Silal Appoints Dhafer Al Qasimi as New CEO to Lead Future Growth

Silal, the leading food and agriculture technology company in Abu Dhabi, has appointed Dhafer Al Qasimi as its new Chief Executive Officer. He succeeds Salmeen Al Ameri, who will assume the role of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Agthia Group, one of the largest food and beverage players in the region.

Since last year, Al Ameri has been at the helm of Silal, overseeing its tremendous growth and strategic expansion in strengthening its market positioning and supply chain capabilities. Arguably, it is under his leadership that major acquisitions were realized by Silal, including becoming a majority shareholder in SAFCO, a leading UAE-based host food and beverage distributor, entering into Al Bakrawe Holding, the leading importer and distributor of fresh produce in the region and acquiring Sherwood, a major UAE-based supplier of agricultural inputs and pest management solutions. Some of these acquisitions immensely strengthened the sourcing network and operational scale of Silal.

In addition, Al Ameri drives the establishment of the Silal Innovation Oasis, a state-of-the-art R&D hub in Al Ain focusing on advancing food technology and sustainability. The largest Automated Produce Packhouse was also supervised under him, improving the country's agri-food infrastructure and production efficiency.

Al Qasimi has transited to Silal, having gained valuable experience from Sovereign Investor ADQ, with the company's Director pool overseeing portfolio companies in the Food & Agriculture sector. As Silal is now already part of ADQ's portfolio, Al Qasimi is very much acquainted with the business. He possesses abundant experience in managing the high-impact, strategically important national-level projects on food value chains leading to improved resilience in supply chains, resource optimization, and innovation to foster sustainable practices and local food production in this agri-food sector in UAE.

Salmeen Al Ameri, Departing Chief Executive Officer of Silal, commented: “As I prepare to embark on my next chapter, I reflect with pride on Silal’s achievements in recent years. Through strategic acquisitions and key partnerships, the company has substantially expanded its operational capacity to meet the growing demand for high-quality food products in the UAE. Additionally, the initiatives we have championed have fostered innovation within the sector and supported the sustainable growth of local farms. With Dhafer at the helm, I am confident that he will build on our successes, leading Silal into its next phase of growth with vision and dedication.”

Dhafer Al Qasimi, designated Chief Executive Officer of Silal, said: “It is a privilege to be entrusted with delivering the vision for Silal to become a catalyst for change in the food and agriculture industry, building on its reputation for innovation and operational excellence. Through its commitment to state-of-the-art solutions and empowering farmers, Silal is well-positioned to contribute to strengthening the self-sufficiency of the UAE by ensuring a steady and stable supply of food. Building on the strong foundation laid by Salmeen, I look forward to collaborating closely with our leadership, management, employees and partners to continue Silal’s growth journey and expand its international reach.”