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Sharjah Ruler opens Mleiha Dairy receives Guinness Record

05 January 2026
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His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah on Wednesday inaugurated the Mleiha Dairy Factory which spans 20,000 square metres and has a production capacity of approximately 600 tonnes


During the inauguration His Highness received a Guinness World Record certificate recognising Mleiha Dairy Farm as the world’s largest A2A2 cattle farm, located in the Mleiha region of Sharjah

Upon arrival His Highness was welcomed by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi Deputy Ruler of Sharjah His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Dr Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi Chairman of the Ruler’s Office and Sheikh Engineer Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Majid Al Qasimi Director of the Department of Municipal Affairs

Also present were His Excellency Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Owais Minister of Federal National Council Affairs His Excellency Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri Minister of Economy and Tourism Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi Minister of State for Government Development and the Future along with senior officials heads of government entities and representatives of partner organisations

His Highness delivered a speech expressing his happiness at the completion of the Mleiha Dairy Farm and Factory project highlighting its high quality and strict health standards He noted that the project had been his dream for 65 years a vision nurtured through his dedication to serving the community

Reflecting on three generations His Highness stated that the dream has now been realised with the fourth generation, thanks to the contribution of educated and capable young people of Sharjah who uphold strong values and responsibility

He reviewed the emirate’s ongoing food security projects, noting rapid progress and the establishment of diverse farms and processing factories His Highness also highlighted specialised university programs at the University of Al Dhaid including the Colleges of Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine and Desert Sciences aimed at preparing qualified professionals for food security initiatives.

His Highness emphasised returning to the origins in development, particularly focusing on the desert as a source of essential food production including poultry cattle, goats, and crops based on original seeds He cited human interference with plant and animal breeds and chemical processes noting their often harmful effects compared to natural methods prescribed in the Holy Quran

At Mleiha Farm the cows belong to the rare A2A2 breed, producing milk with 20 health benefits. The animals are raised and fed naturally to ensure the purity and quality of their products

Other initiatives highlighted by His Highness include olive tree cultivation on Jebel Deem, with 3,800 trees planted, 1,200 in progress and plans to add 1,500 annually supporting high-quality olive oil production The Flybirds poultry project was also showcased emphasising free-range birds fed exclusively natural feed and medication taking three months to reach production.

His Highness stressed the philosophy behind these projects: We do not seek profit; rather we seek health for the people If we achieve self-sufficiency and produce healthy food we will have accomplished a great deal for our country

Vegetable production projects also rely on original plant varieties, with cooperation established with German farms to cultivate pure seeds resulting in superior taste aroma and health benefits

He highlighted precise agricultural management using digital mnitoring for humidity and irrigation, ensuring the highest standards Sharjah wheat named Saba Sanabel exemplifies this approach where a single grain yields seven ears

His Highness emphasised living a life guided by God stating, True success and prosperity lie in following the path of God Here in Sharjah we remain committed to our religion Arab identity customs, and traditions

His Highness inaugurated the Mleiha Dairy Factory by cutting the traditional ribbon and activating the factory’s operations He toured the Visitors Centre where he received detailed explanations of the factory layout modern equipment and quality assurance systems

He visited the processing area central control room and packaging lines for fresh milk yogurt and labneh with capacities of up to 4,500 units per hour New eco-friendly packaging for fresh milk and yogurt meets international standards, reflecting the factory’s commitment to sustainability

In the circular milking parlor His Highness observed the milking process on 80 platforms capable of milking 500 cows per hour and producing approximately 100,000 litres daily He toured the silage harvesting and packaging facilities which produce 50 tonnes of organic cow feed per hour, and inspected the modern cattle pens ensuring animal well-being veterinary care and hygiene He was briefed on the farm’s future expansion plans supporting regional food security and production efficiency.

The ceremony included visual presentations highlighting Mleiha’s journey from a dream to a fully operational factory and the Sharjah Agricultural and Livestock Production Foundation Iktifa’s initiatives in food security and health

Dr Khalifa Musbeh Al Tunaiji Chairman of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and CEO of Iktifa emphasised that the foundation prioritises ethical food practices over market trends He shared a story from Khosrow Anushirvan’s council illustrating that food is the first medicine resonating with modern gut-brain research

The CEO of Iktifa criticised commercial greed turning food into a soulless commodity noting that the foundation guided by the Ruler of Sharjah, prioritises human dignity and integrity over speed of production.

Al Tunaiji highlighted food security projects including Saba Sanabel wheat, Ghiras seeds Mleiha Dairy Fili Poultry and Al Faya honey factory showcasing a compassionate circular economy aligned with natural laws.

He expressed gratitude to His Highness for 50 years of support for food security initiatives praising project teams government departments and partners for their dedication in turning vision into reality

His Highness and attendees viewed a presentation on Mleiha Dairy Farm, illustrating how desert land was transformed into farms factories and a thriving community with smart care systems for cows automated monitoring and solar-powered irrigation

At the conclusion of the ceremony His Highness honored federal and local entities and private sector partners for their cooperation and support wishing them continued success for the benefit of the UAE and society

His Highness received the Guinness World Record certificate for Mleiha Dairy Farm as the world’s largest A2A2 cow farm housing over 6,400 cows and a commemorative shield from the Danish Holsteins for preserving rare cow breeds globally

On the sidelines His Highness was briefed on Iktifa’s sustainable packaging initiatives including waste collection recycling, and transformation into usable products to reduce environmental impact

He met with small business owners in the hospitality sector using Iktifa products, hearing how these support service quality and was briefed on their expansion plans His Highness emphasised supporting entrepreneurs and empowering national initiatives

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