Abu Dhabi is launching an industrial-scale precision fermentation facility to produce animal-free proteins, positioning itself as a leader in sustainable food technology and opening new markets across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Abu Dhabi is making a bold and decisive move toward transforming its food industry — and honestly, it’s pretty exciting. The city is setting up an industrial-scale precision fermentation facility that will focus on producing animal-free proteins. This is a real milestone in the region’s food innovation scene. The project is a collaboration involving the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Dutch firm Vivici, which specializes in fermentation tech, and the American startup The Every Company. Together, they’re working on a facility with a capacity of four million liters dedicated to making precision-fermented dairy and egg proteins, signifying a significant leap forward for alternative proteins in the Gulf.
So, this project is part of ADIO’s broader AGRA Food Growth and Water Abundance (AGWA) cluster. Basically, they launched AGWA to harness advanced tech to boost food security and water sustainability — pretty crucial in this part of the world. Fatima Al Dhaheri, who heads AGWA, pointed out that this partnership aims to create a whole new industry focused on delivering high-quality nutrition while also attracting investments and creating skilled jobs in Abu Dhabi. It’s a win-win if you ask me.
At its core, the initiative relies on precision fermentation, a process that mixes traditional microbial fermentation with the latest biotech innovations. The idea involves inserting genetic instructions into microbes so they can produce specific animal-free proteins efficiently and in a sustainable way. Vivici, for example, makes whey proteins that are identical to those from cows but are produced without animals. And — here’s the interesting part — their process results in about 68% less CO2 emissions and uses 86% less water compared to regular whey. Plus, their beta-lactoglobulin, a versatile ingredient, has already earned regulatory approval in the US, which is a big step.
Then there’s The Every Company, which focuses on egg white proteins made without chickens. They’ve already launched two such ingredients in the US market and have seen them used in cocktails, desserts, and even at the upscale Eleven Madison Park restaurant. Arturo Elizondo, their CEO, mentioned earlier this year that scaling up production is a big priority for 2025. Their partnership with Vivici and ADIO is a clear move in that direction — developing a scalable, multi-tenant facility that can support other emerging protein tech companies as well.
The Abu Dhabi government has emphasized that the new facility will adhere to the highest international standards, including strict food safety measures and Halal certification. This ensures it’s fully competitive in the global halal food sector. Moreover, the project aims to take advantage of the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs), opening doors for exports across Asia, Africa, and Europe. This strategic approach helps Abu Dhabi position itself as a key gateway into fast-growing markets.
Stephan van Sint Fiet, CEO of Vivici, spoke highly of Abu Dhabi’s unique ecosystem — including access to capital, talent, and infrastructure — which supports rapid growth without sacrificing quality or safety. Interestingly enough, this partnership isn’t just about production but also about talent development. The plan involves working closely with local universities, research centers, and vocational institutes to grow a skilled Emirati workforce ready for the expanding biotech and food science sectors.
According to ADIO, this project is a “major milestone” within the AGWA cluster, which aims to add up to AED 90 billion (about $24.5 billion) to Abu Dhabi’s GDP by 2045 and create around 60,000 jobs. The goal? To ease pressure on traditional agriculture and water resources while adapting to changing dietary trends worldwide. Setting up a state-of-the-art precision fermentation hub is a big part of this vision — it solidifies Abu Dhabi’s rising reputation in the global alternative protein supply chain. It’s aligned with the broader ambition to position the emirate as a leader in food technology and sustainability, complementing other local facilities like Switch Foods’ plant-based meat plant.
This move also mirrors the UAE’s wider goals for food security and sustainability, clearly laid out in national strategies. While the country still relies heavily on oil revenues and continues to expand its oil and gas capacity, initiatives like this precision fermentation center show a dedication to fostering innovation in lower-emission ways of producing food.
Of course, regulation remains a key factor. The partnership plans to work together toward establishing clear regulatory pathways—not just for the UAE but across the region—for precision-fermented proteins. This comes on the heels of similar approvals and regulatory developments, like Israeli company Aleph Farms seeking clearance for cultivated beef in the UAE.
