2:48 pm - February 15, 2026
Al Ain Farms Group and Khalifa University have joined forces to advance research-driven innovations in camel milk, circular economy practices in poultry, and talent development, marking a significant step towards enhancing the UAE’s food resilience and sustainable growth.
Al Ain Farms Group (AAFG), a foundational player in the UAE’s food industry, has recently formed a strategic partnership with Khalifa University Enterprises Company (KUEC), which serves as the commercial branch of Khalifa University. The goal? To push forward innovation and sustainability within the country’s food sector. They announced this collaboration at the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition, and their Memorandum of Understanding marks a pretty significant step toward boosting the UAE’s food security, circular economy initiatives, and knowledge-driven economy—mainly through research, new tech, and talent development.
Now, AAFG owns and operates five well-known UAE legacy brands—namely Al Ain Farms, Marmum Dairy, Al Ajban Chicken, Al Jazira Poultry’s Golden Eggs, and Saha Arabian Farms. They run an integrated vertical supply chain that covers everything from feed production and hatcheries to processing, packaging, and logistics. It’s quite a comprehensive setup, and this kind of integration gives AAFG a unique edge when it comes to supporting the UAE’s ambitions for food self-sufficiency and sustainability. Their longstanding dedication to quality and leveraging advanced technology fits perfectly with their mission—becoming the UAE’s go-to source for wholesome, locally-produced nutrition.
The partnership centers around three main areas of innovation. First, they’re aiming to make breakthroughs in camel milk science and its commercialization. Camel milk, as you might know, is prized for its high protein content and health perks, plus it has a strong cultural and economic significance in the UAE. Khalifa University has put together some exclusive research and developed key intellectual property in this arena. They’ve worked on improving things like human nutrition, animal welfare, nutrient use, and even extending the shelf-life of products. So, with Khalifa University’s research smarts and AAFG’s operational reach working together, they hope to speed up the development of camel milk products and open doors for exports focused on health-conscious markets.
The second focus is sustainability—specifically in the poultry sector—by developing innovative premix feed technologies. These use local agricultural by-products to produce cost-effective, easier-to-digest feed options. In doing so, they’re turning waste from the food system into valuable resources, part of a circular economy approach. This doesn’t just cut operational costs but also aligns with the UAE’s bigger goals of waste reduction and resource efficiency across the entire food chain.
Thirdly, they’re making a big investment in talent-building and real-world innovation. Khalifa University students and researchers will get hands-on experience tackling industry challenges, with access to AAFG’s state-of-the-art facilities. At the same time, AAFG will tap into Khalifa’s incubation ecosystem to co-develop and scale solutions that can hit the market. This mutually beneficial relationship sprawls across the knowledge economy, ensuring a steady stream of skilled professionals who can help sustain future food industry advancements.
Beyond these three pillars, both sides will share ownership of intellectual property, making sure innovations developed through UAE research stay aligned with national priorities. It totally fits within larger UAE strategies like the “We the UAE 2031” initiative, which aims for a diversified, sustainable, and innovation-driven economy. The collaboration also plays a part in helping the UAE climb the ranks on the Global Food Security Index—an important metric reflecting their strategic focus on ensuring food security at a policy level.
Her Excellency Amal Nasser Al Jaberi, CEO of KUEC, emphasized how transformative this partnership could be, noting that it bridges academic research with industrial application—delivering real economic and societal benefits. Hassan Safi, Group CEO of AAFG, also highlighted the cultural and nutritional importance of camel milk, sharing the shared vision to promote resilient and environmentally responsible food production practices.
Interestingly enough, this partnership comes amid Khalifa University’s broader efforts to lead in smart agricultural technologies. Recently, the university showcased innovations such as AI- and IoT-enabled smart microalgae farms, smart greenhouses managing lighting, heat, and water, and circular bioeconomy projects focused on upcycling agricultural co-products. These initiatives complement the partnership’s goals, targeting critical issues in food production—especially under the challenging environmental conditions we see today—by harnessing advanced tech to boost efficiency and sustainability.
As for AAFG, their roots go back to 1981, founded by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Over the years, they’ve continuously invested in cutting-edge technology from around the world to keep their feed, milking, and processing operations aligned with international standards like HACCP and ISO. Their diverse product lineup includes fresh cow’s milk, camel milk, dairy goods, juices, poultry, and eggs—all produced with a strong focus on quality, safety, and sustainability.
