UAE firm AAAID begins operations at US$28M fish-processing plant in Mauritania
The new facility, said to be the largest in North Africa, targets small pelagic fish for export and local value addition
MAURITANIA – The Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID), based in Dubai, has launched operations at a new fish-processing plant in the Mauritanian coastal city of Nouadhibou, described as the largest in North Africa.
The plant, valued at about US$28 million, has an annual processing capacity of 100,000 metric tons of fish and fish products, with cold storage for up to 10,000 metric tons.
AAAID will run the facility through its subsidiary, the Arab Mauritanian Fish Company (SAMAK), in collaboration with several private Mauritanian partners.
The project has received backing from the Mauritanian government, which considers it part of a national plan to expand seafood processing through partnerships between local enterprises and foreign investors.
President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani said the plant aligns with the country’s fisheries development strategy, which seeks to process more of the national catch domestically rather than exporting raw fish.
Processing Focus and Job Creation
The facility will focus primarily on mackerel, sardines, and sardinella, while also producing fish oil and fish powder, two of Mauritania’s key export commodities.
AAAID stated that the plant incorporates modern processing, freezing, and export technologies and is designed to meet international food safety and quality standards.
It added that the project is expected to generate hundreds of direct and indirect employment opportunities, strengthen Mauritania’s industrial base, and increase foreign exchange earnings through seafood exports.
Expanding Industry and Regional Ambitions
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Mauritania’s fisheries sector contributes roughly 2.8 percent to the country’s gross domestic product.
The nation currently hosts around 155 licensed processing factories, most located along its coastline, with a collective daily freezing capacity of about 4,000 metric tons and cold storage exceeding 74,000 metric tons.
IRENA’s report also estimates Mauritania’s annual fish catch at between 845,000 and 1.2 million metric tons, noting recent efforts to diversify processing, especially for small pelagic fish.
AAAID’s investment marks a significant expansion of regional involvement in Mauritania’s fisheries industry, signaling ongoing efforts to scale up local processing capacity and value addition in North Africa’s seafood sector.
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