The first group of participants has completed a specialist training program at Agthia Academy, a new initiative aimed at developing technical skills and manufacturing knowledge in the United Arab Emirates food sector.
The academy was established through a partnership between Agthia Group PJSC and Bühler Group. It aims to prepare Emirati talent for the needs of modern food production and help strengthen the country’s food and beverage industry.
The first training group completed sessions in Abu Dhabi and Switzerland. Participants received instruction in milling, baking and food production. The program combined classroom lessons with practical work at Agthia facilities and Bühler training centres.
This approach gave participants the chance to learn both the theory and the daily processes used in food manufacturing. They also gained direct exposure to equipment, production methods and technical practices used across the industry.
Agthia Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Salmeen Alameri said people and knowledge are central to building a resilient food sector. He said the academy reflects the company’s commitment to developing local skills and supporting the wider food ecosystem in the UAE.
Alameri added that the program connects Emirati talent with international expertise. He said the training would help build the knowledge and capabilities needed to support the country’s long-term food security goals.
Food security has become an important part of the UAE’s economic and development plans. A strong domestic food industry depends not only on access to raw materials and supply chains but also on skilled workers who can manage production, quality and modern technology.
Agthia Academy aims to address this need by creating a structured path for technical learning. Its focus includes food manufacturing, milling, baking and production excellence. The program is designed for Emirati entrepreneurs and students studying food science.
The partnership also brings together companies with different areas of expertise. Agthia contributes its experience in the regional food and beverage market, while Bühler provides international knowledge of food processing and manufacturing technology.
Heiko Feuring, Bühler’s president for the Middle East, Africa and India, said food manufacturing is becoming more advanced. He explained that modern production systems require workers with strong technical knowledge and the ability to use new technologies.
Feuring said the academy combines Agthia’s market experience with Bühler’s global expertise in food processing. He added that participants receive practical exposure to the systems, processes and skills needed in today’s manufacturing facilities.
Bühler’s involvement also gives participants access to training facilities outside the UAE. The sessions in Switzerland formed part of the program’s international learning experience. This allows participants to see how food processing operations work in different settings and learn from specialists in the field.
The academy is supported by several strategic partners. These include the Department of Economic Development, Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority.
Academic institutions have also endorsed the initiative. They include Zayed University, United Arab Emirates University and Les Roches Abu Dhabi.
The involvement of government bodies, regulators, universities and private companies is intended to create a wider support network for the UAE food and beverage sector. Each partner brings a different role, from business development and regulation to education and industry training.
This cooperation is also expected to help connect classroom knowledge with the needs of employers. Students and entrepreneurs can gain a clearer understanding of the technical demands involved in food production. Businesses, meanwhile, can benefit from a stronger pool of trained local talent.
Agthia Academy is described as a first-of-its-kind capability-building platform in the UAE. Its aim goes beyond basic training by focusing on the skills needed to improve manufacturing standards and production performance.
The first group to complete the program marks an early step in that effort. Further training could help develop more specialists who understand food processing, production systems and the use of modern manufacturing technology.
For Agthia and Bühler, the initiative also reflects a shared focus on developing people alongside industrial capabilities. As the UAE works to strengthen its food system, technical education and local expertise will remain important to the sector’s future.
The academy is intended to support that goal by preparing Emirati talent for opportunities across food manufacturing. Through practical learning and international knowledge-sharing, the program seeks to build skills that can contribute to a more capable and resilient UAE food industry.
