Middle East

“The government is growing increasingly interested in usage of scarce water resources and the wisdom of dairy farming in a desert environment is questioned increasingly...

Water shortages threaten Saudi dairy production

By Eliot Beer

The Saudi Arabian dairy food market is set to grow 6.7% a year to 2017, but water shortages and government pressure may force a shift to more imported dairy ingredients, according to a new report.

A unified food safety law was the demand of many exporters to the UAE...

UAE’s new food safety law dish harsher penalties

By Ankush Chibber

The UAE’s new food safety law will see higher penalties for those found to be endangering food safety, according to the draft legislation presented this week by the country’s law makers.

FAO: “Prospects for the winter wheat and barley crops, for harvest from May 2014, are unfavourable.

Syrian drought threatens food crops

By Eliot Beer

Syria may be facing increasing food security threats as drought threatens this year's harvests, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has said.

Gluten-free in the Middle East is about 5-6 years behind Europe but has favorable demographics and is growing

Middle East: The next gluten-free boom?

By Kacey Culliney

 The Middle East gluten-free market is nascent but brimming with potential thanks to a young and wealthy consumer base increasingly interested in health and wellness, market experts say.

Waste date beans- from eco coffee alternative to beyond

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

An Israeli company that has released a range of coffee alternatives made from roasted date kernel, says the waste material has potential as a sustainable food and drink ingredient stretching far beyond this initial creation.

Eastern Europe and Asia lead the way in fresh food consumption

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Eastern Europe and Asia lead the way in fresh food consumption

By Nathan Gray

Consumption of fresh food was strongest in the emerging markets of Eastern Europe and Asia Pacific in 2013, while the market for fresh food in Western Europe declined slightly, according to Euromonitor International.

Oman plans to double fisheries industry

Oman plans to double fisheries industry

Oman plans to more than double its fishery production to 480,000 tonnes per year, increasing industry revenues to US$1.9bn, according to a government minister.

Trade is on the rise between African nations and the GCC

Horn countries woo GCC food investment

By Eliot Beer

Ethiopia and Somalia are both pushing to increase the level of food and agricultural foreign direct investment from GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) states.

Saudi must look east for grains

Saudi must look east for grains

By RJ Whitehead

The contribution of agriculture to Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product was last measured at 2.49% in 2010, according to the World Bank. Moreover, it is set to drop even lower once the country’s cultivation of wheat is phased out by 2016.

Dairy in the desert

Dairy in the desert

By RJ Whitehead

When it is said that a cow should consume three litres of water for every litre of milk it produces, how is arid and water-starved Saudi Arabic able to command a place in the world’s top 10 dairy producers, while still producing its milk sustainably?

Pakistan eyes UAE market for export growth

Pakistan eyes UAE market for export growth

By RJ Whitehead

Pakistan’s food exports to the UAE could potentially triple to US$1.2bn from last year’s US$400m because of local demand for the country’s products, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE, Asif Durrani, said at Gulfood earlier this month.

Dubai takes first step to become halal hub

Dubai takes first step to become halal hub

By RJ Whitehead

With the international halal market worth over US$1tn, Dubai is moving ahead with long-hatched plans to position itself as a global halal hub. 

UAE date palm to be given UN honour

UAE date palm to be given UN honour

By RJ Whitehead

Along with the camel and the world’s highest tower, the humble date is one of the most enduring icons of the UAE, and soon it will be recognised for its importance to international agriculture.

Amira expands into the UAE organic market

Amira expands into the UAE organic market

By RJ Whitehead

Indian speciality rice major Amira Nature Foods has announced plans to enter the UAE’s organic food market as it focuses on gaining a larger market share across the wider Middle region.

NFPC and Spinneys sign leases at Kizad

NFPC and Spinneys sign leases at Kizad

By Eliot Beer

UAE firms Spinneys Dubai and the National Food Products Company (NFPC) are both set to establish new facilities in the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad), the zone announced.

Major investments for regional drinks sector

Major investments for regional drinks sector

By Eliot Beer

The Middle East drinks industry is seeing significant investment, with Aujan spending in Egypt and Lebanon, and UK firm Rexam buying up a Saudi can manufacturer for US$122m.

White tea finds its table in the Middle East

White tea finds its table in the Middle East

By Ankush Chibber

Rising health awareness and the expansion of Middle East’s hotel industry is creating a growing demand for white tea, a key official at Sri Lankan tea maker Dilmah said.

MENA customers are turning to cheaper fat blends in milk powder

Middle East unrest fosters market for fat blends

By Ankush Chibber

The strife in Syria and the broader Arab upheaval means growing demand for fat blends among dairy manufacturers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), industry sources say.

Could Saudi Arabia lift US beef ban next month?

Could Saudi Arabia lift US beef ban next month?

By Ankush Chibber

Amid rumours that Saudi Arabia’s ban on the import of US beef could be lifted in April, small American beef producers  say they have already ceded valuable ground to countries like Australia and Canada.

Middle Eastern countries imported 4.4 thousand tons of confectionery from Brazil in 2013, but there's still big potential for growth, says ABICAB

Brazil sweet on Arabic markets

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Currently the Middle East represents just over 3% of Brazilian confectionery exports, but potential far exceeds that, according to Brazil's industry trade association.

Antonin de Margerie (Silliker EMEA regional director), Philippe Sans, Mérieux NutriSciences CEO, Haitham Altraif (CEO, IDAC) Dr Abdulmalik Abdulah Alhusseini (CEO Arasco)

Mérieux NutriSciences expands in Saudi Arabia

By Joseph James Whitworth

Mérieux NutriSciences has acquired an equity position in Inspection, Diagnosis and Analysis Lab Company (IDAC), which provides food testing services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

Food producers reveal mixed full-year results

Food producers reveal mixed full-year results

By Eliot Beer

Regional food manufacturers have seen mixed results 2013, with Savola Group's earnings up 21% and Agthia up 28%, but dairy giant Almarai posting profits of just 4%.