Personal care giant Unilever is set to export from Dubai this year from its new $272m Dubai-based manufacturing plant.

The plant, located in Dubai Industrial Park, will produce 500 million items at full capacity, and will use the base to export 80 percent of the products to 80 countries, such as the Middle East, Europe and North Africa, in a bid to capitalize on the trend for products made in the UAE.

Spanning 100,000m2, it’s the largest plant in the region with all products to be labelled with a ‘Made in UAE’, with all popular brands being produced there, including Dove, Fair & Lovely, Lifebuoy, Vaseline, Clear, TRESemmé, and Sunsilk.

The plant offers state-of-the-art technology which is said to increase production times and get products to market faster. Quality control is also increased thanks to the high performance machines, which will scan 350 bottles a minute. Meanwhile solar power will contribute to 25 percent of the energy needed to power the plant, while 80 percent of waste water will be reused for other purposes.

Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, said, “Choosing the UAE was a strategic decision. It is a trade corridor that connects the East and West, with important growth potential and world class infrastructure. Our new factory is testament to that – as the UAE’s largest private solar park, it reflects a shared vision of driving resilient, sustainable growth, underpinned by innovation.”