Simply Abu Dhabi III

A history Caviar refers to the salted eggs (roe) of the fish species, sturgeon and derives from the Persian word ‘Khaviar’ meaning “bearing eggs”. Dating back 250 million years to prehistoric times, the sturgeon has been a part of the Middle Eastern and Eastern Europe diet for the majority of man’s history. Caviar has four types. The first – the Golden or Royal caviar – is the most exclusive, the most expensive, the rarest and the most difficult to obtain. Caviar was once reserved strictly for royalty and in former times it was specially saved for consummation by the Russian czars, Manchurian imperators and the Vatican only. Yet, in America during the early nineteenth century, caviar was routinely served during free lunches in saloons. The salty flavour stimulated thirst and enhanced the test of beer. As a result of the US caviar boom of the early 1900’s, sturgeon was over-fished nearly to the point of extinction. This sudden shortage caused a huge increase in the price of caviar, so consequently, most caviar labelled as Russian truly was imported from Russia. By the 1960’s, the prices were so exorbitant that new sources of domestic caviar were sought. Even though nowadays you can buy black or red caviar in most shops – they are nowhere near a match to the real thing. There are more than 400 species of sturgeon in the world but the most prized caviar comes from the beluga, osetra, and sevruga varieties of sturgeon. Bin SalemHoldings’ caviar dreams Developed by family owned Abu Dhabi holding group Bin Salem Holding, the Middle East’s first and largest caviar farm of its kind has this month unveiled exciting future plans and a new brand identity for The Royal Caviar Company. With global ambition, Bin Salem Holding, a private, Emirati-owned group of diversified companies has shown steadfast commitment to a strategy of growth through diversification since it was first consolidated in 1995. Consisting of 20 well-established companies operating across vital industries including technology, automotive, construction, engineering, healthcare, education, hospitality, defence, industrial agriculture and real estate¸ the company’s headquarters are based in Abu Dhabi and they are proud of their culturally diverse workforce. Since its launch, Bin Salem Holding has built a well- earned reputation as one of the most progressive groups in the region and by developing strategic partnerships with esteemed international companies, they have helped to drive growth and boost entrepreneurial determination amongst the local community. Bin SalemHolding, in co-operation with United Food Technologies AG have developed The Royal Caviar Company factory which currently contains approximately 18 tonnes of sturgeon with a further 124 tonnes scheduled for delivery this year. The first production of caviar and sturgeon fillets is scheduled for late in 2011, with caviar commercially available in the UAE in the second half of 2012. We can’t wait and will certainly be first in line to see if it lives up to high expectations. In the spirit of such forward-thinking global aspirations, the factory will become the world’s largest and most technologically advanced producer of high quality sustainably sourced caviar, playing a key role in addressing the world’s growing demand for top quality caviar. As the A&J diaries strongly reflect, we are more than partial to a little luxury in life so we will watch developments with interest! Meeting global demand Based in Abu Dhabi, The Royal Caviar Company operates out of a factory sized at 50,000m2 and is capable of producing up to 35 tonnes per annum of high quality caviar of Ossetra standard. Building of the factory, previously known as Aqua Orbis, began in 2008 and fish began arriving in early 2011. The factory currently holds approximately 18 tonnes of fish with 124 further tonnes of fish to arrive this year; ranging from newborns to adult female Siberian sturgeon that will ultimately produce high quality caviar of Ossetra standard. The first stock of fish for the factory is being brought in from Frankfurt; by air with Etihad Crystal Cargo, and by boat with UFT/ AquaLife and Maersk Line. In future, using progressive technologies, the factory not only intends to help meet the growing global demand for caviar by breeding its own fish, but also minimise the pressure on wild endangered sturgeon and provide quality of life for the fish, reflecting their environmental principles. Sturgeon are considered endangered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Consequently, The Royal Caviar Company has an essential role to play in ensuring the regular availability of high quality caviar. To ensure cutting edge innovation and the highest safety standards, TRCC, Bin Salem Holding have sought advice from experts in caviar production, German company United Food Technologies AG. Specialists from UFT AG have helped to set up the factory itself, and all staff working in the factory have been trained in Germany or onsite in Abu Dhabi. Using world leading water purification and caviar production technology patented by UFT AG, the new factory will ensure a high quality of life for fish, and a high quality finished product. THE ROYAL CAVIAR COMPANY OPENS FOR BUS INESS So much more than simply ‘food’, far from needing a special occasion for caviar, many view this delicacy as a special occasion in itself. With its subtle and delicate taste, caviar was once reserved strictly for royalty and, to this day, remains typically associated with the rich and affluent. It would appear that the best place to find caviar at the moment is Abu Dhabi. The fastest growing markets for caviar include China and the Middle East, making Abu Dhabi the ideal location for an exciting new era in caviar production. With a love of fine dining and gourmet treats, we are more than a little excited by the recent news that The Royal Caviar Company has opened to meet the UAE’s insatiable demand for caviar – a colossal 14 tons per year – and look forward to sampling the factory’s offerings. 41 SIMPLY ABU DHABI