It was revealed during the ongoing Gulfood 2025, that the retail sales of fresh food outpaced those of packaged food in the UAE. Yes, this is supported by the fact that 1 million tonnes of vegetables were sold in 2024. These figures were revealed by Dubai Chambers during the ongoing Gulfood 2025. And here’s all you need to know about the address.
Over 1 M Tonnes Veggies Sold In UAE In 2024
At the ongoing Gulfood 2025 at Dubai World Trade Centre Dubai Chamber more than 1 million tonnes of vegetables were sold in 2024. Yes, 5,36,000 tons of meat was sold and 514,000 tons of fruits were also purchased by people around the country. This is hardly surprising as Dubai is a culinary destination like no other! Offering a wide range of fresh food experiences and products from around the world, people here do love to eat.
In fact, in a report by Khaleej Times, it was mentioned that the figure showed that 293,000 tonnes of pulses, 2,42,000 tonnes of fish and seafood, and 163 tonnes of sugar and sweeteners were also sold in 2024. With a growing retail market for food, it is expected that the UAE may reach $1.5 billion shortly. moreover, another reason for the high sales is due to the number of restaurants in Dubai, which stood at 9400 in 2023. However, there has been a year-on-year growth. For instance, Asian restaurants have risen with 3700 outlets, Middle Eastern cuisine restaurants being 2300 and North American restaurants are 800.
UAE Minister Of Economy Address At Food500 Summit
Day 2 at Gulfood 2025!
From uncovering premium products to game-changing discussions at Food500, Day 2 was packed with insights, strategies and endless business opportunities.@DWTCOfficial #Gulfood #Gulfood2025 #Gulfood30 pic.twitter.com/Ebpn51NqTa— Gulfood (@Gulfood) February 18, 2025
In fact, H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, who is the UAE Minister of Economy, also made an address at the Food500 summit. His speech shed light on the role of UAE as a global food hub. He offered a perspective on the economic impact of Gulfood. He mentioned, “The food sector is a cornerstone of the UAE’s economic growth and our diversification efforts. We import 95% of our food and as the food sector is a lead contributor to our GDP, the sector in its expansion has attracted global and regional investments in food production, processing and technology.”
So, if all of these updates coming from the ongoing event, sound perfect to you, don’t forget to explore the 24 enormous halls, where the ongoing food event is happening in Dubai.
Cover Image Courtesy: Press Release
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