AJT Group’s Greenfield Plants to Propel RAK as Packaging Hub
AJT Group, a UAE-based joint venture specialising in advanced packaging and paper-based solutions, officially marked a major milestone in the region’s industrial sector as it welcomed HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Managing Director of RAKEZ, to its newly commissioned printing and packaging facilities in Ras Al Khaimah. The visit, which also included RAKEZ Chief Government and Corporate Relations Officer Yaser Al Ahmed, highlights the strategic importance of the project to the economic landscape of the Emirate.
The delegation toured two primary sites: a corrugated factory and a printing and converting factory. These facilities represent one of the largest greenfield packaging investments in the region, transitioning from an empty desert floor to a high-tech industrial hub in just a few months.
AJT Group also announced the successful commissioning of its first HEIDELBERG 9+2 press, signalling commitment to utilising world-class technology. The HEIDELBERG 9+2 is a high-performance sheetfed offset printing press designed primarily for complex, premium packaging, and commercial printing. Typically operating with 9 printing units and 2 coating units, the press focuses on speed, flexibility, and automation to handle challenging substrates, including thin materials and plastic, at high production speeds.
“Building a greenfield packaging factory from zero is not for the faint-hearted. It takes a team that believes in the vision—engineers from China, expertise from Europe, and the ambition of the Middle East—all coming together to create something that didn’t exist before,” says AJT Group CEO Vitor Santos. He noted that the project is more than just a factory; it is intended to be a platform for world-class packaging that serves the Middle East, Africa, and international markets.
By positioning Ras Al Khaimah as a global packaging hub, AJT Group aims to support the continued industrial development of the Emirate. “The successful launch of these facilities underscores the collective effort of a global team of engineers and partners dedicated to bringing cutting-edge industrial capabilities to the heart of the Middle East,” adds Santos.
