When the Strait of Hormuz closed, the UAE’s food industry didn’t panic — it pivoted. With roughly 80% of the country’s food imported, companies had to move fast to keep shelves stocked and prices stable.
The result? A quiet but impressive overhaul of how the region sources, ships, and stores its food supply.
What happened
- Lulu Group International stopped waiting for shared cargo and started chartering entire vessels exclusively from India, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Spain, Turkey, and Italy. “We made our own supply chain,” said Shamin Sainulabdeen, the retailer’s director of private labels. Shipping times had ballooned to 70 days for some sea routes — far too long for perishables.
- United Foods, which makes oils and ghee, locked in future orders months ahead of schedule, building up to five months of stock. “Even while the war was happening, we had already made the future bookings,” said B2B senior manager Mohamad Ziad Al Najjar. Buying in bulk kept input costs low, which helped shield consumers from price spikes.
- Al Ain Farms Group leaned into local manufacturing, betting on the credibility of UAE-made goods. Chairman Tareq Al Hosani pointed to the country’s strict food safety standards as a competitive edge: “The value of the ‘made in UAE’ slogan — it does create value.”
Government at the dial
Companies weren’t left to figure it out alone. UAE government officials were proactively reaching out to manufacturers and traders, checking whether they needed help securing goods. It’s the kind of hands-on coordination that doesn’t get headlines but makes a real difference when supply chains are under pressure.
What’s next
The disruption has turned food supply resilience into a boardroom priority across the region. At this year’s Global Food Week in Abu Dhabi, the buzzword was “readiness” — and AI-powered logistics tools were front and centre as the next line of defence. The UAE has built a playbook under pressure. The question now is whether it sticks when the pressure eases.