The UAE is continuing to strengthen its world‑class role in food security and sustainable food systems, executing strategic projects and launching innovative initiatives that blend technology, investment and financing to create an integrated food sector with regional and global competitiveness.
These efforts are enabled through coordinated collaboration between government and private sectors, under an ambitious national vision aimed at achieving self‑sufficiency and enhancing the resilience of food supply chains.
Growth in Abu Dhabi’s Food Sector
In the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the food and beverage industry is witnessing record growth, highlighting the emirate’s role as a regional destination for food manufacturing. The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported an active membership of 24,594 in the sector. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups dominate this trend—membership in the first half of 2025 surged by 42.2 % compared with the same period in 2024.
Dubai’s Role as a Global Food Hub
In Dubai, a series of innovative agricultural projects and accelerators are facilitating the city’s standing as a global pioneer in the food‑trade ecosystem. The emirate’s advanced infrastructure and strategic geographic location make it a major conduit of food goods between continents. With the port of Jebel Ali Port — the largest in the Middle East — handling about 73 % of the UAE’s food & beverage trade by value, and linking to more than 150 global ports, the UAE ensures smooth and efficient international food‑trade flows.
Financing and Innovation for Food Security
On the financing front, the UAE is pushing supportive measures for the food‑security sector. Among them, the Emirates Development Bank launched the country’s first agri‑tech financing programme in mid‑2023 and allocated a portfolio of AED 100 million dedicated to vital food‑security projects. These investments are channeled to drive innovation in agri‑technology and support the growth of startups in this critical sector.
Public‑Private Synergy and Sector Frameworks
Stakeholders across industry emphasise that the UAE is now standing among global leaders in food security, thanks to forward‑looking leadership and the pivotal role of Dubai as a regional re‑export hub. According to Food & Beverage Manufacturers Group – UAE Chairman Saleh Lutaah, the private sector actively contributes through entrepreneurial drive and ongoing collaboration with government bodies. He notes that the post‑COVID era has accelerated public‑private partnerships, enhancing the country’s position in this vital domain.
A noteworthy initiative is the so‑called “Food Cluster Economy” launched by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism – UAE, which Chairman Lutaah describes as a “qualitative leap” empowering private‑sector leadership in legislation, initiatives and projects. The initiative brings together all stakeholders — farms, factories, supply chains, retailers — into a unified ecosystem, adopting a “win‑win” frame of mind to ensure shared benefit and strengthen the country’s competitiveness.
Lutaah underscores that this framework supports both self‑sufficiency and the UAE’s emergence as a regional centre for food security. The focus is on tackling challenges in each segment of the value chain — agriculture, manufacturing, distribution — by developing technical competencies, stimulating innovation, attracting foreign investment and preparing a skilled national workforce for future leadership.
Strategic Platforms for the Future
Similarly, Food Tech Valley’s head, Ahmed Al Sheibani, describes the project as one of the strategic pillars under collaboration between the government and the private developer Wasl Group, and the Ministry of Climate Change & Environment – UAE. The platform aims to create an integrated ecosystem that supports ag‑tech and food‑tech firms, both local and international, across the full food‑value chain from production to consumption. The goal: to enhance the resilience of the UAE’s food system and cement its role as a regional innovation hub in food.
The project not only provides state‑of‑the‑art infrastructure for factories and research centres, but also simplifies investment procedures, offers flexible leasing and construction solutions and facilitates coordination with relevant government and economic entities.
