Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: The Saudi Industrial Investment Group (SIIG) partnered with Unibio International PLC to build what is expected to become the world’s largest single-cell protein production facility in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. As per a recent press release, the project will be developed through a joint venture in which SIIG holds an 80% stake, and Unibio owns the remaining 20%.
The plant is designed to produce an initial 50,000 tons of Uniprotein annually, with long-term plans to expand production to more than 300,000 tons. The protein will be used in animal feed and is expected to supply both local and international markets, helping reduce Saudi Arabia’s dependence on imported feed products.
The facility will rely on Unibio’s proprietary fermentation process, which converts methane from natural gas into sustainable single-cell protein. According to David Henstrom, CEO of Unibio, the company believes its technology is well-suited for the Kingdom, noting that the world increasingly needs innovative solutions to ensure stable food supplies for future generations. He added that the partnership will help bring industrial-scale fermentation technology to Saudi Arabia.
From SIIG’s side, Abdulrahman Alismail highlighted that the project represents a strategic investment aimed at advancing sustainable protein production and positioning Saudi Arabia as a leader in single-cell protein manufacturing.
Front-end engineering design has already been completed, with construction expected to begin in the second half of 2026 and commercial production targeted for 2028.
