meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

UAE food producers struggle with global challenges

29 November 2022

Local food and beverage (F&B) producers in the UAE say the sector is being severely constrained by rising input costs and unprecedented challenges caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The impact of the war, which began in February this year, has reverberated across the globe, creating uncertainty and insecurity in global food supply chains. 

The food industry is among the vital focus industrial sectors of the UAE’s Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology’s (MoIAT) Operation 300bn plan, not only to enhance its contribution to GDP but also to support long-term food security and self-sufficiency by facilitating local production.

Food security strategy

For industry stakeholders gathered at the MEED-Mashreq Manufacturing Business Leaders Forum, the Covid-19 crisis and conflict in Ukraine have only further underlined the importance of pursuing a food security strategy.

“The UAE F&B industry has more than 550 manufacturing units and employs more than 80,000 workers with a value of production of over AED35bn and exports of more than AED15bn,” said Ahmed Bayoumi, CEO of Global Food Industries (GFI) and board member of the UAE Food & Beverage Manufacturers Group.

“The Ministry of Climate Change and the Ministry of Industry are jointly spearheading efforts to increase the domestic supply of food products and to make the UAE one of the most food-secure countries in the world,” explained Bayoumi. 

“The two strategies, food security and Operation 300bn, both have many programmes to support the industry. We also really appreciate the new free trade agreements and the building of new trade routes with India, Indonesia and Israel.”

Import dependence

The UAE and other Gulf nations – considered food-secure due to their economic and political stability – have not faced food shortages since the pandemic outbreak. But food security and limiting vulnerability to import disruptions remains a key strategic long-term goal for the UAE government, as it lacks control over its sources.

GCC countries, including the UAE, typically import nearly 85 per cent of their food.

Compounding the situation is the harsh climate, with the expansion of local food production limited due to the scarcity of natural resources such as water and arable land.

According to the World Resources Institute, the Middle East and North Africa is the most water-stressed region globally, with the World Bank forecasting that the region will experience the highest economic losses from climate-related water scarcity compared with other global regions, at about six to 14 per cent of their GDP by 2050.

Conflict stress

Closed-off access to the lower-priced Black Sea grain since the outbreak of the war has induced commodity shortages and exacerbated inflationary pressures for purchasers already struggling with still fragile pandemic-disrupted supply chains, high import costs and spikes in energy costs.

“Because of the Ukraine war, sunflower oil and flour prices are up by almost 60 per cent,” a local food manufacturer said during the forum.

“Additionally, the Indian government has banned wheat exports from India. This has created an increase in commodity prices in the local market. It directly impacts me because almost all my products use wheat. Wheat flour is 60 per cent of my raw material.” 

The challenge, he said, is further compounded because commodity suppliers have been demanding advance payments as they capitalise on the shortages. 

But in the credit-driven UAE market, manufacturers are still bound by 90 to 120-day payment cycles.

“At the same time, I am restricted from increasing my prices,” the manufacturer said. “It is not healthy for the industry. There must be some intervention from the ministry to address this.”

Almost 99 per cent of food products in the UAE are no longer regulated in terms of pricing. This is due to the dialogue between the Ministry of Economy and the industry – credit where credit is due

Ahmed Bayoumi, Global Food Industries

Countering inflation

Inflation has risen to historic levels in many markets worldwide, significantly impacting consumers and businesses. 

In the UAE, the IMF forecasted that inflation will be at 5.2 per cent this year.

One local manufacturer at the forum said businesses have “no other way” to protect their finances and margins than to raise the prices of their goods.

“The government does not like to disturb consumers with price increases, but this is a very big challenge for manufacturers,” he said. “If manufacturers don’t increase prices, they will lose money.”

A 2022 Grant Thornton survey of 5,000 mid-market businesses across 28 countries, including the UAE, revealed that 87 per cent of businesses in the UAE have opted to pass the cost of surging inflation to consumers in a bid to protect their margins by increasing their prices, “at the same level or above our cost increases”.

