Global meat giant JBS is making a $150 million investment to buy a controlling stake in an Oman food business through a deal with wealth fund Oman Investment Authority, marking a significant expansion into a Middle Eastern market that has traditionally relied on imports.
The company acquired an 80% stake in a new Omani food holding, with the wealth fund retaining 20%.
Production at two facilities is set to begin within six months for beef and lamb and within a year for poultry, targeting an annual capacity of roughly 300,000 metric tons. Daily output will include about 1,000 cattle, 5,000 lambs, and 600,000 chickens. One facility that has been idle for about a year will also resume operations.
JBS CEO Gilberto Tomazoni said the company will raise chickens on-site and source cattle and lamb from Oman and North Africa.
The move complements JBS’s broader Middle East strategy, which includes doubling output at its chicken plant in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, this year. Rival BRF is also expanding its presence through joint ventures with regional wealth funds.
📌 Why it matters:
The investment marks a major step in JBS’s regional expansion, enabling the company to secure large-scale poultry, beef, and lamb production and strengthen its presence in a fast-growing market.
📌 Bottom line:
By establishing operations in Oman, JBS is accelerating its Middle East growth, scaling production, and positioning itself as a key regional meat supplier.
