Implementation of the Dubai Food District project will begin in 2027

The Director General of the Dubai Food Zone at DP World (DB World), Ramzi Kahil, stated that the Dubai Food Zone project is one of the strategic projects of the Dubai government, and constitutes an essential pillar in supporting the emirate’s food security strategy and enhancing the resilience of food supply chains.

He added that the project is scheduled to begin implementation in 2027, with development work taking between one and two years, so that it will be ready to receive customers and the public upon its completion.

Kahil confirmed to Emirates Today, on the sidelines of his participation in the Gulfood 2026 exhibition, that “Dubai Food District represents an integrated market for food trade and circulation, which is being developed based on the current market in the Al Awir area (vegetable and fruit market).”

He explained that it is planned that the market will include broader categories of food products in the future, such as meat, dairy, grains, and basic food commodities, in addition to specialized and luxury products.

He pointed out that the project is a strategic opportunity for the Emirate of Dubai, as it allows the DP World group to redevelop the existing market in Al Awir by expanding the area to about 29 million square feet, which strengthens Dubai’s position as an advanced global center for food trade and related logistics services.

He stated that the volume of food trade in the UAE market amounts to about 2.3 million tons annually, with plans to raise this number to more than three million tons in the coming years, reflecting the expected growth in food trade movement regionally and globally.

Kahil stressed that the project will contribute to consolidating Dubai’s position on the map of global markets, noting that the development of the Dubai Food District will make the Dubai market among the best in the world in the field of food trade and circulation.

Kahil pointed out that the project, as part of Dubai’s D33 Economic Agenda, contributes to consolidating the emirate’s position as a global gateway for food trade in the Middle East and North Africa region, by enhancing the flexibility of supply chains and linking them to global trade networks.

He said, “The project is directly compatible with the National Food Security Strategy 2051, as it transforms it from a legislative framework into tangible operational capabilities, through advanced infrastructure that includes integrated facilities for refrigeration, processing, logistics services, and digital systems.”

He also stressed that the project supports the role of the UAE as a regional center for the redistribution of food products, and enhances trade diversification by supporting comprehensive economic partnership agreements, by providing the necessary infrastructure for food trade corridors.

He pointed out that the project provides broad opportunities for small and medium-sized companies operating in the food sector, as it allows them to access advanced institutional-class infrastructure without the need for large capital investments, by benefiting from shared facilities for refrigeration, processing and distribution, which transforms fixed costs into flexible operating expenses.

The Director General of the Dubai Food Zone at DP World (DP World) pointed out that the project’s proximity to ports and free zones contributes to reducing transportation time, reducing waste, and maintaining the quality of products, while the DP World network enables companies to have direct access to more than 20 global markets.