His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad 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.

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.

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.