Baladna is a Qatari agricultural company that raises livestock and produces dairy products. It is Qatar’s largest locally-owned food and dairy producer, supplying over 95% of the country’s fresh dairy products.
Baladna was co-founded by Qatari businessman Moutaz Al-Khayyat and Ramez Al-Khayyat, and is part of Power International Holding. The farms and Dairy Factories are managed by CEO Malcolm Jordan.
Located north of Doha is the proudly Qatari Baladna farm. The country’s leading dairy producer and one of the largest cattle farms in the region, it houses around 24,000 cows in a comfortable and temperature-controlled environment where each animal is afforded the space to move freely. Cows are milked daily using the most advanced technology available. They provide a wide variety of products- cheese, laban, ayran, yoghurt, labneh, cream, desserts and of course fresh milk are produced in the most hygienic of settings. The farm offers a great opportunity for children to learn about dairy production in a healthy, state-of-the-art, compassionate environment.
History of Baladna Farm and Park
Originally established as a sheep and goat farm, Baladna made a significant pivot in May 2017 by venturing into the production of processed dairy products for the Qatari market.
Following the diplomatic rift in June 2017, wherein several Gulf countries severed ties with Qatar, Baladna swiftly expanded its operations with government backing. This expansion focused on cow’s milk production, a commodity previously imported primarily from Saudi Arabia. The company procured 3,400 cows and commenced milking operations in July at a farm in Umm al Hawaya, with plans for further herd expansion.
Today, Baladna boasts a staggering herd of 22,000 cows, with a potential capacity of 24,000. The cows are nourished with hay sourced from Asia, Europe, and Africa. The company’s extensive facilities cover 2 million square meters, encompassing two farms featuring 40 barns equipped with state-of-the-art milking parlors. With a production capacity of 700,000 to 900,000 liters of beverages per day, Baladna fulfills approximately 80% of Qatar’s domestic demand, exporting the remaining output.
With the overarching objective of achieving dairy self-sufficiency in Qatar, Baladna embarked on exporting its dairy products and diversifying into juice production. In October 2019, the company announced its intention to go public on the Qatar Exchange, with the subsequent initial public offering expected to raise 1.426 billion riyals ($392 million).
By June 2019, Baladna had emerged as a major player in Qatar’s dairy sector, supplying half of the nation’s fresh milk. Expanding its reach beyond Qatar’s borders, the company began exporting milk to countries such as Afghanistan and Yemen, with plans for further expansion into Oman and beyond.
In response to evolving consumer preferences, Baladna introduced the budget-conscious brand Awafi in 2020. The company also recorded significant financial success, announcing a net profit of QR 84 million and revenues of QR 442 million in August 2020.
Looking towards the future, Baladna unveiled plans to invest in crop farming, with initiatives spanning 5,000 hectares of land in Romania to cultivate feed for its herd. Additionally, the company aims to introduce crop cultivation in Qatar, employing center pivot irrigation techniques to grow alfalfa for cattle feed.
In June 2021, Baladna cemented its commitment to community engagement by becoming a founding member of the Children’s Museum of Qatar, further solidifying its role as a key player in Qatar’s agricultural landscape.