy markets.