Dubai and Ontario advance food and agriculture cooperation following Dubai Chambers’ Toronto talks
Dubai and Ontario boost food and agriculture cooperation after Dubai Chambers’ Toronto talks; non-oil trade with Canada reached AED 12.6bn in 2025 and growth.
Dubai and Ontario advanced plans for deeper Dubai-Ontario agricultural cooperation during high-level meetings in Toronto, where officials discussed trade, investment and agri-food technology partnerships. The Dubai Chambers delegation met Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Trevor Jones, to explore ways to expand ties that support business growth and cross-border investment. The talks come amid rising commercial momentum between Dubai and Canada, with bilateral non-oil trade reaching AED 12.6 billion in 2025, a 23.2 percent increase from 2024.
Dubai delegation meets Ontario agriculture minister
The delegation was led by Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, chairman of Dubai Chambers, and Mohammed Ali Rashid Loutaah, director general of Dubai Chambers. They held detailed discussions with Trevor Jones on opportunities across food trade, agricultural technology and value-added food supply chains. The meeting focused on aligning regulatory frameworks, easing market access and identifying pilot projects that can fast-track collaboration between Dubai-based and Ontario-based companies.
Members of the Dubai delegation highlighted Ontario’s status as Canada’s largest provincial economy and underlined mutual interest in leveraging complementary strengths. Ontario’s diversified agri-food sector and Dubai’s logistic and re-export capabilities were presented as natural pillars for partnership. Both sides signaled readiness to develop practical steps to support SMEs and larger investors seeking joint ventures.
Surge in bilateral trade and economic ties
Officials cited official trade figures showing non-oil trade between Dubai and Canada rose to AED 12.6 billion in 2025, up 23.2 percent from the previous year. The increase reflects expanding demand for food imports, processed goods and agricultural inputs flowing through Dubai’s ports and distribution networks. Dubai Chambers described the trend as evidence of a maturing commercial relationship that can sustain more complex industrial and technology partnerships.
Delegation members said the growth in trade creates room for new services, including cold-chain logistics, food safety certification and cross-border financing. They emphasized that stronger institutional links and business matchmaking can convert trade flows into longer-term investment and joint production initiatives. Stakeholders on both sides expressed interest in sector-specific memoranda and trade facilitation measures to reduce friction.
Opportunities in food trade and agri‑tech
A central part of the discussions was the potential for collaboration in agri‑tech, food processing and sustainable production methods. Dubai’s demand for year-round food security and Ontario’s research and production capabilities were presented as complementary. The delegation explored pilots in greenhouse technology, precision agriculture, and alternative proteins that could be scaled through Dubai’s regional distribution networks.
Speakers stressed opportunities for Canadian exporters to access fast‑growing markets in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia via Dubai. They also noted demand for technology transfer, training and joint research to adapt Ontario innovations to the climatic and logistical realities of the wider region. Industry representatives from both jurisdictions expressed interest in establishing innovation hubs and exchange programmes.
Dubai’s competitive advantages for Canadian firms
Dubai Chambers laid out the emirate’s competitive advantages for Canadian businesses, including its strategic geographic location, advanced infrastructure and investor-friendly regulatory environment. The delegation highlighted Dubai’s role as a gateway to more than two billion consumers across neighbouring regions and its established logistics and free zone ecosystem. Officials argued these factors make Dubai an attractive base for Canadian companies seeking regional scale.
The delegation also pointed to incentives, streamlined company setup processes and access to regional financing as practical advantages. Representatives emphasized Dubai’s growing focus on future sectors such as food technology, sustainability services and cold‑chain logistics, which align with Ontario strengths. They urged Canadian firms to consider Dubai not simply as an export hub but as a partner for investment and co‑development.
Role of the Toronto representative office and next steps
Dubai Chambers opened its first North American representative office in Toronto in June 2025, and the office has since played a central role in facilitating business links between the two markets. The Toronto office was presented as a focal point for outreach to Canadian stakeholders, handling trade promotion, investor support and coordination with federal and provincial partners. Delegation leaders said the office will intensify matchmaking and follow-up on the initiatives discussed in Toronto.
As immediate follow-ups, the two sides agreed to establish working groups to identify pilot projects, map regulatory gaps and schedule sectoral roundtables. Dubai Chambers will coordinate with Ontario officials and local industry groups to develop a pipeline of projects in agri‑tech, food processing and logistics. Both parties also signalled intent to convene business delegations and trade missions to Dubai in the coming months.
The Toronto meeting marks a step toward translating recent trade growth into deeper commercial and technological ties, with a focus on tangible projects and private‑sector engagement. Stakeholders on both sides described the talks as practical and forward‑looking, aimed at building scalable partnerships that address food security, enable technology transfer and unlock new regional markets for Canadian and Dubai companies alike.