Today's Edition
Mays Ibrahim (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a long-term strategic base for Brazilian companies aiming to expand into the MENA region, Asia, and Europe — offering the right environment, infrastructure, and policies to support global growth, according to João Doria, Founder and Co-Chairman of LIDE.
In an interview with Aletihad on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi-Brazil Partnership Summit on Tuesday, hosted by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) in collaboration with LIDE Brazil, Doria highlighted the UAE’s growing appeal as a business-friendly destination for Brazilian firms looking to scale their international presence.
“Abu Dhabi has the correct environment and the correct rules to offer this opportunity to Brazilian companies,” he said. “It’s easy to do business here because the government’s vision is to facilitate, not to complicate, investment.”
Doria cited the success of companies like BRF Sadia, which operates a major meat processing facility in Abu Dhabi. The plant has been running for six years, exporting to the wider Middle East and generating jobs locally. Another example, he noted, is Ambipar, a Brazilian environmental solutions firm that recently established a presence in the UAE and is growing rapidly.
He emphasised that Abu Dhabi’s infrastructure, pro-investment policies, and streamlined regulatory environment are drawing increasing interest from Brazilian entrepreneurs. “Each investor who visits the UAE — one out of every two — sees a real opportunity to invest here,” he said.
The UAE’s supportive business climate stands out globally, Doria added, especially as Abu Dhabi pushes to diversify its economy and strengthen international partnerships. Key sectors of interest for Brazilian firms include energy transition, food security, logistics, tourism, and real estate.
Brazil, already a global leader in food production — including soy, coffee, sugar, ethanol, and animal protein — is looking to add value to its exports by setting up manufacturing facilities within the UAE. “We’re not just exporting food; we’re starting to build factories here to produce and brand these goods for local and regional consumers,” he said.
LIDE, a private business group with more than 4,200 members across 22 countries, sees Abu Dhabi as a unique gateway for strengthening bilateral commerce and advancing Brazil’s international industrial footprint, Doria said.
“There is a real sense of momentum,” he added. “Abu Dhabi offers the kind of platform that’s hard to find elsewhere, and Brazilian companies are taking notice.”
