UAE to implement soft drink, tobacco tax this year

The selective tax has been agreed by Gulf countries, with Saudi Arabia eyeing implementation from April

Saudi orders 735,000 tonnes of wheat

The order is expected to arrive in the kingdom from May to July

UberEATS eyes next Middle East location after Dubai growth

The delivery app has signed up more than 500 restaurants in Dubai, according to its regional head

Gulf food consumption to grow 4.2% annually to 2021 – Alpen

Alpen said Saudi and the UAE would continue to lead regional consumption

Saudi to maintain bread subsidies

The kingdom is the highest per capita consumer of bread in the world, according to reports

Saudi women allowed to operate food carts in Jeddah

The first cart operated by a Saudi woman has been licensed in Jeddah

French burger brand Big Fernand eyes Middle East expansion

Big Fernand opened its first Dubai outlet last year

Calorie information to be introduced at Dubai restaurants

Food labelling is being introduced to encourage healthy eating, according to reports

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BRF, Qatar to buy Turkish poultry firm Banvit in $470m venture

The deal is part of BRF’s move into the halal market

Saudi says soft drink, tobacco tax yet to be implemented

The new taxes are at least three months from being implemented

UAE Armed Forces pens $208m of F&B deals

The contracts were signed at an exhibition in Abu Dhabi

Nearly half of Dubai outlets to stop selling shawarmas

Municipality inspections revealed many outlets were not abiding by new preparation rules

Jumeirah to shut down Dubai’s Tokyo@theTowers restaurant

The company said the new project was part of an innovation plan for Emirates Towers Boulevard

Pure Harvest plans UAE tomato farm after $1.1m Shorooq investment

The company said its climate-controlled growing system can be used to grow fruit and veg year-round in the Gulf

Gulf relies on imports for 90% of food

Food security is a growing issue in the Gulf region

Discount app VoucherSkout launches in the UAE

New discount app claims to offer better value than buy-one-get-one-free

Deliveroo raises $275m investment after global expansion

The UK-based company launched in the UAE in December 2015

Qatar bans minimum charges in restaurants

Currently many F&B establishments in the emirate force customers to place a minimum order

Kuwait’s Alghanim to launch Wendy’s fast food chain in Saudi

Announcement follows the company’s acqusition of the regional rights to the brand in 2015

Marco Pierre White – from ‘enfant terrible’ to international businessman

During a candid Q&A session the revolutionary celebrity chef reveals the life experiences that made him a successful restaurateur

Alabbar-led consortium values Americana at $4bn

Adeptio announced an initial accord for the company last month

US fast food chain Smashburger to launch in Dubai, Qatar

The company plans to open 26 outlets across the UAE and Qatar

UAE’s National Food Products Co eyes $1.5bn stake sale – sources

The company markets brands including Milco, Lacnor and Oasis bottled water

Café Barbera to open four new shops in Dubai and Saudi Arabia

The family-run coffee house has just opened its 8th UAE outlet in Mirdiff

New Filipino restaurant to open in Dubai

A survey found that less than 4 per cent of Filipino expats would pay up to Dhs 100 for a single meal

Saudi king appoints new head of grains business

Ahmad bin Abdelaziz Al-Fares replaces Abdulrahman bin Saleh Al-Ruwatie, who was the acting director-general of the GSFMO.

UAE fixes price of 3,500 food items before Ramadan

The ministry said that it has signed a deal with retailers to offer discounts of up to 70 per cent during Ramadan on about 4,700 essential food items.

SALIC-Bunge JV To Compete In Saudi Wheat Tenders

The tenders attract major traders including Louis Dreyfus, Noble, Glencore and ADM.