All in all, this strategic alliance between AAFG and KUEC is a clear example of the UAE’s future-forward approach to food security. By blending innovation that respects traditional products—like camel milk—with modern scientific advances, they’re setting a precedent for how local research and production can come together to tackle global food challenges. It’s a promising step towards fostering economic resilience and reinforcing national pride in Emirati agricultural heritage—really, it’s an exciting potential model for the region and beyond.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/al-ain-farms-group-and-khalifa-university-enterprises-company-partner-to-advance-science-and-innovation-in-sustainable-nutrition-ykaa6rqq – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.onearabia.me/local/al-ain-farms-khalifa-university-partnership-sustainable-nutrition-011-127287.html – Al Ain Farms Group (AAFG) and Khalifa University Enterprises Company (KUEC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition. This strategic partnership aims to enhance research, innovation, and sustainable practices in the UAE’s food sector, reinforcing the nation’s leadership in food security and science-driven industry growth. The collaboration focuses on three main areas: camel milk innovation, sustainable poultry feed, and talent development. By combining Khalifa University’s research capabilities with AAFG’s operational expertise, the partnership seeks to advance technologies in human nutrition, animal wellbeing, nutrient valorisation, and shelf-life enhancement. The alliance also explores commercialization pathways for camel milk, positioning it for global export and health-focused markets. Khalifa University has developed key intellectual property in camel milk research. The partnership aims to unlock this potential by advancing technologies that enhance human nutrition and animal wellbeing. With a focus on nutrient valorisation and shelf-life enhancement, the alliance seeks to position camel milk for global export. This initiative highlights camel milk as a symbol of UAE heritage known for its rich protein content and health benefits. The collaboration will pilot pioneering premix feed technologies using local agricultural by-products. This approach aims to reduce costs, improve digestibility, and transform food system waste into valuable resources. By doing so, the partnership supports the UAE’s circular economy goals and advances sustainable practices within the poultry industry. AAFG plays a crucial role in delivering high-quality, locally produced foods through its vertically integrated model. This model encompasses feed production, hatcheries, processing, packaging, and logistics. The group includes five trusted legacy brands: Al Ain Farms, Marmum Dairy, Al Ajban Chicken, Al Jazira Poultry’s Golden Eggs, and Saha Arabian Farms. Together with KUEC’s support, AAFG is well-positioned to contribute to the UAE’s food security agenda. Students and researchers will gain hands-on experience addressing real industry challenges through this partnership. AAFG will have access to Khalifa University’s incubation hub for co-created innovation. This collaboration ensures future-proofing of the UAE talent pipeline while strengthening the nation’s knowledge-based economy. The strategic alliance will advance flagship pilot projects in camel milk and sustainable poultry feed with rapid validation and scaling. It also includes co-ownership of technology and intellectual property management to ensure UAE-based breakthroughs remain nationally significant. The partnership aligns with the UAE’s ambition to rank among the top 10 countries in the Global Food Security Index.
- https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/278648345/al-ain-farms-group-khalifa-university-enterprises-company-partner-to-advance-science-innovation-in-sustainable-nutrition – Al Ain Farms Group (AAFG) and Khalifa University Enterprises Company (KUEC), the commercial arm of Khalifa University, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition. The strategic agreement advances research, innovation, and sustainable practices across the UAE’s food sector, reinforcing the nation’s leadership in food security and science-driven industry growth. It also lays the foundation for talent incubation, with AAFG offering students access to real-world facilities and potential pathways to scale promising research ideas. AAFG, which brings together five of the UAE’s most trusted legacy brands—Al Ain Farms, Marmum Dairy, Al Ajban Chicken, Al Jazira Poultry’s Golden Eggs, and Saha Arabian Farms—plays a central role in delivering high-quality, locally produced foods. With a vertically integrated model spanning feed production, hatcheries, processing, packaging, and logistics, AAFG is well-positioned to support the UAE’s food security agenda. This alliance redefines the region’s food innovation landscape across three key areas: Camel Milk Revolution: The partnership brings together Khalifa University’s cutting-edge research and AAFG’s operational scale to advance technologies in human nutrition, animal wellbeing, nutrient valorisation, and shelf-life enhancement technologies. With Khalifa University having developed key intellectual property in camel milk research, the alliance also aims to explore commercialization pathways—positioning camel milk for global export and health-focused markets. Sustainable Poultry Feed: By piloting pioneering premix feed technologies, using local agricultural by-products and industry know-how, the collaboration will slash costs, boost digestibility, and transform food system waste into new value streams—advancing the UAE’s circular economy goals. Talent, Science, and Real-World Solutions: Students and researchers will gain hands-on experience tackling genuine industry challenges, while AAFG gains access to Khalifa University’s incubation hub for co-created innovation—future-proofing the UAE talent pipeline and knowledge economy. The strategic partnership will advance flagship pilot projects in camel milk and sustainable poultry feed, with rapid validation and scaling. It also includes co-ownership and management of technology and intellectual property, ensuring UAE-based breakthroughs remain nationally significant. Additionally, the alliance supports the UAE’s ambition to rank among the top 10 countries in the Global Food Security Index, with a strong focus on future-facing, circular economic solutions alongside delivering visibility to the “We the UAE 2031” vision for diversified, sustainable, and innovation-led national growth.
