The Forum demonstrates the UAE’s growing role as a global hub
The Future Food Forum 2025 opened today under the patronage of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, with HE Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, inaugurating the seventh edition of the annual gathering in Dubai.
The Forum aims to bring together global industry leaders, innovators, and key stakeholders to advance food security and accelerate innovation while reinforcing the UAE’s role as a partner of choice for global trade and investment.
HE Al Marri highlighted that the Forum comes at a pivotal time in the UAE’s economic diversification strategy, with the government formalising the National Policy for Economic Clusters earlier this year. The policy establishes new frameworks to strengthen interconnected industries, including food, and is expected to add more than AED 30bn to the national economy.
UAE Food Cluster
“The Future Food Forum is a platform that reflects our determination to work with partners across the UAE Food Cluster, government, private sector, and academia to create resilient supply chains and achieve lasting progress. Through our leadership, we are strengthening food security in the UAE while contributing to solutions with global impact,” explained HE Al Marri.
Established by the Ministry of Economy as part of the National Food Security Strategy 2051, the UAE Food Cluster is the nation’s first dedicated platform to unify stakeholders across the value chain.
Since its launch, the Cluster has engaged more than 700 partners spanning over 500 companies, set targets to grow the sector’s GDP contribution from AED 30bn to AED 40bn by 2028, expand food trade from AED 25bn to AED 40bn, and create some 20,000 new jobs, positioning the UAE as a hub for global food innovation.
Knowledge Hub
At this year’s Forum, the Cluster also launched the Knowledge Hub, designed to connect academia and industry, and the Global Buyers Programme, which facilitates international market access for UAE producers.
The day also included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between GS1 Emirates Limited and UAE Food Cluster CLG FZCO to collaborate on the creation of a universal product catalogue for the UAE’s food and beverage sector.
“Our commitment remains on strengthening global trade connections and advancing long-term food security, here and beyond,” stated Saleh Lootah, Chairman, UAE Food Cluster.
Collaboration
“The Forum is where collaboration and ideas turn into action, and through the Group’s leadership we aim to strengthen food security here at home and contribute to solutions with regional impact,” observed Hassan Safi, CEO, Al Ain Farms.
The Forum was presented by Food Tech Valley, with founding partners Almarai, Al Ain Farms, Al Ghurair Group and IFFCO Group. DP World joined as trade enabling partner, while Abu Dhabi Food Hub – KEZAD served as the food market access and supply chain partner. Platinum partners included Al Islami, Nestlé Middle East, RSA Cold Chain, and BRF, with GS1 UAE as the innovation partner.
