RAKEZ Champions Ras Al Khaimah’s Food Manufacturing Excellence at Future Food Summit
The economic zone reinforces its commitment to sustainable food production and regional sector growth through strategic industry engagement.
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) underscored the emirate’s capabilities as a food manufacturing hub by participating as a Silver Sponsor at the eighth edition of Future Food Summit 2026, organised by the UAE Food Cluster and the UAE Food & Beverage Business Group under the patronage of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism.
The prestigious annual gathering convened leading figures from across the UAE’s food ecosystem to examine critical issues including food security, international trade, supply chain resilience and pathways for sector expansion. RAKEZ leveraged the platform to engage with food and beverage manufacturers, suppliers, investors and industry specialists, showcasing the emirate’s competitive operating environment and the comprehensive business and industrial solutions it offers to F&B enterprises.
Ramy Jallad, Group Chief Executive Officer of RAKEZ, articulated the zone’s strategic vision: “Food and beverage manufacturing is an important part of the UAE’s industrial growth story, and Ras Al Khaimah offers a strong platform for companies looking to establish, scale and serve regional markets. At RAKEZ, our focus is on creating the right conditions for that growth through competitive industrial solutions, connected infrastructure and practical business support.”
Emphasising the sector’s evolving priorities, Mr Jallad noted that sustainability and resource efficiency have become increasingly consequential considerations. RAKEZ is actively facilitating access to the facilities, services and strategic partnerships that enable manufacturers to expand responsibly whilst maintaining competitive advantage.
Puneet Jain, Chief Strategy Officer at RAKEZ, contributed to the summit’s discourse by participating in the panel discussion ‘The Net-Zero Food Chain: Building Circular, Sustainable Systems’, which explored how circular production methodologies and enhanced collaboration can support the UAE’s progression towards a genuinely sustainable food system.
Mr Jain highlighted the distinctive capacity of economic zones to foster circularity by integrating manufacturers, suppliers, logistics providers, technology enterprises and service providers within interconnected ecosystems. He emphasised that closer collaboration simplifies infrastructure and resource sharing, creating valuable opportunities for industrial by-products and materials from one operation to be repurposed as inputs for another, thereby reducing waste and maximising efficiency.
Underscoring the commercial imperative, Mr Jain stressed that making sustainable practices economically viable for food and beverage businesses requires shared infrastructure and integrated solutions addressing cleaner energy, water conservation, waste management and material recovery. The broader panel examination encompassed opportunities to enhance water reuse initiatives, refine waste segregation protocols, strengthen recycling infrastructure and cultivate greater resource exchange throughout the food value chain.
RAKEZ’s active participation reflects its commitment to advancing the food and beverage sector and fostering a progressively sustainable business ecosystem, directly aligning with the strategic objectives outlined in the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051.
Source: WAM