- https://www.pakistanpoint.com/en/story/2067741/al-ain-farms-group-khalifa-university-enterprises-comp.html – Al Ain Farms Group (AAFG) and Khalifa University Enterprises Company (KUEC), the commercial arm of Khalifa University, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition. The strategic agreement advances research, innovation, and sustainable practices across the UAE’s food sector, reinforcing the nation’s leadership in food security and science-driven industry growth. It also lays the foundation for talent incubation, with AAFG offering students access to real-world facilities and potential pathways to scale promising research ideas. AAFG, which brings together five of the UAE’s most trusted legacy brands—Al Ain Farms, Marmum Dairy, Al Ajban Chicken, Al Jazira Poultry’s Golden Eggs, and Saha Arabian Farms—plays a central role in delivering high-quality, locally produced foods. With a vertically integrated model spanning feed production, hatcheries, processing, packaging, and logistics, AAFG is well-positioned to support the UAE’s food security agenda. This alliance redefines the region’s food innovation landscape across three key areas: Camel Milk Revolution: The partnership brings together Khalifa University’s cutting-edge research and AAFG’s operational scale to advance technologies in human nutrition, animal wellbeing, nutrient valorisation, and shelf-life enhancement technologies. With Khalifa University having developed key intellectual property in camel milk research, the alliance also aims to explore commercialization pathways—positioning camel milk for global export and health-focused markets. Sustainable Poultry Feed: By piloting pioneering premix feed technologies, using local agricultural by-products and industry know-how, the collaboration will slash costs, boost digestibility, and transform food system waste into new value streams—advancing the UAE’s circular economy goals. Talent, Science, and Real-World Solutions: Students and researchers will gain hands-on experience tackling genuine industry challenges, while AAFG gains access to Khalifa University’s incubation hub for co-created innovation—future-proofing the UAE talent pipeline and knowledge economy. The strategic partnership will advance flagship pilot projects in camel milk and sustainable poultry feed, with rapid validation and scaling. It also includes co-ownership and management of technology and intellectual property, ensuring UAE-based breakthroughs remain nationally significant. Additionally, the alliance supports the UAE’s ambition to rank among the top 10 countries in the Global Food Security Index, with a strong focus on future-facing, circular economic solutions alongside delivering visibility to the “We the UAE 2031” vision for diversified, sustainable, and innovation-led national growth.
- https://alainfarms.com/ – Al Ain Farms, established in 1981 by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is the UAE’s first integrated dairy and poultry company. The company offers a range of products, including fresh cow’s milk, camel milk, yogurt, laban, fresh and long-life juices, as well as a variety of poultry products such as fresh chicken, chicken pieces, chicken burgers, and eggs. Al Ain Farms is equipped with the best international technology for feeding, milking, and processing, making it one of the most advanced farms in the Middle East for fresh milk. The company is committed to quality and sustainability, adhering to international standards, including HACCP and ISO certifications. Investments in technology and infrastructure enhance safety, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. Al Ain Farms’ mission is to be the UAE’s preferred food and beverage brand, delivering healthy, superior-quality products every day, and its vision is to lead with sustainable practices driven by innovation, synergy, and excellence.
- https://www.ku.ac.ae/khalifa-university-showcases-sustainable-and-smart-technologies-at-al-ain-emirates-agriculture-conference-and-exhibition-2025 – Khalifa University showcased sustainable and smart technologies at the Al Ain Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition 2025. The university’s stand featured projects focusing on smart greenhouses with light-heat-water management, agricultural co-products upcycling for achieving circular bioeconomy, and smart microalgae farming using AI and IoT. These initiatives aim to assist in smart and sustainable agriculture, aligning with the UAE’s national objectives. The Food Security and Technology Center (FSTC) and the Khalifa University AgX research facility are developing vertical farming techniques to support innovation cycles in controlled environment agriculture, commercialize new agricultural products suited for extreme environments, and address challenges in seed availability and greenhouse integration. The AgX facility plans to develop high-value crops for commercial viability and test new agricultural technology innovations for food security applications.
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 is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being October 21, 2025. No earlier versions with differing figures, dates, or quotes were found. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The quotes from Her Excellency Amal Nasser Al Jaberi and Hassan Safi are unique to this report, with no earlier matches found online. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from a press release, which is a direct communication from the involved parties. While this provides firsthand information, it may lack independent verification. The press release was published on the official website of the UAE’s state news agency, WAM, which is a reputable source.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about the partnership between Al Ain Farms Group and Khalifa University Enterprises Company align with the UAE’s strategic goals in food security and innovation. The focus on camel milk and sustainable poultry feed is consistent with ongoing initiatives in the region. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The tone and language are consistent with official communications from the UAE government.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative is fresh and includes potentially original quotes, but it is based on a press release from the involved parties, which may lack independent verification. The claims are plausible and align with the UAE’s strategic goals, but the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets is a concern. Further independent reporting is needed to fully assess the credibility of the partnership.
