DP World UAE’s Chief Operations Officer for Parks and Zones, Abdulla Al-Hashmi, has highlighted the company’s efforts to build a resilient food supply chain in the Middle East and beyond, thanks to its state-of-the-art infrastructure and digital trade solutions. The National Food Security Strategy 2051, launched in 2018, has played a significant role in supporting the UAE’s progress towards ranking first in the Food Security Index. As a result, the country ranked 23rd worldwide and 1st in the Arab world for food safety and quality in 2022.
Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) and National Industries Park (NIP) are two critical economic zones that have significantly contributed to the growth of the food sector. Jafza has over 600 food and agri-commodity companies from 68 countries, playing a vital role in supporting the UAE’s long-term objectives. Jafza’s strategic location and world-class logistics infrastructure provide access to the GCC markets, which rely on imports to meet 85% of their food and beverage requirements, as well as global access to the fast-growing F&B markets in MENA, South Asia, and Africa.
NIP, located just 4km from Jebel Ali Port and comprising 21 sq km of industrial development land, has attracted major food distribution, processing, and packaging companies, as well as technology-focused F&B companies. DP World plans to announce significant developments soon for the F&B sector’s growth within NIP. In addition to supporting the food security strategy, Jafza, and NIP’s F&B clusters contribute to national initiatives such as Make It In the Emirates and Operation 300bn, increasing self-sufficiency through sustainable domestic food production supported by modern technologies.
DP World has launched Jebel Ali’s Agri Terminal to facilitate global food trade, diversify food import sources, and identify alternative supply schemes. The F&B Terminal will handle bulk shipments and connect to the GCC via rail. DP World is working with existing and new partners to develop additional infrastructure and services that contribute to the UAE’s strategies and strengthen Jebel Ali’s position as a global gateway for trade in the F&B sector.
Moreover, DP World’s Jafza offers an ecosystem that provides multiple growth opportunities for food, livestock, and agriculture businesses, with regulatory benefits, advanced infrastructure, and multimodal logistics options. With 20% of Dubai’s food and beverage trade value already passing through Jafza, this free zone is only set to grow in importance. Despite current economic headwinds, industry experts forecast a yearly increase of 6.8% between 2022 and 2027. The packaging industry is a significant player in the growth of the F&B sector, and DP World’s focus on NIP’s development highlights the importance of the packaging industry in the UAE’s overall food supply chain.