United Arab Emirates

Ethiopia aims to tighten livestock market

Ethiopia tries to crack down on livestock black market

By Matthew Newsome, in Addis Ababa

Ethiopia’s large livestock industry is set to undergo a shake-up following a new livestock trading bill, passed on 21 January. The new law, due to be enforced in March, is designed to tighten Ethiopia’s livestock market, increasing its efficiency and...

Genius moved into the UAE this year as part of an ambitious international expansion strategy to hit on global gluten-free opportunities

Genius ‘suitably busy’ amid global expansion

By Kacey Culliney

Gluten-free major Genuis is suitably busy with an ambitious international expansion plan as it moves into the United Arab Emirates (UAE), its commercial director says.

McDonald’s reaffirms commitment to halal

McDonald’s reaffirms commitment to halal

McDonald’s has said it will strive toward the development of harmonised halal standards across the Middle East, as it reaffirmed its commitment to various requirements in place.

New grain silos to open in Fujairah

New grain silos to open in Fujairah

A plan to build grain silos in the second-smallest emirate could help improve food security in the region, if political threats materialise.

Middle East hungry for more seafood

Middle East hungry for more seafood

By Ankush Chibber

Earlier this year, Oman embarked on one of the most ambitious food production projects in the Middle East when it announced plans to invest US$1.29bn in fisheries development from 2013 to 2020.

Regional governments will need to take the lead to encourage sustainable packaging options, says Ansell

Unwrapping innovative packaging in the Middle East

By Noel Ebdon

FoodNavigator speaks exclusively to Tim Ansell, Sales Director of UAE-based Al Thika Packaging LLC about the state of the market and what we’ll all be unwrapping in the future.

Lack of access to water is a crucial stumbling block on the path to food security in the Middle East

Abu Dhabi hopes to lead agricultural revolution

By Noel Ebdon

The first Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) is set to take place in Abu Dhabi early next year, aiming to turn the spotlight on the future of agriculture in the region.

Diabetes is growing the market for sugar-free and low calorie foods in the Middle East

Diabetes changing the way the Middle East eats

By Ankush Chibber

Food and beverage companies must take note of the growing awareness of diabetes in the Middle East if they want to truly tap the market to its full potential.

Without a reliable water supply, food self-sufficiency is a pipe dream...

Water decides the self-sufficiency issue

By Ankush Bhai Chibber

The Middle East water shortage is fast reaching crippling proportions — killing the dream of self-sufficiency in food production.

If regional conflict were to close both the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf governments could find it hard getting food into their countries

Report: Middle East faces food insecurity

By Noel Ebdon

Food security in the Middle East could be under threat due to continuing political instability in the region, according to a report from Chatham House, also known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs.

Kerry has said it intends to use the UAE as a hub for the Middle Eastern, North African and Turkish markets

Kerry Group moves into Middle East

By Noel Ebdon

Global ingredients and flavours company Kerry Group is the latest to step into the Middle East, in line with recent studies showing growing consumer demand for processed foods across the region.

The Irish have their eye on the Gulf States for agri-food opportunities

Irish trade mission explores Gulf opportunities

By Noel Ebdon

The blossoming links between Ireland and the Middle East have been under the spotlight this week, as the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, leads a week-long trade mission to the Gulf States of the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia,...

Per capita, people in the UAE consume more food than anyone else in the Gulf

UAE largest food consumer in GCC region

By Noel Ebdon

Food plays a huge role in Middle Eastern society, from celebrations to hospitality and pleasure pastimes, and consumer demand is booming across the region.

New rules hit Haj food supplies

New rules hit Haj food supplies

By Noel Ebdon

The process of enforcing Saudi Arabia’s aim of employing more nationals in the private sector has had an unexpected effect on the Haj food industry this year.

Dubai hits the show circuit to turn food trade deficit

Dubai hits the show circuit to turn food trade deficit

By Noel Ebdon

The Emirate of Dubai has taken to the show circuit in an effort to narrow the gap between its food imports and exports, as nearly all of its annual food requirements are imported from overseas.

The multihead weigher for sticky dates

Ishida troubleshoots sticky dilemma

By Jenny EAGLE

Ishida has partnered with Emirates Dates in the UAE to install a second multihead weigher for packing sticky dates.

Hotpack's new facility will be built in the Dubai Investments Park

GCC packaging market hots up with Hotpack investment

By Noel Ebdon

Hotpack Packaging Industries has announced it will expand its operations in the UAE with a $27.2m integrated manufacturing and logistics unit in Dubai, as sales of disposable-packaged food continue to grow in the Gulf.

GCC has lifted ban on Irish beef and lamb

GCC lifts ban on Irish beef and sheepmeat

By Carina Perkins

Ireland’s agriculture minister has welcomed a decision by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Food Safety Committee to officially lift bans on exports of Irish beef and sheepmeat to the GCC region.

Hui halal hub bringing back Silk Road trade between China and Gulf

Snapshot: China

Hui halal hub bringing back Silk Road trade between China and Gulf

By RJ Whitehead

Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China is home to 10% of the country’s 20m Muslims. While by no means does it have a majority Muslim population, the strong Islamic tradition by the ethnic Hui people of this Silk Road region dates back to its...

Australia red meat exports to MENA soar

Australia red meat exports to MENA soar

By Carina Perkins

Australia recorded record red meat exports to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) last month, according to the latest figures from Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

Most UK produced chocolate goes to Ireland, but there has been significant growth in exports to South Africa and the United Arab Emirates

Chocolate fastest growing UK food export

By Oliver Nieburg

Chocolate is the fastest growing UK food export driven by a rise in sales to the Middle East and Africa and factory expansion by Nestlé, according to a report from the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

Britain’s food and drink exports maintained their value of £12.1bn last year

Food and drink exports tough out the recession

By Mike Stones

Britain’s food and drink exports are remaining resilient during the recession – with total UK food and non-alcoholic drink exports for last year maintaining their value of £12.1bn, according to the Food and and Drink Federation (FDF).

The next big food gold rush

Gulfood 2013 blog

The next big food gold rush

By RJ Whitehead in Dubai

Teams from both the European and Asian editions of FoodNavigator are on the ground at Gulfood 2013 in Dubai, a food, processing, packaging and ingredients show which, according to its blurb, claims to be the biggest in the world.

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