UAE launches first lab to test quality of honey
Abu Dhabi-based facility will check safety and authenticity of honey products
Abu Dhabi: Honey and honey products in the UAE now have a new benchmark to conform to, as the UAE’s first and only fully equipped honey testing laboratory at the Central Testing Laboratory (CTL) has been launched.
This state-of-the-art facility, Honey Quality Laboratory, has been set up by M42 and the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (ADQCC) to ensure the quality, safety and authenticity of honey products, setting new standards for the industry.
The Honey Quality Laboratory is equipped to test a variety of features, ensuring that honey products are free from additives and other contaminants. It will also verify the unique characteristics of different honey types, such as the popular Abu Dhabi Sidr honey, and assess sugar content, moisture levels and acidity to ensure compliance with international standards.
Honey, a natural sweetener valued for its health benefits and medicinal properties, is more than a popular household staple.
Engineer Abdulla Al Muaini, Executive Director, Central Testing Laboratory at Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, said, “Honey holds significant cultural and economic value in the UAE, similar to the importance of dates. By establishing this advanced testing facility with M42, we aim to support local producers and enhance the market positioning of Abu Dhabi honey on a global scale. Our efforts contribute to the broader goals of the ADQCC in maintaining high quality and conformity standards. This initiative ensures that local and international standards are met, fostering trust and confidence among consumers and stakeholders.”
The laboratory uses state-of-the-art technology, enabled by proprietary data and an AI-enhanced Lab Information Management System (LIMS). This ensures efficient, accurate and optimised testing processes. The specialised team of experts perform a wide range of tests to assess honey quality, from unique genetically modified organism-testing mechanisms, to detecting any form of adulteration the honey might have undergone.
Albarah Elkhani, Senior Vice President, Operations, M42 said, “M42’s partnership with the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council is an example of how public-private partnerships are accelerating digital transformation and AI adoption in the UAE. By leveraging advanced technology and scalable capabilities, we are not only contributing to the local economy and national goals, but we’re also setting a benchmark for global applicability. M42 focuses on people, not just patients; health, not just healthcare; prevention, not just treatment,”
He added, “Our ‘One Health’ approach highlights the vital connection between planet and human health. By ensuring high-quality standards in products like honey, we indirectly support biodiversity and look to safeguard the health of people, communities, and ecosystems alike.”
M42’s collaboration with ADQCC is underpinned by a 10-year agreement, signed at COP28, to enhance the CTL laboratories in Abu Dhabi. This partnership supports various government entities, including the Abu Dhabi Food Safety Authority, providing critical testing services that ensure public health and safety.
Dr. Wael Elamin, Medical Director, Environmental Sciences, M42 said, “As part of M42’s comprehensive environmental testing services, we specialise in testing non-human elements that directly or indirectly impact public health. Our partnership with ADQCC enables us to enhance testing capabilities and optimise operations utilising AI solutions, providing critical insights and vital data to government agencies, businesses and consumers. Our honey testing service is a key component of our food and beverage testing portfolio, making us the leading, and only, lab in the region with such holistic and fully equipped testing capabilities to provide real-time insights for decision-makers.”