The new facility will be the largest personal care production plant in the region, according to reports, and is set to export 80% of its output to Europe and the wider MENA region.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman of Emirates Group, noted that Unilever has voiced an intention to focus on the sustainable profile of the facility.
“Unilever has made a commitment to the highest sustainability and environmental safety standards, which reflects the UAE’s vision for a more sustainable world that improves quality of life, while protecting its vital resources,” he said at the plant’s opening ceremony.
The brands set to be manufactured at the facility include Dove, Fair & Lovely, Lifebuoy, Vaseline, Clear, TRESemmé and Sunsilk, according to a report from Sustainable Brands.
Size and capacity
The new facility is set to produce 100,000 tons of output per annum, or about 500 million units, and will take up 100,000 sq m of space. Unilever has noted it will be placing a major focus on supply chain efficiency in order to keep the facility in line with its Sustainable Living Plan, and will be using a modular design to allow for shorter and more responsive production lines.
The fast moving consumer goods giant also notes that the plant will make the most of advanced packaging and production technology, including the capacity for automatic quality control. It will scan units at the rate of 350 bottles per minute, and ensure high safety standards.
Investing in a lucrative region
Unilever’s move suggests the multinational player is keen to make the most of the potential posed by the wider Middle East and Africa region for the personal care industry.
Indeed, a recent report by firm Euromonitor noted that the market is set to be the fastest growing region in the world over the next five years for beauty and personal care.