Unilever’s factory will be pumping out 100,000 tonnes of liquid product a year when it reaches full capacity by the middle of next year. Reem Mohammed / The National
Unilever’s factory will be pumping out 100,000 tonnes of liquid product a year when it reaches full capacity by the middle of next year. Reem Mohammed / The National

Unilever goes ‘Made in the UAE’ with factory in Dubai



Unilever, the company behind brands such as Dove and Vaseline, expects to start exporting products with a “Made in the UAE” label next year from its new Dh1 billion factory, as global brands set up base in Dubai to tap regional consumer spending trends.

The British-Dutch consumer goods company’s factory at Dubai Industrial Par, the largest personal care facility for Unilever in the region, will export about 80 per cent of the items produced at the facility to 80 countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.

It will produce 500 million items, or 100,000 tonnes of liquid product, a year when it reaches full capacity by the middle of next year. That can range from a 25 gram sachet of Fair and Lovely face cream to a 700ml container of Dove shampoo. The factory will import raw materials from its global and local vendors and manufacture packaged hair and skincare products at the factory. Commercial production is expected to start next month at the facility, which will employ 400 people.

Currently, these items are packaged at factories in Egypt, India, Europe and Saudi Arabia.

Unilever already has another factory in Jebel Ali that packages tea. Built in 2002, it is its largest tea-packaging facility in the world.

Global consumer goods companies are pumping billions of dollars in investment into the Middle East to tap the growth opportunities offered by young populations and rising levels of spending in many countries.

The food and retail sectors are benefiting most from this trend. Nestle opened a Dh500 million factory in Dubai in 2010, which manufactures products such as Kit-kat; Mars also opened a $40m factory in Dubai the same year.

The beauty and personal care products market in the UAE is expected to grow to $2.72bn in 2020 from $2.15bn this year, according to research by Euromonitor International.

German company Beiersdorf’s brand Nivea, Unilever’s Dove and the French brand L’Oreal are among the top five beauty and personal care brands in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, according to Euromonitor.

In the MEA region, the largest markets for the segment are Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE and Egypt. In the Middle East and North Africa region, the market is expected to grow to $24.39bn in 2020, up from $18.05bn this year, according to the research company.

The Unilever factory will manufacture hair and skincare products under the Dove, Fair & Lovely, Lifebuoy, Vaseline, Clear, TRESemme and Sunsilk brands. The packaging will be imported from vendors in India and Saudi Arabia, but many of them are expected to relocate to Dubai Industrial Park next year.

The factory will benefit from the free trade agreements between the UAE and Mena countries.

About 25 per cent of the energy required at the plant will come from solar power, and 80 per cent of waste water will be recycled, according to Unilever.

In the third quarter, London and New York-listed Unilever’s turnover declined by 0.1 per cent to €13.38bn. The personal care division, which is its largest, grew by 0.9 per cent year on year with a turnover of €5.1bn.

The new Unilever factory spread over 100,000 square metres, a part of the Dubai Wholesale City, is the 70th manufacturing facility at Dubai Industrial Park.

“We expect to achieve 18 to 20 per cent growth in the number of companies, revenues and profits in 2016,” said Abdulla Belhoul, the chief executive of Dubai Wholesale City.

“Manufacturing is the key to a sustainable future.”

Currently, 108 factories are in the pipeline at Dubai Industrial Park in various stages of construction and design, and are expected to come on-stream in the next three years, Mr Belhoul said. He was speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of the factory.

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Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

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Getting there

The flights

Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.

The stay

Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.

Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com

if you go

The flights

Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes. 

The hotels

Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes. 

When to visit

March-May and September-November

Visas

Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.

if you go

The flights

Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes. 

The hotels 

The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

South Africa v India schedule

Tests: 1st Test Jan 5-9, Cape Town; 2nd Test Jan 13-17, Centurion; 3rd Test Jan 24-28, Johannesburg

ODIs: 1st ODI Feb 1, Durban; 2nd ODI Feb 4, Centurion; 3rd ODI Feb 7, Cape Town; 4th ODI Feb 10, Johannesburg; 5th ODI Feb 13, Port Elizabeth; 6th ODI Feb 16, Centurion

T20Is: 1st T20I Feb 18, Johannesburg; 2nd T20I Feb 21, Centurion; 3rd T20I Feb 24, Cape Town

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
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  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand

UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final