Saudi Arabia unveils world’s largest food park in Jeddah
Jeddah: Saudi Arabia has officially launched the Jeddah Food Cluster, a massive project that aims to transform Jeddah into a global business hub. With an investment target of SR20 billion ($5.3 billion), this project is expected to create over 43,000 jobs, driving both local and national economic growth.
Spanning 11 million sq. meters, the Jeddah Food Cluster has earned a Guinness World Records recognition as the largest food park in the world by area. This cluster is part of a larger industrial network in the Makkah region, hosting over 2,000 industrial facilities specializing in sectors like food production, pharmaceuticals, metals, and chemicals.
The cluster is designed to enhance industrial productivity through cutting-edge infrastructure and strategic investments. Currently, it houses 124 operational factories with investments totaling SR4.4 billion, producing around 4 million tonnes of goods annually across 10 industrial sectors, and providing jobs for over 7,000 workers.
The Jeddah Food Cluster also features 76 ready-to-use factories that comply with Saudi Food and Drug Authority standards, a central laboratory to improve food quality and safety, and over 134,000 sq. meters of shared cold and dry storage facilities. By concentrating suppliers in one location, the cluster aims to create a sustainable, efficient supply chain.
The economic impact of the Jeddah Food Cluster is expected to be substantial, with national exports projected to increase by SR8 billion. The development is also anticipated to create thousands of job opportunities, particularly in the industrial and logistics sectors, and contribute approximately SR7 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP over the next decade.
This project aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to strengthen food security, achieve self-sufficiency, develop food value chains, and establish the Kingdom as a regional hub for attracting both domestic and international investment in the food sector. The launch of the Jeddah Food Cluster marks a significant step in Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to diversify its economy and strengthen its position as a global leader in the food industry.
