Dubai Food District Expansion: DP World Creates A Global Food Trade Hub

DP World has launched the Dubai Food District, expanding and renaming the Al Aweer Central Fruit and Vegetable Market. The project is planned as one of the world’s largest integrated food trade hubs, targeting global flows of fresh produce, packaged food, and specialised items through Dubai.

The district, first announced in July 2024 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, builds on Al Aweer’s legacy. It will cover around 29 million square feet when complete, serving trade in fruits, vegetables, dairy, staples, gourmet products, and speciality food categories.

Development of Dubai Food District will take place in stages, with the first phase scheduled to start in 2027. The site is planned to more than double the current market footprint, increasing overall trade capacity while supporting food security goals across the UAE and wider region.

The new hub is designed as a connected ecosystem that brings trading, storage, processing, and distribution together. Plans include temperature-controlled warehouses, cold stores, primary and secondary processing units, digital back-office platforms, cash-and-carry facilities, and a gourmet food hall aimed at both businesses and end customers.

Dubai Food District’s location links directly into DP World’s wider infrastructure, providing multimodal access by road, sea, and air. Through DP World’s logistics network, producers and traders will be connected to more than 20 markets worldwide, with supply chains structured to be more secure, agile, and cost-efficient.

These connections are expected to support companies of different sizes, from small traders to large distributors. The district’s design aims to shorten delivery times, improve product handling, and give regional and international food businesses clearer access to growth opportunities in and through Dubai.

The Al Aweer Central Fruit and Vegetable Market, opened in 2004, already functions as a major platform for fresh produce distribution. More than 2,500 traders operate there, serving customers across the UAE and into neighbouring markets, giving the new district an established commercial base and experienced trading community.

Dubai Food District strategy and investment

The expansion keeps Al Aweer at the centre of the food ecosystem while upgrading operations. The development is structured to enhance scale and efficiency, widen product diversity, speed up access to market, and reduce operational and supply chain risks for enterprises working across the food value chain.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said, "Dubai Food District strengthens Dubai’s leadership in food trade by bringing world-class infrastructure, global connectivity, and advanced logistics together in one location. We’re enabling farmers, producers, and traders to reach new markets faster, more efficiently and more sustainably."

Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO & Managing Director of DP World GCC, stated, "With global food demand on the rise and supply chains under strain, Dubai Food District is a critical investment. It’s designed to serve as a launchpad for trade-led innovation in the food sector, supporting the UAE’s industrial strategy while driving long-term economic impact."

DP World plans to present Dubai Food District at Gulfood 2026, underlining the project’s role in trade-led growth. The district is positioned to reinforce Dubai’s status as a global food gateway, while giving regional businesses improved infrastructure to manage supply, processing, and distribution across multiple markets.

With inputs from WAM