Chamber launches six new food business groups to boost industry

Dubai Chamber of Commerce, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, has launched six business groups within the F&B industry for HORECA traders, meat and poultry, bakeries, organic food, groceries as well as hypermarkets and supermarkets sectors.

“We are on track to reach our goal of setting up 100 business groups by March 202 3 . These six new business groups will help boost the dynamism of Dubai’s F&B industry where UAE consumer foodservice outlets sales are expected to reach Dhs86.4 billion by 2027,” said Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President & CEO of Dubai Chambers.

“Business groups are imperative in ensuring representation of all the business and economic sectors in Dubai. They help facilitate mutual dialogue between stakeholders and government entities and are key to addressing policy matters and enhancing the competitiveness of their respective sectors,” he added.

According to Euromonitor, UAE consumer foodservice sales value reached Dhs58.4 billion in 2022. This figure was driven by the rapid response and recovery from the pandemic as well as strong economic growth.

Fresh food sales are anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.9 per cent between 2022 and 2027, while packaged food will see a predicted growth of about 3.9 per cent between the same period. Food manufacturers across the Middle East are predicted to grow profits by a CAGR of 3.6 per cent up to 2026.

According to Euromonitor International, retail sales of traditional groceries are set to rise at a current value CAGR of 3% over the forecast period (2021-2026) to reach Dhs11.4 billion. Retail sales of supermarkets in the UAE are set to rise at a current value CAGR of 4% over the forecast period (2021-2026) to reach Dhs19.7 billion. Foodservice value sales of full-service restaurants in the UAE rose by 24% in current terms in 2022 to reach Dhs32.5 billion. The retail value sales of organic packaged food grew by 6% in current terms in 2021 to Dhs120 million.

Dubai’s total trade of meat and edible meat offal reached Dhs32.4 billion during the period 2015-2021, whereas Dubai’s total trade of bread, pastry, cakes and biscuits reached Dhs11.3 billion during the same period.

The food industry in Dubai and the wider UAE is set for a positive future. As integral parts of the industry, the business groups will focus on promoting the development of food companies, raising the profile of Dubai’s F&B industry in the international business community. By providing a forum that facilitates mutual dialogue between the sector’s stakeholders and government entities, the business groups will tackle industry-level challenges and address policy matters related to the industry, amongst others.

Dubai Chamber of Commerce has announced recently the launch of four business groups within the construction sector namely, building materials business group, cement & ready-mix business group, ceramics business group and paint coating & gypsum business group.

Commenting on the launch of these business groups, Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President & CEO of Dubai Chambers, said: “I am pleased to announce the launch of these business groups as they are important components of Dubai’s vibrant construction sector. There has been a rebound in the construction sector since 2021, driven particularl Dubai Chamber of Commerce announced that the new groups are Building Materials Business Group, Cement & Ready-Mix Business Group, Ceramics Business group and Paint Coating & Gypsum Business Group.

The UAE’s construction market size has been valued at $81 billion in 2021 and it is projected to grow at an average annual growth rate of more than three per cent from 2023 to 2026.”

“Our role at Dubai Chambers is to support the various economic sectors in the emirate including construction. Building materials, cement and ready-mix products, ceramic products as well as paint and gypsum products are all cornerstones of the construction sector. The setting up of these four business groups will encourage transparent conversations between their members, boosting the positive trajectory the construction sector is already in.”

In the period between 2011 and 2021, Dubai’s trade of paint and gypsum reached Dhs11.6 billion, while the emirate’s trade of ceramic totalled AED35.4 billion, and its trade of cement recorded Dhs555 million, and building materials trade reached Dhs247.4 billion.

The four new business groups will focus on promoting the development of construction companies, raising the profile of Dubai’s construction sector in the international business community.

By providing a forum that facilitates mutual dialogue between the sector’s stakeholders and government entities, the business groups will tackle industry-level challenges and address policy matters related to the industry, amongst others. The business groups are part of the chamber’s plans to increase the number of business groups that represent economic sectors and activities in Dubai.

The chamber plans to increase the number of economic sectors and activities represented by business groups to 100 by March this year.

Established in 1965, Dubai Chamber of Commerce continues to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai, create a stimulating business environment and promote the emirate as a global business hub. The Chamber is one of three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, which was restructured under a decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.