Kerry signs strategic agreement for new research hub in Dubai
The agreement represents a significant milestone in Kerry‘s continued growth across the Middle East and underscores the company’s commitment to driving food and beverage innovation in one of the world’s most dynamic markets.
UAE – Expo City Dubai, the nation’s first Green Innovation District, has partnered with global taste and nutrition leader Kerry to establish a state-of-the-art Regional Customer Co-Creation Centre through a long-term lease agreement signed in December 2025.
Located at the heart of this sustainability-focused hub, the facility will serve as a pivotal research, development, and application center for the Middle East, accelerating product innovation from concept to commercialization.
Specializing in enzymes, food preservation, and health-oriented solutions, it aligns with Dubai’s vision to become a global epicentre of food technology amid rapid regional growth in F&B manufacturing.
Kerry positions the Dubai center as a cornerstone of its Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (APMEA) expansion strategy.
The hub fosters an immersive ecosystem connecting food and beverage manufacturers, academic institutions, government entities, and industry experts to co-create sustainable nutrition solutions across Kerry’s core portfolios: Taste, Proactive Health, Enzymes, and Food Protection and Preservation.
Capabilities include on-site prototyping labs, sensory analysis suites, and pilot-scale processing lines tailored for halal-certified products, addressing local demands for clean-label preservatives and enzyme-enhanced baked goods.
Peter Dillane, President and CEO of Kerry APMEA, underscored the strategic fit: “Our partnership with Expo City Dubai marks an exciting milestone, enabling deeper collaboration to deliver market-leading innovations for Middle Eastern consumers.”
The centre supports end-to-end development, from flavour modulation for regional palates, incorporating dates, saffron, and spices, to enzyme applications optimizing dough handling in humid climates.
Expo City CEO Reem Al Hashimy praised the alignment: “Kerry’s expertise in sustainable nutrition strengthens our ecosystem for a decarbonized future.”
This initiative responds to the Middle East’s F&B sector boom, valued at US$200 billion and growing at 6% annually, driven by population surges, tourism recovery, and localization mandates such as the UAE’s Operation 300bn.
Kerry’s facility will prioritize health solutions such as low-sodium preservatives and fiber-enriched formulations for snacks and bakery items, while advancing food protection technologies to extend shelf life in high-heat environments.
Initial focus areas include bakery enzymes that reduce processing energy by 20% and proactive health ingredients that target diabetes prevalence.
Complementing Kerry’s 15 global application centres, the Dubai hub enhances proximity to key markets such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, shortening development cycles from 18 to 9 months.
Amid ESG pressures, it integrates lifecycle assessment tools for carbon tracking, supporting net-zero ambitions.
Industry analysts forecast the center will catalyze US$500 million in regional co-developed products by 2030, positioning Kerry against rivals like Givaudan and dsm in a market favoring localized innovation.
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