Al Hashmi said that “The National Food Security Strategy 2051, launched in 2018, played a massive role in supporting the country’s progress towards ranking first in the Food Security Index. As a result, in 2022, the nation ranked 23rd worldwide and 1st in the Arab world for food safety and quality. To further support the national agenda, companies in the UAE need to capitalise on advanced technologies to ensure a sustainable food supply, increase local food production, and diversify sources of food imports.”

How do DP World’s Parks & Zones support the UAE’s national food security strategies?

DP World operates four economic zones in the UAE and supports various other development areas. Two key contributors to the food sectors in the UAE are Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), our flagship free zone adjacent to Jebel Ali Port, and National Industries Park (NIP), an industrial zone in the local market.

“Jafza has always been a significant contributor to the UAE’s food sector and plays a vital role in supporting its long-term objectives; the free zone is home to over 600 food and agri-commodity companies from 68 countries.” Al Hashmi added, “Our strategic location and world-class logistics infrastructure provide access to the GCC markets, which rely on imports to meet 85 per cent of their F&B requirements, and global access to the fast-growing F&B markets in MENA, South Asia, and Africa. Our role as a regional logistics hub is to ensure availability and access to F&B resources for the entire region,” he concluded.

To what extent does Jebel Ali’s Agri Terminal contribute to achieving zero hunger worldwide?

“In line with our aim to focus on facilitating global food trade, diversifying food import sources, and identifying alternative supply schemes, we launched Jebel Ali’s Agri Terminal. With the help of this new state-of-the-art facility, we look forward to enhancing the year-round availability of essential grains and pulses,” Al Hashmi explained.

The F&B Terminal will have a one million square metre quayside terminal of about 2 km to handle bulk shipments and dedicated space for 12 berths with a 14-16 m draft capable of handling large bulk carriers. It will be equipped to process cereals, meat and seafood products, bottled water, and dairy products, with specialised facilities for oil, tea, coffee, cacao, spices, and various other Agri commodities. The terminal will also have connectivity to the GCC via rail.

The Jafza Advantage

Stressing the added advantages offered by the free zone to its F&B cluster, Al Hashmi said, “We are an attractive destination for F&B companies due to several reasons, including our regulatory benefits, advanced infrastructure, and multimodal logistics options.”

Strategic location: Jafza is connected to Jebel Ali port, which is now the largest in the region and 12th globally, and Al Maktoum International Airport, with an annual cargo capacity of 250 thousand tonnes. Companies in Jafza can also reach any GCC destination within 1-2 days by road.

Regulatory benefits: Jafza offers zero tax and duty incentives and simplified processes for setting up and operating a business.

The F&B industry is rapidly evolving, and the free zone is keeping in step with the UAE’s efforts to embrace technological advancements and adopt sustainable food practices that secure the nation’s food supply requirements.

Today, Jafza can effectively cater to all the growing and diverse needs of the F&B industry, from storage and processing to customised farm-to-shelf supply chain activities.

Please find the original version of the article below: 

https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/jafza-facilitates-over-20-per-cent-of-dubais-food-and-beverage-trade-value-gdxtesqw