AKI and CJ Corporation Partner to Expand Culinary Journey Across the Middle East

By Jenny Susan / December 17, 2025

Dubai, UAE: Al Khayyat Investments (AKI), through its consumer division AKI Consumer, has announced a strategic partnership with CJ Group via CJ Foods a powerful joint effort to expand the K-Food sector across the Middle East.

The agreement reflects a shared ambition to significantly broaden the regional presence of authentic Korean food and deepen long-term commercial cooperation in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.

A Partnership Formalised at the Highest Level

The partnership was formalised through the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during a high-profile ceremony in Abu Dhabi. The signing took place as part of the State Visit of the President of the Republic of Korea to the United Arab Emirates. Zaid S. Al Khayyat, Managing Director of AKI, and Mr. Sukjoon Lee, Vice Chairman of CJ Group, exchanged the MOU in the presence of government officials from both nations, underscoring the importance of advancing economic collaboration between the UAE and the Republic of Korea.

AKI Consumer and CJ Foods will collaborate to introduce a wider range of K-Food offerings to consumers across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and neighbouring markets and both the organisations will explore opportunities for joint product development and future local manufacturing within the UAE. This directly supports the country’s vision for enhanced local production capabilities, food resilience, and economic diversification—a key pillar of hospitality and F&B sustainability.

Tapping into Cultural Momentum

The Middle East is currently witnessing a significant rise in demand for K-Culture, fuelled by the popularity of Korean entertainment, lifestyle trends, and gastronomic cuisine among local and expatriate communities. This cultural momentum has driven an increasing appetite for high quality K-Food products that reflect the authenticity and innovative spirit of Korean culinary traditions.

CJ Vice Chairman, Sukjoon Lee, noted: “The Middle East, in particular, is a strategic priority region for this growth. We look forward to creating meaningful synergies with our partner AKI, especially in K-Food as well as across a wide range of other business areas.”

Zaid S. Al Khayyat, Managing Director of AKI, stated: “The demand for K-Food in our region is expanding rapidly. This partnership positions both our organisations to move with scale, speed, and a shared ambition to serve consumers with the very best offerings. By combining our strengths, we are building a commercially powerful platform that broadens market reach and unlocks new value across key markets in the Middle East.”

By combining AKI’s extensive regional distribution network and strong track record with CJ’s global leadership in the Korean food industry, the collaboration is set to deliver authentic, high-quality Korean products and help shape the future of K-Food in the region.

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