BATOOL GHAITH AND SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)

 

As consumers grow more conscious of what they eat, food innovation now matters as much as production. And the UAE's food producers and artisans are stepping up to meet the demand for healthier choices — coming up with goods ranging from homegrown kefir to organic sourdough.

Among the nutritious products that have recently been flying off shelves is kefir, a tart and tangy milk drink.

Speaking to Aletihad, Hassan Safi, Group CEO of Al Ain Farms Group, said the popularity of kefir rode on the back of a growing interest in fermented dairy and gut health.

Traditionally made through the fermentation of cow, goat or sheep milk and naturally rich in probiotics, kefir used to be largely available in the UAE through imported brands. Al Ain Farms entered the market, now producing authentic kefir using fresh UAE milk - illustrating how investment in research and development is enabling increasingly specialised food products to be manufactured within the country.

Milana Boskovic, Chief Marketing and R&D Officer at Al Ain Farms Group, said consumers today are paying far greater attention not only to ingredients but also to how products are made. 

Online searches for fermented dairy products rose 47% over the past year, Boskovic said, with kefir now the fastest-growing segment in the category. The UAE's kefir market has grown to almost Dh50 million across around 18 brands, and is projected to reach $23.1 million by 2030.

The category, however, isn't entirely new to the region. "The UAE already has a strong culture around fermented dairy through products like laban, so the concept is not foreign, even though kefir's fermentation process and probiotic diversity are very different," Boskovic added. Authentic kefir contains roughly 30 to 50 strains of beneficial probiotics, a far broader microbial profile than conventional cultured dairy.

UAE-made kefir comes as people want dairy that's healthier, more functional and more transparent, but still expect great taste and quality. 

"Meeting these expectations requires sustained investment in nutrition science and food technology. Innovation only works if it solves real consumer needs, so understanding them must come first," Safi said.

Healthy Emirati Sourdough

The same instinct to create healthier staple products is evident even in smaller businesses, like a neighbourhood bakeshop. 

Naseefa Al Mansoori of SG Golden Crust combines healthier techniques with local ingredients to produce their signature bread. 

"Our focus is on producing healthy sourdough using Emirati organic whole wheat flour, naturally fermented for 24 hours using a live starter," she said.

Every loaf, she added, is naturally fermented to improve both flavour and nutritional value.

Products from Every Part of Palm Tree

Among date farmers, the drive to innovate has yielded goods few thought possible. At the Liwa Dates Festival, Maryam Al Mansoori, owner of Al Rahiya Organic Farm, proudly presented a wide range of value-added products made from "every part of the palm tree."

They turned date seeds into coffee, came up with date syrup and jam, and whipped some plant-based ice cream from palm pollen. 

Al Mansoori said this approach allows farmers to extend the value of each harvest beyond the date season, supporting the UAE's food security and sustainability goals.

"Value-added products allow us to make better use of the date harvest and extend its benefits throughout the year," she said.