Sao Paulo, Brazil-headquartered JBS, the world’s largest meat procession company, on February 9 announced the creation of a new multi protein production platform in Oman to pack beef, poultry and lamb product. With a total investment of US $150 million, it acquired an 80% stake in a newly established food holding company that consolidates two production assets in the country, through a partnership with Oman Food Capital (OFC), which will retain the remaining 20% stake. OFC is the food and agribusiness capital funding arm of the Oman Investment Authority (OIA).
This reinforces JBS’s strategy of diversification by geography and protein and proximity to key consumer markets.
The joint venture will contribute to strengthening food security in Oman, in line with the Sultanate’s Vision 2040 program, while positioning the country as a strategic platform for the production of halal food products for export to multiple markets. The initiative is designed to serve the global halal market, which currently encompasses an estimated 2 billion consumers worldwide.
The investment will be directed primarily toward completing A’Namaa’s integrated poultry plant, located in the Ibri region in northern Oman, approximately 380 kilometers west of Muscat (the nation’s capital) and 280 kilometers south of Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Al Bashayer’s beef and lamb processing facility in Thumrait, in southern Oman.
The operation is expected to reach an estimated static industrial production capacity of approximately 300,000 tons per year. This capacity corresponds to the daily processing of approximately 1,000 head of cattle, 5,000 lambs, and 600,000 chickens. Production is expected to start within six months for beef and lamb, and within 12 months for poultry.
The project will likely to generate over 3,000 direct jobs over the next five years in Oman across the entire production chain, significantly contributing to local economic development, workforce qualification, and the growth of Oman’s agri‑food sector.
With this new venure, JBS will have operations in 26 countries across five continents. It represents the company’s first upstream investment in the Middle East,, reinforcing its long-term commitment to building integrated, local production platforms in key markets.
The start of operations is expected following the completion of final preparations and customary regulatory approvals.
JBS in the Middle East
JBS continues to enlarge its footprint in the Middle East through industrial operations, exports, and strategic partnerships. Recently, it inaugurated and announced the expansion of an industrial plant in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as part of a total investment of US $85 million in the country focused on the production and commercialization of value-added products under the Seara brand.
The company, which currently employs approximately 1,500 people across the Middle East region, already operates Seara factories in Dammam (also in Saudi Arabia) and in Ras Al Khaimah, in the United Arab Emirates.
