Construction on the 11,500-square-foot facility will begin next month at Dubai Investment Park and will process more than 1,500 tons of meat a month. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.
Al Islami meat is sourced from farms where the real halal process of no-stunning and hand slaughtering is followed. The plant will house machinery to produce products including sausages, kebabs, burgers, minced meat, and nuggets.
“Al Islami will continue to strictly adhere to its policy of supplying real halal products that meet the regulatory standards of local and international markets,” said Saleh Abdullah Lootah, CEO, Al Islami Foods.
“With the ever increasing demand in the local and international markets for halal products, this production facility comes in at the right time.”
The idea behind the new facility is to ensure a minimum production time for all products that travel from the farm to the production facility.
Al Islami Foods was formerly known as Co-op Islami and changed its name to Al Islami Foods in 2006. The company was founded in 1981 and is based the United Arab Emirates.
Top 10 facts about Halal meat:
- Halal is an Arabic word that means "permissible." In terms of food, it means food that is permissible according to Islamic law.
- For a meat to be certified ‘halal’, it cannot be a forbidden cut (such as meat from hindquarters) or animal (such as pork).
- The slaughter of a halal animal is called "zabihah" and there are certain guidelines to follow:
- Allah's (God's) name must be pronounced during slaughter.
- The instrument must be very sharp to ensure humane slaughter.
- The animal must be slit at the throat.
- The animal must not be unconscious.
- The animal must be hung upside down and allowed to bleed dry. Eating blood is not halal.
- These steps must be carried out by a Muslim or the People of the Book (Christian or Jew.) Many observant Muslims find kosher meat acceptable.
- The animal must have been fed a natural diet that does not contain animal by-products.