Al Ghurair Foods Highlights UAE’s First Corn Starch Plant at Propaper 2025 in Dubai

At Propaper 2025 in Dubai, Al Ghurair Foods announced the phased completion of the UAE’s first corn starch plant at Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD), targeting Q1 2026 for initial product launch. As a key player in the UAE’s industrial landscape, Al Ghurair Foods emphasized corn starch’s vital role in papermaking, surface sizing, and coatings, further strengthening regional supply chains across diverse sectors including food, pharmaceuticals, and textiles. The facility will reduce reliance on imports, valued at about $20 million annually, while serving UAE, GCC, South Asia, and African markets. Propaper 2025 also showcased the rising sustainability initiatives in the paper industry, with $200 million invested across the Middle East in recycling and renewable energy. The event reinforced the paper sector’s growing footprint in the region’s $3.46 billion waste recycling market, projecting recycled paper market value to reach $715.6 million by 2033.​