Sadia Halal KEZAD Factory Wins UAE Food Cluster Award for Food Safety
Sadia Halal's manufacturing facility in KEZAD, Abu Dhabi, has been named Champion in the Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance category at the UAE Food Cluster's Champion Awards 2026.
The award was presented during the Future Food Forum in Dubai on September 29, in the presence of government representatives, food-sector leaders and industry stakeholders.
The recognition highlights the food safety, quality assurance and regulatory compliance standards maintained at the KEZAD facility, which is one of Sadia Halal's key manufacturing operations in the GCC.
KEZAD facility undergoes assessment
The award followed an assessment process that included a visit to Sadia Halal's KEZAD factory by the UAE Food Cluster's Cluster Assessment Team.
During the assessment, the company demonstrated the systems, processes and practices implemented across the facility in areas including food safety, quality control and regulatory compliance.
The factory's achievements were subsequently presented to a jury comprising representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MOIAT), Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) and the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA).
Sadia Halal competed in two categories
The KEZAD facility participated in two award categories: Sustainability & Environmental Impact and Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance.
It ultimately secured the Champion Award in the Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance category.
According to the UAE Food Cluster, the recognition is based on technological capabilities, measurable outcomes and regulatory performance that contribute to food safety standards across the UAE.
CEO highlights focus on food safety
Fabio Mariano, MBRF's Vice President responsible for the Halal Market and CEO of Sadia Halal, said the recognition reflected the standards and processes maintained across the company's operations.
“Food safety and quality are fundamental to the trust consumers place in Sadia Halal every day. Having our KEZAD facility recognized as a Food Cluster Champion is a significant achievement and reflects the rigorous standards, robust processes and culture of continuous improvement that our teams have built across the operation,” Mariano said.
He added that the award recognised the employees responsible for maintaining those standards.
“Maintaining excellence in food safety requires excellence and discipline at every stage of production, and we are extremely proud of the commitment demonstrated by our team at KEZAD,” he said.
UAE Food Cluster recognises food-sector excellence
The UAE Food Cluster Champion Awards recognise organisations demonstrating performance and measurable impact across the country's food ecosystem.
The Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance category focuses on practices across areas including food safety systems, quality assurance, compliance leadership and consumer trust.
The recognition for Sadia Halal's KEZAD facility highlights the growing focus on food safety and regulatory standards within the UAE's food manufacturing sector.
