Dubai International Chamber Showcases Key Trends And Opportunities In UAE Food Sector At Gulfood 2025

Dubai International Chamber, part of Dubai Chambers, recently organised a business networking event alongside Gulfood. This is the world's largest food exhibition and conference, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 17-21 February 2025. The event drew 415 representatives from top local and international food and beverage firms. They explored the latest market data and trends influencing the UAE's food sector.

The UAE's retail sales of fresh and packaged foods reached US$16.3 billion in 2024, as per Euromonitor International data shared by Dubai International Chamber. Consumer spending on e-commerce food purchases was US$1.1 billion in 2024, with a projected CAGR of 12.2% from 2025 to 2028. The UAE's food services sector is expected to grow from US$17.2 billion in 2023 to US$22.7 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 5.7%.

Salem Al Shamsi, Vice President of International Relations at Dubai Chambers, stated that "Dubai’s food and beverage sector is continuing to achieve sustained growth, driven by a rising population, a flourishing tourism and hospitality industry, and the government’s focus on innovative solutions to meet the growing demand for food products." He emphasised Dubai's advanced infrastructure and logistics capabilities as key factors cementing its position as a global hub for the food industry.

Al Shamsi also highlighted Gulfood's significance: "Gulfood is the largest dedicated event for the food and beverage industry worldwide. By hosting this leading exhibition, Dubai plays a vital role in driving the growth of the sector and fostering new partnerships." He reiterated Dubai International Chamber's commitment to supporting local food companies' expansion into new markets while promoting investment opportunities across all segments of the industry.

Between 2020 and 2024, Dubai’s food and beverage sector attracted US$370.3 million in new foreign direct investment (FDI), according to FDI Intelligence data presented at the event. The UAE led venture capital investments in RestaurantTech across the Middle East during this period, totalling US$932.1 million as per PitchBook data.

The UAE ranked second in Middle Eastern venture capital investments in agritech between 2020 and 2024, securing US$386.1 million in funding. Retail sales of fresh foods are projected to rise from US$9.1 billion in 2024 to US$11.3 billion by 2029, with a CAGR of 4.48%. Meat products led fresh food sales with US$2.9 billion in retail sales for 2024.

Growth Projections for Packaged Foods

The UAE's packaged food product sales are expected to increase from US$7.2 billion in 2024 to US$9 billion by 2029, reflecting a CAGR of 4.53%. Essential staples like maize, rice, and wheat accounted for US$2.5 billion in sales during 2024, with an anticipated CAGR of 4.9% until 2029.

Dairy products followed closely behind with sales reaching US$2.2 billion in 2024; they are forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 3.8% over this period.

Beverage Market Insights

The presentation also noted that retail beverage sales are set to rise from US$1.7 billion in 2024 to US$2.3 billion by 2029, achieving a CAGR of 5.7%. Bottled water dominated this category with sales amounting to US$667 million in 2024; it is projected to maintain its growth rate through this period.

Carbonated drinks followed bottled water closely with sales reaching US$401 million during the same year.

This comprehensive overview underscores Dubai's strategic importance within global trade networks while highlighting emerging opportunities across various segments within its thriving food sector landscape.

With inputs from WAM