Abu Dhabi's Investments in Food and Agriculture Sector Bolster Self-Sufficiency, Says Invictus Investment CEO

The UAE has set an ambitious goal to become the world's top-ranked country in food security by 2051, with Invictus Investment playing a key role in this plan. The Abu Dhabi-listed agricultural commodities company now operates in 65 markets worldwide and aims to increase revenues five-fold to 25 billion dirhams ($6.8 billion) by 2028.

Amir Dawood Abdul Latif, CEO of Invictus Investment, explained that Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth funds ADQ and International Holding Company are driving this vision through strategic investments in food and agriculture companies. The focus is on building self-sufficiency and strengthening food supply chains across the Emirates.

Several major projects support this initiative, including Food Tech Valley, the Food Development Complex, and Dubai's water abundance programs. These developments aim to create sustainable technologies that can reduce the country's dependence on food imports.

Rapid African Expansion

Invictus has significantly expanded its footprint over the past two years, adding markets across Africa and beyond. New territories include Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Turkey. The company recently entered Angola, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Jordan, Madagascar, Mauritania, Netherlands, Senegal, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

The strategy focuses heavily on Africa's coastal markets, which represent the continent's largest economies and main trade gateways. This positioning gives Invictus access to global shipping routes with lower logistics costs and better distribution capabilities for its products.

Abdul Latif expects the company to complete its presence in all African coastal markets by the end of this year, setting the stage for expansion into other regions and completing its operational network across the continent.

Strategic Acquisitions Drive Growth

The company's growth strategy relies on two main approaches. First, it's strengthening its presence in current markets by expanding product ranges and investing in supply chain capabilities. Second, it continues pursuing promising investment opportunities within the agricultural and food value chain.

Recent acquisitions demonstrate this approach. Invictus bought Mozambique's Merik Industries earlier in 2025 and signed an agreement in May to acquire 65.25% of Angola's Angata company. These deals help the company get closer to production sources and work directly with farmers to boost agricultural productivity.

The focus on Africa makes strategic sense. The continent offers significant opportunities to strengthen food systems and develop agricultural value chains. Invictus aims to transform all commodities it imports to and exports from Africa, including importing basic food materials for local processing and building more flexible, efficient food networks.

Managing Market Volatility

While commodity markets typically face price fluctuations, Invictus has built a business model designed to handle this volatility. The company focuses on basic agricultural food commodities with stable demand, particularly carbohydrate-based products tied to daily consumption.

The company maintains income stability through careful business structuring. It follows a conservative investment approach to limit risks from commodity and currency price changes. Operations focus on simultaneous buying and selling through pre-signed contracts in the same currency.

Geographic diversification also helps spread risk and avoid dependence on any single market. With operations across 65 countries, Invictus can weather regional disruptions while maintaining steady business flow.

This expansion comes as global food security concerns grow and countries seek to reduce import dependence. The UAE's comprehensive approach, combining government backing with private sector expertise, positions it well to achieve its 2051 food security targets while creating a regional hub for agricultural trade and technology.