According to the study, businesses have seen increases of 18 per cent in their energy and utility bills, 17 per cent in raw materials costs and 14 per cent in salaries or staff compensation. Businesses also saw a 16 per cent increase in outgoings related to equipment, as well as bank, interest and taxes.

The UAE government typically caps prices of staple food items to keep inflation in check and ensure shopping remains affordable for families. In April 2022, however, the Ministry of Economy said it was monitoring 300 frequently bought essential food items to identify products whose prices could be raised in line with rising import costs, subject to approvals.

“Almost 99 per cent of food products in the UAE are no longer regulated in terms of pricing,” said GFI’s Bayoumi. “This is due to the dialogue between the Ministry of Economy and the industry – credit where credit is due.

“There are only some basic staples that are regulated, and this was a major breakthrough after almost 20 years of everything being regulated.”

Achieving self-sufficiency

The long-term vision of the UAE’s food security strategy is to achieve self-sufficiency, creating an optimum balance between domestic production and securing food production channels overseas.

Ongoing challenges, however, are impacting the speed with which this vision can be achieved. 

“Producers who perhaps enjoy more subsidies or, due to currency fluctuations, can access the UAE market at low cost. This tends to come at the cost of demand for local manufacturers,” said Bayoumi.

The strong dollar, meanwhile, has been a “double-edged sword”.

“On the one side, it helps you with your imports from everywhere in the world. So, imports are cheaper in terms of raw materials or equipment. But, on the other hand, in terms of exports, nations using the Euro, for example, are screaming that they can’t buy our product anymore because they have appreciated by 20 per cent.”

“I think the UAE has to think to have some kind of ownership of lands abroad,” a manufacturer at the forum said. “This might open a big door for the UAE. That will secure our raw materials in terms of availability and prices.”

The UAE is already taking steps in this area, with efforts spearheaded by its investment vehicles. 

In 2020, Abu Dhabi’s International Holdings Company (IHC) said it would invest over $225m to develop and cultivate over 100,000 acres of farmland in Sudan to help secure high-quality agricultural output. 

Earlier this year, Abu Dhabi holding company ADQ bought a majority stake in Cyprus-headquartered agriculture company Unifrutti. The firm produces, trades and distributes more than 100 varieties of fresh produce, and sells 560,000 tonnes of fresh fruit a year. It has 14,000 hectares of farms across four continents and customers in 50 countries.

ADQ previously acquired a 45 per cent stake in French firm Louis Dreyfus, and has stakes in local companies, including fresh produce and agri-tech group Silal; forage and agribusiness group Al-Dhahra Holding; and food and beverage group Agthia.

Equal opportunities

Bayoumi noted that overall, demand within the UAE is recovering “very strongly” after the pandemic.

“Especially with visitor numbers growing, we see market demand growing, and we anticipate that this growth will continue going forward,” he said. 

“But also, competition is intensifying. More players are seeing the Gulf as one of the most attractive markets globally over the next three to five years, more players are coming into the market, and more players are vying for a piece of the cake.”

Medium-sized enterprises are at a further disadvantage when compared to regional giants.

“One of the things being discussed and under study is how medium-sized enterprises can be provided with access to centres of excellence that would pool resources in areas such as research and technology, which an individual entity might not be able to afford otherwise. That would make them more competitive over the long term versus the big players,” he said.

“The concentration of retail power also needs to be addressed. In the past, there were thousands of places to sell your product and hardly pay anything. Now two or three major retailers have 50 to 60 per cent of the market. They impose demands and if you do not comply, you could end up delisted or chucked off shelves.”

By Megha Merani

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/10391937/main.gif
MEED Editorial

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • UAE monitors desalination plants after oil spill

    3 November 2026

    State utility Etihad Water & Electricity (EtihadWE) says it is monitoring seawater quality at desalination plant intake points following an oil spill off the UAE's northern coast.

