Kerry’s new Dubai hub aims to accelerate sustainable food innovation in the Middle East

Dubai, UAE , Kerry, a well-known global supplier of taste and nutrition solutions, has recently signed a long-term lease with Expo City Dubai to set up a Regional Customer Co-Creation Centre in the UAE’s Green Innovation District. The company states that this new facility will serve as a regional hub for research, development, and applications, with the goal of speeding up product development from initial idea all the way to commercialization across the Middle East.

Peter Dillane, who serves as the President and CEO of Kerry APMEA, mentioned during the announcement on December 10, 2025, that: “Our partnership with Expo City Dubai represents an exciting milestone for Kerry as we continue to grow our presence and enhance our capabilities across the Middle East.” In their official statement, Kerry shared that their centre will leverage the company’s global scientific expertise while creating a space that brings together customers, manufacturers, academic institutions, and government representatives in what they called an “immersive environment” , all aimed at co‑creating sustainable nutrition and taste solutions.

Expo City Dubai describes itself as the UAE’s first Green Innovation District. Marjan Faraidooni, Chief of Education and Culture at Expo City, expressed her enthusiasm: “We’re really happy to welcome Kerry into our community, where their focus on sustainable nutrition will be an important addition as we work together toward a decarbonized and resilient future.” Dubai’s authorities view the city as a legacy of the 2020 Expo, with plans to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and adoption of decarbonization targets that guide urban and industrial growth.

This announcement from Kerry comes after a year filled with activity in the Gulf region regarding food technology and taste innovation. Coverage at Gulfood Manufacturing 2025 highlighted Kerry’s “Kerry Unboxed” activation, an engaging multi-sensory showcase featuring chef demonstrations, barista sessions, and immersive storytelling. Food producers and processors across the Gulf are increasingly interested in translating international culinary trends into locally relevant, lower-impact products, and Kerry’s showcase emphasizes this commercial focus.

Kerry frames the Dubai centre as a focal point to deepen that kind of collaboration. They say that the facility will display capabilities across areas like Taste, Proactive Health, Enzymes, and Food Protection and Preservation. Its goal is to reduce the time needed to get products to market by working on customized formulations and applications that cater to regional tastes, align with regulations, and support sustainability objectives.

Industry experts point out that such co-creation hubs can cut down development cycles, mainly because they incorporate environmental standards earlier in the innovation process. Dubai government figures and free zone statistics indicate that Dubai continues to attract advanced manufacturing and innovation investments as part of its broader D33 economic plan. Expo City’s identity as a free zone and a testing ground for sustainable solutions is designed to draw partners seeking proximity to ports, air freight options, and a burgeoning consumer market.

That said, the region is highly competitive. Over the last five years, many international ingredient and flavor companies have expanded their operations in the Middle East. Media reports suggest that Kerry’s move is part of a larger trend, suppliers are merging R&D, sensory development, and marketing efforts to produce differentiated, lower-carbon products for regional supply chains.

Kerry’s public statements reiterate their aim to reach over two billion consumers with sustainable nutrition solutions by 2030, and they say the Expo City centre will be part of this larger network. However, since this announcement reads quite a bit like a corporate press release, we should interpret it cautiously. The real test will be in how well partnerships are formed, and whether tangible results emerge quickly, proof in the pudding, as they say.

In practice, a key measure of success will be whether the centre can turn co-creation efforts into real, measurable sustainability improvements. That could involve reformulating products to lower their carbon emissions, applying preservation techniques that cut food waste, or developing ingredient systems that promote health without sacrificing taste. Industry data indicates that decarbonization across food systems depends not just on product innovation but also on changes in processing, packaging, and logistics. These co-creation hubs tend to influence the first part, innovation, but broader system-wide change will require efforts across suppliers, retailers, and regulators.

Kerry’s participation in regional trade events suggests they’re adopting an integrated approach. For instance, reports from Gulfood Manufacturing 2025 describe interactive displays at Kerry’s “Kerry Unboxed” , designed to connect foodservice and retail sectors. These events provide quick insights into consumer responses and sensory preferences. One example from their showcase was a unique drink called Gold Brew Qahwa, which combined Arabic coffee with lemonade , a clever nod to blending global techniques with local flavors, and, interestingly enough, showing Kerry’s interest in marrying tradition with innovation.

For Dubai, having such a major international supplier opens up new opportunities for Expo City’s mission, aiming to be a hub for sustainable industry. The city’s strategic location, with access to Al Maktoum International Airport and Jebel Ali Port, makes it attractive for companies wanting regional distribution and exports. Whether Kerry’s centre will connect strongly with local universities and government innovation initiatives remains to be seen , that’s a key indicator of how deep the collaboration can go.

Kerry has positioned the hub as an important regional nerve centre, mentioning they’ll draw on a team of more than 1,100 food scientists worldwide to support partners in the UAE and beyond. If the facility manages to develop and introduce market-ready, lower-impact products quickly tailored to Middle Eastern consumers, it might set a benchmark for industry-led efforts to decarbonize food systems.

As Gulf countries and companies move toward clear climate and nutrition goals, the next phase will demand transparent reporting of product impacts. Those firms that combine excellent sensory qualities with verifiable environmental and health benefits will likely gain a competitive edge. Judging by its early steps, Kerry’s new Regional Customer Co-Creation Centre will be evaluated based on how effectively it can produce such results once operational in Dubai’s Expo City.

Source: Noah Wire Services