AAFG Commits to Significant Sugar Reduction in UAE Products

Al Ain Farms Group (AAFG), a leading food and beverage manufacturer in the UAE, has unveiled an important initiative to reduce added sugar across its product range by 10 to 20 percent. This strategy applies to its popular brands, including Al Ain Farms and Marmum Dairy, contributing to efforts for healthier food options in the UAE.

This initiative aligns with the Abu Dhabi Healthy Living Strategy, which integrates government and private sector participation to enhance public health through sustainable actions. Among the 28 strategic projects under this program, the sugar reduction initiative aims to improve the nutritional quality of everyday food and beverages while ensuring they remain tasty, high-quality, and affordable for consumers.

The collaboration with Healthy Living and the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) underlines a unified commitment to raising nutritional standards in the UAE’s food industry. AAFG intends to reformulate a wide variety of dairy and beverages, minimizing sugar without sacrificing quality or consumer satisfaction.

Dr. Ahmed AlKhazraji, Executive Director of Healthy Living, stated that enhancing the nutritional profile of everyday foods is key to facilitating healthier lifestyles in communities. He pointed out that making nutritious options more convenient could greatly influence public health.

He commended Al Ain Farms Group for its pioneering approach in the food industry, noting the company's efforts to enrich the UAE’s healthy food framework. Dr. AlKhazraji emphasized that initiatives like this play a crucial role in transforming food environments and fostering broader participation from the industry in raising nutrition standards.

“By setting a clear and attainable standard, Al Ain Farms Group shows how local companies can significantly affect public health goals while ensuring consumer choice and maintaining product quality,” he remarked.

Eng Abdulla Hassan Al Muaini, Executive Director of the Central Testing Laboratory at QCC, welcomed AAFG’s initiative, calling it a crucial advancement toward empowering consumer choices and improving food quality in the UAE.

Hassan Safi, CEO of AAFG, articulated that this initiative reflects the company’s ongoing dedication to innovation and nutrition. He assured that the reformulation program aims to enhance the nutritional value of daily consumed products without compromising on taste, quality, or consumer experience.

“Our focus is on merging product innovation with progressive reformulation to enhance the accessibility of healthier alternatives for consumers. This adds to our previous initiatives, including no-added-sugar beverage options, marking another step forward in responsible food innovation,” Safi stated.

In line with its commitment to healthier choices, AAFG introduced a new health-centric product range in April 2026. The company is now set to reformulate several popular household items, such as flavored milk, yogurt, and laban, under the Al Ain Farms and Marmum Dairy brands.

These improved products are anticipated to hit retail shelves before the Back-to-School season in September 2026, providing families with lower-sugar alternatives during a high-traffic shopping period.

Industry experts view this initiative as a key example of how partnerships between government bodies and food manufacturers can mitigate rising concerns over excess sugar consumption, especially among younger populations. Health professionals have long emphasized the necessity of reducing sugar to minimize risks like obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.

AAFG's commitment underscores the growing impetus for food reformulation in the UAE and highlights the private sector’s role in advancing national health objectives. Through ongoing collaborations with industry partners, Healthy Living aspires to enhance food environments and ensure more accessible healthier options across communities throughout the emirate and beyond.