    In a statement, the utility said it is continuing to "implement proactive measures to safeguard the water production system" following the spread of an oil slick towards coastal areas in the emirates of Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al-Khaimah, Ajman and Sharjah.

    The spill involved the tanker Gem No. 2, which was struck by a projectile in UAE territorial waters on 9 October. The resulting oil pollution has raised concerns over potential contamination of seawater used by desalination plants along the northern coast.

    EtihadWE said its measures include continuous monitoring of seawater quality at plant intake points, regular testing of produced and distributed water, and verification of compliance with approved standards before water enters the distribution network.

    The utility added that the precautionary measures will not affect the continuity of water supplies to consumers in the Northern Emirates.

    In an earlier update on 30 October, the Climate Change & Environment Ministry said the oil slick was concentrated off the coast of Umm Al-Quwain, extending partially towards coastal areas in Ras Al-Khaimah, Ajman and Sharjah.

    The ministry said the concentration of pollution had declined significantly and that the leak had been stopped at source. However, surveying, monitoring and clean-up operations are continuing in affected coastal areas.

    The Energy & Infrastructure Ministry said specialised technical teams are continuing work to address technical issues with the tanker, including repairing damaged sections, restoring operational systems and assessing the integrity of its structure.

    The proximity of the oil slick to the Naqa'a desalination plant in Umm Al-Quwain has drawn particular attention. According to media reports, the slick approached to within approximately 2 kilometres of the facility.

    Naqa'a has a production capacity of 150 million imperial gallons a day, equivalent to approximately 682,000 cubic metres a day. The plant supplies water to the Northern Emirates and has been operational since 2022.

    It is owned by Naqa'a Desalination Plant, a special-purpose vehicle established by Mubadala, Acwa and the former Federal Electricity & Water Authority, now known as EtihadWE.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/21104534/main3427.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Oman signs 1GW battery storage agreement

    3 November 2026

    Oman's Nama Holding, a subsidiary of Oman Investment Authority (OIA), has signed a framework agreement with China's State Grid International Development to develop battery energy storage systems (bess) with a targeted capacity of 1GW.

    The agreement covers two battery storage systems, each with a capacity of 500MW, at Duqm Industrial Station and Al-Subaikhi (Ibri Solar 3) Station.

    It is understood that both systems will operate at 400kV and connect to Oman's national electricity transmission grid.

    The deal is part of a package of economic and investment agreements signed by OIA with Chinese institutions and companies during the Oman-China conference on 2 November. OIA put the combined value of the bess projects at approximately RO384.5m ($1bn).

    The agreement comes as Oman advances plans to expand its renewable energy capacity and strengthen the electricity transmission network.

    Nama Power & Water Procurement Company is also procuring a separate 950MW standalone bess programme comprising five facilities in the sultanate, as MEED exclusively reported.

    The wider package of agreements, signed during Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq's state visit to China, covers sectors including renewable energy, mining, logistics, digital transformation and space technology.

    In the wind energy sector, Oman's O-Green and Shanghai Electric Wind Power signed a strategic partnership to establish a joint research and development centre and wind turbine testing facility at the Mawarid turbine factory in Duqm.

    The partnership will focus on adapting turbine technologies to Gulf climate conditions, supporting local manufacturing and developing green ammonia projects in Oman.

    The partnership is valued at RO3.85m-RO7.69m ($10m-$20m). It also identifies potential future contracts exceeding $1bn, alongside green ammonia projects and initial investment commitments in Oman exceeding $200m.

    In solar, OIA signed a preliminary term sheet with Chinese firms PCG Power and Hoymiles for a partnership valued at RO38.45m ($100m).

    The partnership aims to develop solar energy projects in Oman and establish a solar inverter manufacturing facility serving markets in the Middle East and North Africa.

