Launch of Dairy Industrial Complex in Al-Kharj Promises Comprehensive and Sustainable Production Environment

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, emphasized the importance of launching the dairy industrial cluster in the Al-Kharj province to facilitate high-quality industrial investments and provide a sustainable production environment for dairy products. He made these remarks during the Saudi Dairy Forum in Al-Kharj, which was sponsored by Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Riyadh, and attended by Prince Fahd bin Mohammed bin Saad, the Governor of Al-Kharj, along with various officials, industrial and agricultural leaders, and dairy sector investors.

Al-Khorayef explained that the dairy industrial cluster, spread across one million square meters, will serve as a nurturing environment for quality investments with advanced infrastructure for dairy production. Its strategic location near demand centers and logistics services will support the objectives of the national industry strategy for food manufacturing, enhancing the Kingdom’s position as a key hub for food industries. The cluster offers developed industrial lands, advanced infrastructure, fully-equipped factories, cold and dry storage facilities, aligning with the Saudi Industrial Cities Authority’s plan to launch food clusters to stimulate the Kingdom’s food industry growth and competitiveness.

Minister Al-Khorayef highlighted Al-Kharj’s significant role in bolstering the Kingdom’s food security, producing over 70% of the country’s dairy products and supplying various local and regional markets. The dairy sector serves as a crucial economic driver and contributes to the entire value chain of other sectors such as fodder, feed additives, machinery, agricultural equipment, packaging, and labeling.

The agricultural and industrial market size for the dairy sector reached approximately SAR 22 billion in 2024, with Saudi dairy product exports totaling SAR 4.8 billion, while efforts continue to reduce the gap in imports, which amounted to SAR 8.9 billion in the same year. The Kingdom achieved self-sufficiency of 129% in dairy products.

The Saudi Dairy Forum, organized by the Al-Kharj Chamber in collaboration with the National Industrial Development Center, focuses on national efforts to enhance the Kingdom’s food industry, particularly dairy production and its derivatives.