Date: 23 Oct, 2026
Location: Dubai - UAE
Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID) has stressed that the next gains in Arab food security will come from making existing assets more efficient and building integrated value chains, rather than from expansion alone. Dr. Abdelilah Belatik, Executive Director of the Investment Sector, made the point in his keynote address at the 3rd Edition of the AgriNext Dubai 2026 Conference in Dubai.
Speaking on “Harvesting Value – Strategic M&A to Accelerate Agri-Business Growth”, Dr. Belatik said that well-executed mergers and acquisitions are among the fastest ways to achieve scale and efficiency, and that real value comes from integration and better operations, not from a change of ownership.
He noted that GCC food demand, projected to reach 55.5 million tonnes by 2029, creates strong opportunities in regional food processing, storage and supply chains.
He outlined MAYR’s move from financing standalone projects towards building investment platforms with investors and development finance institutions, one of the focus areas of the strategic plan the Authority is now preparing.
Dr. Belatik closed by inviting investors, governments, financiers and technology partners to work with MAYR on integrated Arab agribusiness platforms: “The goal is not more companies — it is more value from every investment”.
