DUBAI: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has unveiled the blueprint for Dubai Food Park, which aims to raise the emirate’s position as the region’s leading food re-export hub.
To be developed at a cost of Dh5.5 billion, the park will feature a central wholesale market, a logistics area, complementary services area, a facility for recycling organic waste and a government center that will handle customs clearance, licensing, food safety and inspection under one roof.
Dubai Food Park will be located inside Dubai Wholesale City and will occupy 48 million square feet and is easily accessible from Al-Maktoum International Airport and the Jebel Ali free zone, which form part of the emirate’s logistics corridor.
The park’s strategic location at the crossroads of East and West and easy accessibility to Dubai’s advanced logistics facilities distinguish it from other wholesale destinations worldwide, a statement from the Dubai government said.
Food trade contributes 11 percent to the UAE’s GDP and the food industry is estimated to grow by 70 percent to $6.3 billion by 2030.
The park will offer all categories of food wholesale services to meet the high demand of the food sector in the UAE and the wider region, the statement said.
“DFP has been established to meet the increased need for specialized logistical services to reduce supply chain costs. The park will be a one-stop destination for government, administrative and logistical services related to food wholesale, import, export and re-export,” Abdulla Belhoul, the CEO of Dubai Wholesale City said.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid unveils blueprint for Dh5.5 billion Dubai Food Park
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid unveils blueprint for Dh5.5 billion Dubai Food Park
BYD Americas CEO hails Middle East as ‘homeland for innovation’
- In an interview on the sidelines of Davos, Stella Li highlighted the region’s openness to new technologies and opportunities for growth
DAVOS: BYD Americas CEO Stella Li described the Middle East as a “homeland for innovation” during an interview with Arab News on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.
The executive of the Chinese electric vehicle giant highlighted the region’s openness to new technologies and opportunities for growth.
“The people (are) very open. And then from the government, from everybody there, they are open to enjoy the technology,” she said.
BYD has accelerated its expansion of battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids across the Middle East and North Africa region, with a strong focus on Gulf Cooperation Council countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
GCC EV markets, led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, rank among the world’s fastest-growing. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has been aggressively investing in the EV sector, backing Lucid Motors, launching its brand Ceer, and supporting charging infrastructure development.
However, EVs still account for just over 1 percent of total car sales, as high costs, limited charging infrastructure, and extreme weather remain challenges.
In summer 2025, BYD announced it was aiming to triple its Saudi footprint following Tesla’s entry, targeting 5,000 EV sales and 10 showrooms by late 2026.
“We commit a lot of investment there (in the region),” Li noted, adding that the company is building a robust dealer network and introducing cutting-edge technology.
Discussing growth plans, she envisioned Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East as a potential “dreamland” for innovation — what she described as a regional “Silicon Valley.”
Talking about the EV ambitions of the Saudi government, she said: “If they set up (a) target, they will make (it) happen. Then they need a technology company like us to support their … 2030 Vision.”