All in all, Abu Dhabi seems eager to position itself at the forefront of the alternative protein revolution. Their goal? To attract investment, spearhead research, and commercialize next-generation food tech. With strong government support, international expertise, and a vibrant innovation ecosystem, the emirate is well on its way to becoming a global leader in sustainable, animal-free nutrition.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/vivici-the-every-company-precision-fermentation-protein-abu-dhabi/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://adio.abudhabi/resources/news/abu-dhabi-investment-office-partners-with-the-every-company-and-vivici-to-scale-alternative-protein-production-using-fermentation-technology – The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) has partnered with The EVERY Company and Vivici to establish a 4-million-litre industrial-scale facility for alternative protein production in Abu Dhabi. This collaboration aims to position the emirate as a leader in future food systems and strengthen its role as a regional hub for biotechnology and innovation. The project is part of ADIO’s AgriFood Growth and Water Abundance (AGWA) cluster, which seeks to address food security and water scarcity through advanced technologies. The facility will meet the highest standards of food safety and Halal certification and is designed to be multi-tenanted to allow for the participation of other fermented protein companies in the future. The partners will also explore export opportunities through the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs), enhancing Abu Dhabi’s role as a strategic gateway to high-growth markets across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Additionally, the collaboration aims to work with local universities, research institutions, and training providers to drive talent development in biotechnology and food science, build a skilled national workforce, and facilitate global knowledge exchange. This initiative reflects Abu Dhabi’s broader commitment to shaping industries that respond to global challenges through innovation, positioning the emirate at the forefront of research and commercial application in alternative proteins. ([adio.abudhabi](https://adio.abudhabi/resources/news/abu-dhabi-investment-office-partners-with-the-every-company-and-vivici-to-scale-alternative-protein-production-using-fermentation-technology?utm_source=openai))
- https://en.arageek.com/abu-dhabi-launches-ambitious-protein-fermentation-hub-with-every-and-vivici-partnership – Abu Dhabi has partnered with The EVERY Company and Vivici to develop a protein fermentation hub in the emirate. The planned four-million-litre facility aims to improve food security using biotechnology and aligns with Abu Dhabi’s AgriFood Growth and Water Abundance (AGWA) cluster strategies. The project targets regional regulatory frameworks to facilitate market access and plans to collaborate with local universities and training providers to boost biotechnology expertise and innovation opportunities. This initiative reflects Abu Dhabi’s commitment to advancing sustainable food solutions and establishing itself as a leader in alternative protein production. ([en.arageek.com](https://en.arageek.com/abu-dhabi-launches-ambitious-protein-fermentation-hub-with-every-and-vivici-partnership?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/2025/10/23/abu-dhabi-aims-to-become-centre-for-non-animal-proteins-with-new-partnership// – The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) has teamed up with The EVERY Company and Vivici to build an industrial-scale fermentation centre in the emirate. The partnership aims to establish a four-million-litre production site for alternative proteins, using microorganisms to create high-value food ingredients without relying on animal sources. The project falls under Abu Dhabi’s AgriFood Growth and Water Abundance Cluster, a government initiative that seeks to enhance food resilience through innovation and international partnerships. The initiative also plans to explore export opportunities through the UAE’s comprehensive economic partnership agreements, linking Abu Dhabi’s output to markets in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Additionally, the collaboration aims to engage universities and research centres to train Emirati talent in biotechnology and food science, further strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position in the global protein supply chain. ([thenationalnews.com](https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/2025/10/23/abu-dhabi-aims-to-become-centre-for-non-animal-proteins-with-new-partnership//?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.dxbnewsnetwork.com/abu-dhabi-champions-innovation-in-alternative-protein – Abu Dhabi is advancing its food sector with a partnership involving the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), The EVERY Company, and Vivici to establish a protein fermentation ecosystem within the emirate. The collaboration aims to create a facility capable of producing 4 million litres at an industrial scale, built to meet international food safety and Halal certification standards, while also facilitating multi-tenant spaces for other protein innovators. Vivici and The EVERY Company bring extensive expertise in precision fermentation and alternative proteins, with Vivici having successfully launched nature-identical whey protein and The EVERY Company holding a foundational patent for its precision-fermented egg protein. This initiative reflects Abu Dhabi’s commitment to enhancing food resilience and positioning itself as a regional leader in alternative protein production. ([dxbnewsnetwork.com](https://www.dxbnewsnetwork.com/abu-dhabi-champions-innovation-in-alternative-protein?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.investinabudhabi.gov.ae/en/About-Us – The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is the government entity responsible for investments and special projects in Abu Dhabi. Its mandate includes strategic investments, economic development, foreign direct investment attraction, and industrial growth. ADIO offers financial incentives, equity investments, infrastructure support, and regulatory facilitation to global and local companies. It oversees major economic programs, manages public-private partnerships, allocates land through its Musataha division, and administers the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB), which provides energy subsidies to industrial players. ADIO plays a pivotal role in diversifying Abu Dhabi’s economy and fostering innovation. ([investinabudhabi.gov.ae](https://www.investinabudhabi.gov.ae/en/About-Us?utm_source=openai))
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi_Investment_Office – The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is Abu Dhabi’s government investments and special projects entity, with a multifaceted mandate spanning strategic investments, economic development, foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction, and industrial growth. ADIO offers financial incentives, equity investments, infrastructure support, and regulatory facilitation to global and local companies. It oversees major economic programs, manages public-private partnerships, allocates land through its Musataha division, and administers the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB), which provides energy subsidies to industrial players. ADIO plays a pivotal role in diversifying Abu Dhabi’s economy and fostering innovation. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi_Investment_Office?utm_source=openai))
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative was published on October 24, 2025, and is the earliest known publication of this information. No earlier versions with different figures, dates, or quotes were found. The content is original and not recycled from other sources. The article is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies or outdated material were identified.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Fatima Al Dhaheri, Arturo Elizondo, and Stephan van Sint Fiet are unique to this narrative. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating original content.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from Green Queen, an online publication focusing on climate and future food news. While it is a niche outlet, it is known for covering topics related to sustainable food and biotechnology. However, its reputation is not as established as major news organisations, which introduces some uncertainty.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about the partnership between the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Vivici, and The Every Company to establish a 4-million-litre precision fermentation facility in Abu Dhabi are plausible and align with recent developments in the alternative protein sector. The narrative provides specific details about the project, including the facility’s capacity and the involvement of the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements, which are consistent with known information. The language and tone are appropriate for the topic and region, and there is no excessive or off-topic detail.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative is original and timely, with no evidence of recycled content or discrepancies. The quotes are unique, and the source, while niche, is known for covering relevant topics. The claims are plausible and consistent with recent developments in the alternative protein sector. However, the source’s limited reach and the specificity of the claims warrant a medium level of confidence in the overall assessment.
