Food and agriculture

Oasis for food and agri-business

Dubai has long operated as a pivotal trade gateway between the East and West. This also extends to food manufacturing, FMCG and agri-businesses, particularly with the focus on enabling tech innovation to satisfy customers’ evolving demands.

Dubai’s advanced digitalisation has also empowered local manufacturers and retail giants to launch online platforms, capitalising on consumers’ increasing preference for FMCG e-commerce. The city’s strong capital deployment, coupled with the government’s focus on enhancing food security and building more sustainable supply chains, is expected to propel Dubai to become the go-to destination for FMCG, farming and food production.

Trade gateway

Dubai - strategic location
Ideal location enabling trade of food, agri products and commodities globally.
Exceptional infrastructure
Infrastructure and logistics capabilities across land, sea and air.
Supporting local production
Strong focus on local production in line with D33 initiative and National Food Security Strategy.
Industrial manufacturing
Foodtech and agritech are key sectors in focus under Operation 300bn.

Prioritising sustainability and food security

Dubai will play a crucial role in achieving the objectives of the UAE National Food Security Strategy 2051. This initiative aims to eliminate hunger by guaranteeing year-round access to safe, abundant and nutritious food. This will be achieved by enabling sustainable food production, improving local supply, building strong international partnerships, improving nutrition and reducing waste. The overall goal is to position the UAE at the top of the Global Food Security Index by 2051.

Dubai is committed to achieving the status of being the world's most food-secure nation by 2071. This goal hinges on Dubai's dedication to fostering innovation within agriculture, managing food security, promoting organic farming and advancing sustainable production practices.

Thriving FMCG industry

Dubai is home to a vibrant FMCG market that leverages the city’s strategic location, numerous free zones as well as many warehousing and distribution facilities. Key players include Jebel Ali Port (Jafza), the largest port in the Middle East and the ninth-largest in the world, and the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC). They offer efficient, secure and innovative transportation and storage solutions.

Another pivotal enabler is DP World, which is vital in the global food trade and nurtures projects like the US$1.5 billion (AED5.5 billion) Dubai Food Park. It offers comprehensive cold storage facilities, collaborates with international logistics companies like J&T Express and ensures efficient transport of food items and perishable products.

Empowering local food manufacturing

Dubai is a regional food manufacturing hotspot. Dubai Industrial City alone houses 100 entities, including multinational FMCG and food manufacturers as well as 67 operational factories.It's efficient distribution network is a prominent attractor for food and agri-business firms. Another advantage is that the city offers a strategic entry point into the fast-growing US$1.5 trillion (AED5.5 trillion) MEASA consumer spending market. This combination has attracted a strong local presence from global FMCG majors like Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Johnson & Johnson, Mars, Reckitt-Benckiser, Danone and Colgate-Palmolive.

Innovation in agriculture and farming

Dubai has built up a reputation as a dynamic hub for foodtech and agritech innovation. In 2021, the city launched Food Tech Valley, one of the world’s first agritech cities. It is projected to triple the city’s food production and functions as an integrated modern hub for future clean tech-based food and agricultural products. It also serves as an incubator for innovators looking to shape the future of the food industry.

Dubai has also seen numerous home-grown success stories, and attracted leading multinational agritech businesses to set up base here. Key examples include Bustanica (Dubai’s largest vertical farm), Alesca Farmers and Badia Farms, as well as start-ups like Krispr Farms and Merlin Farms.

Supporting food and agri-business start-ups

Dubai has one of the region's strongest networks of investors and venture capitalists, making it a fertile arena for the next generation of food and agriculture entrepreneurs. Free zones offer streamlined business set-up and legislative assistance, dedicated sector-specific infrastructure and easy access to global markets. In 2023, the DMCC unveiled a six-month Impact Accelerator Programme focused on healthtech, foodtech and agritech.

The city also provides extensive funding and mentorship opportunities for food and agriculture start-ups. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund has funded foodtech and agritech start-ups, and In5, TECOM's incubator has supported promising ventures in the sector.

World capital of gastronomy

In recent years, Dubai has skyrocketed in popularity as one of the world’s top gastronomy hubs, with more than 13,000 restaurants and eateries catering to a diverse population from over 200 nations. This represents another viable business opportunity for foodpreneurs.

The presence of culinary guides such as Gault&Millau and Michelin Guide Dubai further underscores the city’s rising prestige as a premier culinary destination, excelling in service standards, culinary variety, and fine dining options.

Market-leading food industry events

Dubai hosts Gulfood, the world’s largest food and beverage sourcing event, every year. The 2024 edition was the biggest ever, with more than 5,500 leading F&B companies, showcasing 150,000+ new products from more than 190 countries. The event has proven instrumental in fostering collaboration and innovation between key players from the public and private sectors. It has also helped orchestrate a shared vision to improve the future of the sector, solidifying Dubai’s position as a leading food and beverage hub.

Dubai also hosts conventions like the Dubai International Food Safety Conference, a testament to its commitment to national and global food security. The 17th edition took place in December 2023, under the theme ‘Impact of Climate Change on Food Safety’. It featured 3,000+ local, regional and international companies, as well as industry experts, researchers and academics. The collective goal was to exchange knowledge, innovation and the latest food safety and security trends.

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