    It is also intended to support the localisation of solar-related industries, expand domestic production and develop export markets.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/21102638/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Consultants bid for Roshn’s north Riyadh scheme

    3 November 2026

     

    Saudi gigaproject developer Roshn Group has received proposals from lead design consultants for its planned flagship development in north Riyadh.

    Consultants submitted proposals on 1 November for detailed design, tender documentation and construction documents for the project’s first plot.

    The planned development covers 13.7 square kilometres and will be a residential-led mixed-use scheme containing retail, office, hospitality, education and civic facilities.

    The consultancy scope for plot one includes infrastructure, utilities, public-realm works and the site adaptation of Roshn’s residential prototypes. It has been divided into two work packages.

    The first package covers phases A, B and E, which cover about 7.8 million square metres (sq m) and will include 17,000 units.

    The second package covers phases C and D, covering about 4.7 million sq m and with more than 15,000 units.

    The site is bordered by the Expo 2030 site, King Abdulaziz Park, the Sports Innovation Lab Zone and National Housing Company’s Khozam development.

    Transport connectivity is a key element of the masterplan. Two metro stations are planned, including a station at the interchange between the existing Line 4 and planned Line 7, and a dedicated Line 7 station. The development could also be served by the planned Qiddiya high-speed rail link and a potential diversion of King Salman Road.

    The scheme will add to Roshn’s existing development pipeline in Riyadh, which includes the multi-phase Sedra community. The developer is expanding its focus from single-family housing to larger mixed-use districts under its Roshn 3.0 strategy.

    Last month, Roshn signed a preliminary agreement with TMG Saudi, the local subsidiary of Egypt’s Talaat Moustafa Group, to establish a joint venture to explore a separate mixed-use project in Riyadh.

    TMG Saudi will hold a 51% stake in the proposed joint venture and Roshn will hold the remaining 49%. The companies said they will undertake detailed masterplanning and prepare a business case for the project, which preliminary studies indicate could include more than 55,000 residential units.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/21101503/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Adnoc awards contract for Ruwais Diyab unconventional gas

    3 November 2026

     

    Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has taken the final investment decision (FID) for the Ruwais Diyab unconventional gas development in Abu Dhabi.

    The project will deliver 345 million standard cubic feet a day (scf/d) of raw gas from 2029 over a 25-year period, with the potential to reach up to 1 billion scf/d in the future.

    Gas will be processed on site and connected to the UAE’s gas network through new pipeline infrastructure, “strengthening domestic supply, supporting the nation’s economic and industrial growth as well as Adnoc’s liquefied natural gas export ambitions”, the Abu Dhabi energy giant said when announcing FID on the project at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec) 2026.

    According to sources, Adnoc has awarded the design, build and operate (DBO) contract for the Ruwais Diyab unconventional gas development to China-based Jereh Group.

    A formal kick-off meeting between Adnoc and Jereh is expected to take place later in November, sources told MEED.

    The DBO contract awarded by Adnoc to Jereh is understood to cover the second phase of the Ruwais Diyab unconventional gas development. The tendering exercise for the project started last year.

    “The development [of Ruwais Diyab] follows a disciplined programme of technical studies, field testing and subsurface analysis, delivered by Adnoc Onshore under a DBO model, to reduce development risk,” Adnoc said in its statement on 2 November.

    “It brings together advanced subsurface expertise, artificial intelligence-enabled drilling and completion technologies and integrated project delivery capabilities to support the efficient and responsible development of domestic gas resources,” it added.

    The UAE holds the seventh-largest gas reserves in the world, with 298 trillion standard cubic feet (scf) of conventional gas reserves and 160 trillion scf of unconventional gas resources.

    Adnoc holds the majority 60% stake in the Ruwais Diyab concession, the majority of which is situated onshore, while France’s TotalEnergies holds the other 40% interest.

    The agreement to explore, appraise and develop the area’s unconventional gas resources was signed by Adnoc and TotalEnergies in November 2018. The partners announced first gas output at the concession, presumably on a pilot basis, two years later.

