Dubai’s ruler unveils blueprint for $1.5bn Food Park

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE’s Vice President and Prime Minister and Dubai’s ruler has unveiled the blueprint for the $1.5bn Dubai Food Park (DFP).

Spread across over 48 million square feet within Dubai Wholesale City, the new park will be the first destination in the Middle East dedicated to serving the food sector.

It will feature a central wholesale market serving the retail, hospitality and food service sector, a logistics area, complementary services area, packaged goods area and a facility for recycling organic waste.

The park will also provide a range of governmental services including customs clearance, licencing, food safety and inspection.

DFP aims to meet the demand of the food sector in the UAE and the wider region.

Currently, food trade makes up 11 per cent of the UAE’s GDP and the food industry is estimated to grow by 70 per cent to $6.3bn by 2030. The sector supports 18,400 blue collar and 4,600 white collar workers and 2,500 businesses, according to government figures.

It is also hoped to support global food security and foster innovation across the sector.

Plans for the park were first announced last month.

Read more: Dubai ruler launches $1.5bn Food Park

The park will fall under the supervision and responsibility of Abdulla Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Wholesale City.

“DFP has been established to meet the increased need for specialised logistical services to reduce supply chain costs,” said Belhoul.

“The park will be a one-stop destination for government, administrative and logistical services related to food wholesale, import, export and re-export.”

The wider Dubai Wholesale City is the largest wholesale hub in the world, occupying 550 million square feet that will take shape over a 10-year period at an estimated cost of $8.2bn.