Unlocking food security: The UAE model of connectivity and collaboration

One in nine people today go to bed hungry across the world, a challenge made worse by fragile trade routes and fractured food supply chains.

The global food system is under increasing pressure. Climate shocks, political tensions, and supply chain disruptions are testing the way the world grows, moves, and accesses food.

In 2022, the war in Ukraine disrupted grain exports overnight. With Ukraine supplying a significant portion of wheat and sunflower oil globally, the impact was immediate. Food-importing countries across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia saw prices soar and supply chains strain. It was a stark reminder that the ripple effect of geopolitical conflict is immediate.

As new risks emerge, food systems must adapt. The question is how, and who will lead.

We are witnessing a rebalancing of global trade. Emerging economies are playing a more prominent role, and new trade corridors are taking shape. Platforms that bring these regions together - whether through bilateral partnerships or multilateral forums - will be key in redefining supply chains.

Recent developments within the BRICS framework, particularly its expansion to include the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia, is a clear signal of this shift. BRICS now represents over 54% of the world’s population and produces nearly half of the world’s agricultural output.

Its evolution signals a shift toward inclusive, multipolar trade, and creates new avenues for trade and investment.

For the UAE, this is an opportunity to share what has worked and help shape new models for cooperation grounded in connectivity, innovation, and investment.

Food security is a long-term priority for the UAE - and logistics is at the centre of it.

We’ve gone from importing 90% of what we eat to building an ecosystem of high-tech farming, advanced processing, and efficient cold-chain networks. Today, Dubai’s infrastructure supports a full agrifood ecosystem - from production and storage to processing and global distribution.

Jebel Ali Port, for instance, handles approximately 73% of the UAE’s food and beverage trade by value. Our recent investment of Dh550 million in the Agri Terminals facility will also enhance regional capacity for storing and processing agricultural goods including grains, pulses, and soy, helping to strengthen supply and self-sufficiency.

But many regions are still navigating bottlenecks in customs, fragmented food standards, and weak cold-chain links. Perishable goods can’t wait, and neither should our supply chains.

A regional or bloc-wide facilitation agreement focused on agrifood trade – like fast-track “green lanes” for perishable goods, and coordinated investment in cold storage, inland rail, and digital systems could enable quicker customs clearance, reduce waste, and increase food availability in underserved areas.

Equally important is harmonising standards to reduce regulatory friction, where the UAE, with its regulatory agility and digital infrastructure, can lead by example.

But success will depend on countries aligning national infrastructure plans with regional trade goals, otherwise we risk building assets that don’t connect to the right markets.

Bringing logistics, manufacturing, and customs together in one integrated hub is one solution that can help reduce transit times, lower costs, and improve supply chain reliability. It’s been successful in Jebel Ali and has the potential to be replicated in emerging markets around the world.

But to scale this success, we need deeper cooperation between governments, logistics providers, and private sector investors.

Digital crop monitoring, regenerative agriculture, AI-driven forecasting and blockchain-enabled supply chains are reshaping how food moves from farm to fork.

The opportunity now is to connect these innovations across regions. A collaborative platform – open to governments, startups, and multilateral institutions – can accelerate agritech R&D, enable training for climate-smart farming, and expand digital access for producers in underserved regions.

Logistics players can help accelerate this progress by providing the physical and digital platforms that connect ideas to markets.

Food security is a global responsibility. It relies on infrastructure, innovation, policy, and people working in sync.

In an interdependent world, the ability to move food securely, quickly, and cost-effectively is just as important as the ability to grow it. As new trade dynamics emerge, our role is to keep the world connected and ensure that no region is left behind.

Abdulla Bin Damithan is CEO & Managing Director, DP World GCC