    Adnoc has set a target of producing 1 billion scf/d of gas from the Ruwais Diyab concession by 2030, in line with its target to achieve self-sufficiency in overall gas production by the end of this decade.

    “Ruwais Diyab’s additional unconventional gas supply will strengthen Adnoc’s gas value chain, including Adnoc Gas’s ability to meet rising domestic and international customer demand,” Adnoc said in its 2 November statement.

    “Ruwais Diyab advances Adnoc’s ambition to establish a scalable unconventional gas business and create a platform for future growth,” the company added.

    Ruwais Diyab first phase

    Adnoc awarded the contract for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) on the first phase of the unconventional gas development programme to local contractor Astra Engineering & Construction in early 2025, according to regional project tracker MEED Projects.

    The first phase aims to achieve a gas output level of 100 million scf/d. The main structures to be built in the first phase include a central processing facility, two well pads, interconnecting well fluid pipelines, gas export pipelines and tie-in stations.

    The EPC contractor will be required to provide services such as surveying, design, engineering, procurement, expediting, transportation, fabrication, construction, testing, installation, pre-commissioning, commissioning, site performance testing, operation and maintenance of all units.

    The duration of the EPC works is understood to be 20 months, with the contractor also responsible for operating and maintaining the phase one facilities for 15 years.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/21100974/main4351.png
    Indrajit Sen
  • Sultan Al-Jaber appeals for global energy security reset

    2 November 2026

    The global energy industry must fundamentally rethink how it builds, protects and delivers secure energy, following a year of unprecedented disruption that has exposed critical vulnerabilities in international supply chains, Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, the UAE’s Industry & Advanced Technology Minister and managing director and group CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc Group) has said.

    Delivering the opening address at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec) 2026 on 2 November, Al-Jaber said preparedness is essential to navigating an increasingly uncertain global landscape.

    “For decades, energy security was a question for specialists. It was debated in rooms like this, by people like us, in a language that few needed to learn. This year, every family, every farmer, every industry and every business owner is asking about it, and our collective job is to find the answers.”

    Noting that it is not possible to control every situation and remove every risk, Al-Jaber said: “The choices we make today will determine the energy landscape a decade from now. Let’s apply the lessons we have learnt. Let’s build capacity and everything that supports it. Let’s forge partnerships that hold when it matters. And if you want a partner you can count on, you are in the right room, in the right city, in the right country. Because when it counts the most, you can count on the UAE.”

    Setting out the case for a more resilient energy system, Al-Jaber said that since the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, nearly 1 billion barrels of crude have been drained from inventories. He noted that in some markets, stocks of diesel are at their lowest seasonal level in 35 years, while others are facing a supply gap for liquefied natural gas (LNG) of 600 billion cubic feet. “Simply put, the world has eroded its supply buffers,” Al-Jaber said.

    “But supply is only half the story. The other half is delivery. Before the disruption, logistics were less than 5% of the cost of a barrel. Today, they are more than 30%. In short, energy security is not only measured at the point of production. It is now also measured at the point of delivery.”

    Mitigation steps

    Al-Jaber outlined five steps the energy industry can take to reduce the impact of future shocks. “First, accessible supply. We need expanded strategic storage, larger stockpiles of products and flexible refining capacity closer to consumer markets.

    “Second, routes to market. Supply only counts when it arrives. Infrastructure must be built before it is needed and enabled by advanced logistics.

    “Third, operational intelligence. Moving from automated operations to intelligent energy systems that anticipate risk, optimise performance and drive down the cost of every barrel.

    “Fourth, capital follows confidence. Policy must create it, finance must accelerate it and insurance must keep trade moving.

    “Fifth, which is in my view the most important, is people. Because behind every barrel that arrives is a person who made sure it did. Systems don’t carry responsibility, people do.”

    Photo credit: Adipec via LinkedIn

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/21091189/main2954.jpeg
    Indrajit Sen