Oman Food Capital, a subsidiary of Oman Investment Authority (OIA), has signed a strategic partnership with Brazil’s JBS to develop red meat and poultry production facilities in Oman and establish a regional export hub, backed by an investment of $150 million (RO 57.7 million).
The partnership aligns with OIA’s strategy to build an integrated national food ecosystem by attracting global expertise, transferring advanced technologies, and strengthening value across agricultural and food supply chains.
Under the agreement with Oman Food Capital, JBS will make its largest Middle East investment by developing major meat and poultry facilities in Ibri and Thumrait, with total production capacity expected to reach 300,000 tons annually, reinforcing Oman’s food security and positioning the Sultanate as a regional halal export hub.
JBS’s first entry into the early stages of supply chains in the Middle East with its partnership with Oman Food Capital, reinforcing its global footprint as a leading food company operating in over 20 countries, employing more than 282,000 people, and serving markets in around 180 countries with a diversified portfolio spanning animal and plant-based proteins. The project is also set to create more than 3,000 direct jobs over the next five years, supporting economic growth and the expansion of Oman’s food and agriculture sector.
Abdulsalam Mohammed Al Murshidi, Chairman of Oman Investment Authority (OIA), commented that the partnership with a global protein leader will transform Oman from a protein-importing nation into a protein exporter within three years. He noted that red meat production will begin this year, followed by poultry by year-end, creating around 3,000 jobs across upstream and downstream food industries.
Al Murshidi added that Oman aims to become a regional halal meat hub, leveraging JBS’s global network spanning 26 countries and 180 markets, with production capacity exceeding local demand to support exports of Omani red and white meat to international markets.
Image credits: ONA | Cropped by GBN
Abdullah Mohammed Al Rashdi, CEO of Oman Food Capital, stressed that the partnership represents a key milestone in building an integrated and sustainable food sector driven by innovation and international collaboration, while setting a new benchmark for strategic partnerships that convert investment opportunities into integrated production platforms with clear economic and social impact.
Gilberto Tomazoni, Global CEO of JBS Brazil, stated that establishing early-stage supply chains in the region has become a strategic necessity given its large and growing market, noting that a strong base in Oman will enable JBS to access nearby regional markets and strengthen its regional presence.
Oman Food Capital, the food investment arm of OIA, manages a portfolio of more than 15 companies and plays a central role in advancing food security and economic resilience in line with Oman Vision 2040.
