Camelait Premium Ice Cream and Camelait Milk Powder - both now available in select stores across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - were launched earlier this week in Dubai.
Fresh camel milk, flavored camel milk and camel milk laban are already marketed in the UAE by Al Ain Dairy under the Camelait brand.
While Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries remain the core market for Al Ain camel milk products, Western demand for camel milk, which is low in fat, high in calcium, and a rich source of protein, is increasing.
“As the demand for naturally nutritious products continually rises in European and North American markets, we feel the presence for our Camelait products is necessary now more than ever,” said Abdullah Saif Al Darmaki, CEO, Al Ain Dairy.
“And with new studies showing the promising medical benefits of camel milk, it is our mission to ensure these locally produced products are available to consumers around the world.”
"Uncharted territory"
Camelait Premium Ice Cream, available in 125ml and one liter tubs, and Camelait Milk Powder were unveiled by Al Darmaki at the Westin Hotel in Dubai.
In a statement, Al Ain said it "blazed through uncharted territory" in the development of Camelait Premium Ice Cream, which is available in Date, Saffron, Cardamom, Chocolate, Caramel, and Lite Raspberry Vanilla variations,
"Handling the complex proteins of camel milk in the pasteurization process to produce ice cream was a major challenge that was overcome during the innovation process," it said.
The development of Camelait Milk Powder, which comes in single 25g and 400g pouches and multi-packs (10x25g), was also new ground for Al Ain.
"Prior to procuring a spray drying unit, Al Ain Dairy performed trials of camel milk production in Singapore and used spray drying technology from facilities of a world leader in spray dryer manufacturing in Denmark," it said.
"Al Ain Dairy is the only company in the UAE to use this method."
With its one-year shelf life, Camelait Milk Powder is "a prime product for export to the international market," it added.
"Monumental achievement"
Al Ain Dairy was established in 1981 under a directive from the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nayhan.
Three decades on, Al Ain has overcome the challenge of producing milk on an industrial scale in the desert and manufactures a wide range of camel milk and cow's milk products.
Al Darmaki branded its latest developments a "monumental achievement not only in the history of Al Ain Dairy, but the UAE as a whole."
“When our company was founded over 30 years ago under the directive of HH Sheikh Zayed Al Nayhan, he envisioned something most thought impossible and with this legacy, we continually strive to ensure we are at the forefront in bringing innovative products to the market,” he said.