UK island minister visits exclusive Jersey cow farm in UAE
One of the top producing dairy farms in the United Arab Emirates that has exclusively Jersey cows to produce milk has received an official visit from the island the breed originates from.
Breed perfect for UAE
The Jersey cow is a British breed of small dairy cattle originating from the small island of Jersey in the British Channel Islands. Cows of the breed are highly productive and can give over 10 times their own weight in milk per lactation, which is high in butterfat and has a characteristic yellowish tinge.
One of the breed’s traits is that the cows can adapt to various climates and can tolerate heat very well, making them a perfect fit for UAE.
Jersey cows are milked all over the world and is the only breed on Rumailah Farm, home to over 100 cows on the farm based at Fujairah, UAE.
During the chief minister’s visit, we had the pleasure of discussing the current state of agriculture in the region and the potential for further collaboration between Fujairah and Jersey.
Minister’s visit
Just recently, Senator John Le Fondre, chief minister of the island of Jersey, paid an official visit to the UAE. Le Fondre visited Rumailah Farm and met HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Hamad Al Sharqi, and the farm manager Abdullah Taleb.
“We were delighted and honoured to receive chief minister Senator Le Fondre at our dairy facility. His visit is yet another testament to the considerable influence that Rumailah Farm has had on the local agricultural economy,” said Taleb. “During the chief minister’s visit we had the pleasure of discussing the current state of agriculture in the region and the potential for further collaboration between Fujairah and Jersey.”
Le Fondre visited Rumailah Farm due to the fact it has only the Jersey breed there. He completed an extensive tour of the farm and heard how it imported the cows from Jersey to produce its line of popular dairy products sold through supermarkets and coffee shops throughout the Emirates.
Jersey cow milk, sometimes referred to the ‘Milk of Royalty’, is famous worldwide for its high fat content, which gives it an exceptionally rich and creamy taste.
Rumailah Farm employs cutting-edge technology at its facility to produce its range of premium dairy products. The farm currently operates 2 popular coffee shops on the UAE’s east coast in Fujairah City and Dibba, where customers can enjoy the brand’s signature milkshakes, ice-cream and specialty coffee. Since the 2 locations opened their doors in 2020, they have continued to attract a large and loyal customer base.
Senator Le Fondre visited UAE to represent the government of Jersey at the World Expo in Dubai, where he highlighted the island’s links with a number of key partners through visits to national pavilions and discussions with representatives, including those from the UK, the US and the UAE.
Senator Le Fondre: “I was delighted to make my first official visit to the United Arab Emirates to explore and reinforce the strong relationship between Jersey and our partners. This relationship encapsulates everything from culture and heritage to dairy products and financial services, and I am extremely grateful for the warm welcome that I received.”
The senator said he was pleased to learn more about the UAE, “a country that has come a long way in its short 50-year history, and one that is clearly making further progress across a range of issues and sectors. It is apparent that, through our warm bilateral relationship, Jersey and the UAE can continue to work together for our mutual benefit, and I am confident that this visit has only served to further strengthen these ties,” he said.
