Reducing food imports by 50% by 2050

The Minister of Economy, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, stated, “The UAE places food security as a national priority, and we are proud of the progress made in local food production with the aim of reducing food imports, from 90% of requirements to 50% by 2050.”

Bin Touq pointed out, in statements on the sidelines of the opening of the activities of the “Food Industries Future Forum 2024”, which was held in Dubai yesterday, that “the Emirates Food Platform has an important role in achieving the goals of food security and sustainability, by strengthening the partnership between the public and private sectors,” pointing out. We are working closely with food and beverage manufacturers in the Emirates to develop the platform.

He explained, “More than 20 initiatives are currently being designed, the most prominent of which focus on manufactured foods in the UAE, agricultural science universities, platforms for sharing sector system data, value chain financing programs, and fraud protection programs in the field of food and beverages.”

Bin Touq added, “These initiatives aim to increase the food sector’s contribution to the UAE’s gross domestic product by $10 billion, and create 20,000 job opportunities by 2030.”

For his part, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, Abdullah Al Saleh, said: “The UAE Food Platform and Strategy aims to enable dialogue between all stakeholders, including universities, scientists, research institutions and ministries, with the aim of ensuring food security in the future. With our dependence on imports, we realize that there is potential to enhance food security and the supply chain, increase exports, support our markets and develop our policies, and we must address these issues transparently and develop our recommendations and initiatives.”

He added, “The value of food imports in the UAE during the past year amounted to $23 billion, while the value of food exports amounted to $6.6 billion.” During the first half of this year, food trade witnessed a growth of 20%, food imports increased by 23%, while exports witnessed an increase of 19%, which indicates the UAE’s commitment to enhancing its food security and expanding its role in the global food industry and trade.

In turn, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Food and Beverage Manufacturers Group in the Emirates, Saleh Lootah, said, “The forum witnessed the announcement of the launch of the (Foodverse) platform designed for the food sector and based on metaverse technologies, which constitutes a qualitative shift in interaction between institutions, product offers, and professional communication, which… “It provides stakeholders with a new and comprehensive way to contribute to the future of food and beverages.”