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Al Ain Farms has been a cornerstone of Emirati households for more than four decades, built on trust, consistency, and deep roots in the UAE. Today, as the company continues to evolve as part of the Al Ain Farms Group, its commitment to community and national development remains unchanged.
That commitment is reflected in its partnership with Rashid Al Dhaheri, a young Emirati racing driver from Al Ain who is steadily making his mark on the international motorsport stage. More than a sponsorship, the collaboration represents a shared belief in long-term investment, discipline, and the power of nurturing local talent to compete globally.
In this written Q&A, Hassan Safi, Group CEO of Al Ain Farms Group, shares insights into why supporting Emirati athletes matters to the brand, how partnerships are chosen, and how this long-term mindset mirrors the company’s own journey of growth and nation-building.
- Al Ain Farms has been a trusted name for Emirati families for decades. What does supporting a young Emirati athlete like Rashid Al Dhaheri mean for the company at this stage of its journey?
For us, this partnership is personal. Rashid and Al Ain Farms share the same roots, we both come from Al Ain. That connection matters. He grew up with our products on his family’s table, and now we have the privilege of supporting his journey onto the world stage.
At this stage of our journey, Al Ain Farms is evolving – now a part of the broader Al Ain Farms Group family, we’re scaling our operations, embracing new technology, and strengthening our role in the UAE’s food security. But what hasn’t changed is our commitment to the community that raised us. Supporting a young Emirati like Rashid, someone who represents discipline, resilience, and ambition, is a natural extension of that commitment.
When we see Rashid compete especially internationally, we see what’s possible when talent is nurtured at home. That’s something we believe in deeply: when you invest in local capability, it can compete anywhere in the world.
- How do you decide which initiatives and partnerships truly reflect the company’s values?
We ask ourselves a simple question: does this resonate with who we are and where we come from?
Al Ain Farms was founded by the late H.H. Sheikh Zayed. From the beginning, we’ve been about serving Emirati families: consistently, reliably, every day. So, when we look at partnerships, we look for alignment with those values: consistency, long-term commitment, and a genuine connection to the UAE.
With Rashid, the alignment was clear. He’s not just talent – he’s disciplined, grounded, and proud of his roots. He talks about nutrition being part of his daily routine. He understands that success is built through preparation, not shortcuts. That mindset mirrors how we operate as a company.
Partnerships to us are not purely transactional. We want to support people and initiatives that share our belief in doing things the right way, with patience, pride, and purpose.
- Backing an emerging athlete requires patience and belief. How does this long-term mindset align with the way Al Ain Farms plans for the future as a business.
It aligns completely. In fact, it’s the same philosophy.
At Al Ain Farms, we don’t think in quarters – we think in decades. We’ve been serving UAE families for over 40 years, and we plan to be here for another 40 and beyond. That requires long-term investment, patience, and belief in what you’re building.
Supporting Rashid is no different. Motorsport is a journey. You don’t reach Formula 1 overnight. It takes years of development, setbacks, learning, and growth. We understand that – we’re looking to be part of something meaningful over time.
This is now our second year partnering with Rashid. We’ve seen him progress through karting, into Formula 4, and now Formula Regional – all while representing the UAE with pride. When you believe in someone’s potential, you commit to the journey, not just the destination. That’s how we approach our business, and that’s how we approach this partnership.
- Looking ahead, how do you see Al Ain Farms using partnerships like this to support Emirati talent while strengthening its role as a national brand?
Our role as a national brand comes with responsibility. We’ve been part of Emirati households for over four decades; that trust is earned through consistency, but it’s also earned through contribution.
Supporting young Emiratis like Rashid is one way we contribute. But it’s not just about motorsport. We’re looking at how we can champion young talent across different fields – whether that’s sport, innovation, creativity, or entrepreneurship. Wherever there’s potential and ambition, we want to be a source of support.
What’s important is that these partnerships are authentic. Rashid’s story resonates because it’s real: a young Emirati from Al Ain, competing on the world stage, proud of where he comes from. As he says, he wants to raise the UAE flag and show that we can be part of high-level sports. That’s the kind of story we want to help tell.
When Emiratis succeed on the global stage, it reflects well on all of us. And we’re proud to play a part in that journey.