Tuesday 10 / February / 2026
Muscat: Oman Food Investment Holding Company, a subsidiary of the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), has signed a strategic partnership with Brazilian food giant JBS, one of the world’s largest food producers, to establish new meat and poultry production facilities in the Sultanate of Oman and develop a regional export hub for global markets. The total investment is estimated at OMR 57.7 million (around $150 million).
The partnership aligns with OIA’s strategy to build an integrated national food ecosystem, maximize value across agricultural and food supply chains, and attract global partners capable of transferring advanced expertise and technologies to the Omani market. The initiative is expected to strengthen food processing industries and enhance the added value of local products.
Under the agreement, JBS will develop what is set to be its largest Middle East investment in the meat and poultry sector. This includes completing construction of the integrated poultry plant operated by Al Namah Poultry Company in Ibri, along with beef and sheep slaughtering and processing facilities belonging to Al Bashayer Meat Company in Thumrait.
Once fully operational, the facilities are expected to reach an annual production capacity of about 300,000 tonnes, including roughly 77,000 tonnes of beef, 20,000 tonnes of sheep meat, and 208,000 tonnes of poultry. The project is expected to enhance Oman’s food security while positioning the country as a regional platform for halal food production aimed at export markets.
The partnership is also projected to create more than 3,000 direct jobs in Oman over the next five years across various stages of the food production value chain, supporting local economic development, workforce capacity building, and growth in the agricultural and food industries.
Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al Murshidi, Chairman of the Oman Investment Authority, said the strategic partnership with a major global protein producer could help transform Oman from a net importer of protein into an exporter within the next three years. He added that red meat production is expected to begin this year, followed by poultry production by year-end.
Al Murshidi noted that Oman aims to become a regional hub for halal meat, benefiting from JBS’s global distribution network, which spans 26 countries and markets products in around 180 countries worldwide. He emphasized that the projected production capacity will exceed local demand, opening opportunities for exporting Omani protein products internationally.
Munir bin Ali Al Maniri, OIA Deputy President for Operations and Chairman of Oman Food Investment Holding Company, said the partnership reflects OIA’s commitment to enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of its development-focused investment portfolio, attracting strategic partners, creating jobs, strengthening supply chains, and expanding the global reach of Omani products in line with Oman Vision 2040 and the 11th Five-Year Plan.
Gilberto Tomazoni, Global CEO of JBS, said establishing early stages of supply chains within the region has become strategically important given its large and growing market. He added that the company’s presence in Oman will enable closer access to regional markets and strengthen its footprint in the Middle East.
Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Rashdi, CEO of Oman Food Investment Holding Company, described the partnership as a key milestone toward building an integrated and sustainable food sector driven by innovation, international cooperation, and tangible economic and social impact. He said it also reflects growing international confidence in Oman’s investment environment and its readiness to serve as a regional hub for advanced food value chains.
The partnership marks JBS’s first entry into the early stages of supply chains in the Middle East. The company employs more than 282,000 people globally, operates in over 20 countries, and markets a wide range of food products — including poultry, beef, lamb, fish, and plant-based proteins to consumers in approximately 180 countries. JBS also invests in related sectors such as leather, biodiesel, collagen, fertilizers, waste management, recycling, and logistics, with a strong focus on circular economy principles.
Oman Food Investment Holding Company serves as the OIA’s specialized investment arm in the food sector. It manages a diversified portfolio of more than 15 companies and focuses on high-impact investments aimed at strengthening national food security and delivering sustainable value in line with Oman Vision 2040.
