Executive Summary
This UAE export news and Al Aweer market updates briefing covers Saturday, 5 September 2026, Week 36.
The principal developments are:
- Thai Fruits and Food Festival 2026 begins across UAE retail outlets, supporting demand for Thai rice, tropical fruits, vegetables and food ingredients.
- The UAE is targeting significant growth in food manufacturing, food trade, local production capacity and import substitution by 2028.
- Al Aweer market movements show strong gains in tomatoes and onions, while brinjal, pomegranate, iceberg lettuce, grapes and celery recorded notable declines.
- Indian onion supply remains tight after mid-August rainfall. Egypt-origin shipments present a practical procurement alternative for September and early October.
- Dubai’s new A-to-E nutrition-label accuracy grading increases the importance of reliable product data and compliant packaging.
- Exporters can work with Mayil Global as a verified buyer for exporters UAE route through a transparent 3 percent commission distributor UAE model or immediate cash-and-carry container purchases.
All market figures are indicative planning references. Actual prices depend on origin, grade, pack format, arrival condition, availability and negotiation.
Thai Fruits and Food Festival 2026 Supports Retail Demand
The Thai Trade Center Dubai, under Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion, is promoting Thai food and agricultural products through a UAE-wide retail campaign.
The scheduled UAE activity includes:
- Choithrams: 16 UAE stores from 4–17 September.
- Al Maya: 10 UAE stores from 15–29 September.
- Discounts: Up to 25 percent on selected products.
- Wider campaign: Mega Mart Bahrain from 23 September to 10 October.
Featured products include Thai Hom Mali, Brown Hom Mali, Riceberry and Multigrain rice. The fresh produce range includes rambutan, mangosteen, guava, red rose apple, peeled jackfruit, Phulae pineapple, baby asparagus, baby corn, lemongrass, chillies, basil and lime leaves.
Choithrams is also trialling frozen fruit ice-sticks in mango and banana varieties, including chocolate-coated options. Fresh mango is excluded from the current promotion because of the low-season supply position.
The “Think Rice, Think Thailand” campaign is also extending through Thai SELECT restaurants, importers and distributors. For UAE wholesalers and foodservice buyers, the campaign creates an opportunity to assess Thai product demand beyond retail promotions and identify repeat B2B supply requirements.
UAE Food-Manufacturing Strategy Moves Forward
The UAE’s food and beverage sector is entering a more industrial phase. Gulfood Manufacturing 2026, scheduled for 3–5 November at Dubai World Trade Centre, will focus on processing, ingredients, packaging, automation, traceability, cold chain and supply-chain technology.
The stated national targets include:
- Increasing food and beverage GDP contribution from AED 30 billion to AED 40 billion by 2028.
- Growing food trade from AED 25 billion to AED 40 billion.
- Creating approximately 20,000 new jobs.
- Achieving AED 2 billion in annual food import substitution.
- Supporting up to 200 food factories.
- Increasing local production capacity by 15–30 percent.
This direction benefits exporters and UAE distributors that can supply consistent raw materials, ingredients and compliant packaged products. It also reinforces the importance of reliable sourcing, quality control, hygienic handling and organized logistics.
The UAE is positioning itself as a regional food and consumer packaged goods manufacturing and export hub. International suppliers should therefore evaluate both direct wholesale exports and partnerships supporting UAE-based processing, packaging and distribution.
Al Aweer Market Updates: Tomato and Onion Gains Lead
The Al Aweer market report dated 4 September 2026 recorded strong movement across selected fruits and vegetables. The figures below are indicative only and should not be treated as firm quotations.
Top Gainers
| Product | Reported movement |
|---|---|
| Green House Tomato | +38.4% |
| Onion Red Shirazi 65mm+ | +31.3% |
| Red Onion Tabrezi | +30.3% |
| Ground Tomato | +25.6% |
| Bunch Tomato | +25.0% |
Tomatoes are the leading movers in this edition. Buyers supplying restaurants, caterers and supermarkets should confirm grade, firmness, maturity and expected shelf life before committing to volume purchases.
The movement in red onions confirms that the onion category remains sensitive to origin, size and crop availability. A single general onion price is not sufficient for procurement decisions.
Top Declines
| Product | Reported movement |
|---|---|
| Brinjal Green/Purple (R) | −34.3% |
| Pomegranate | −25.0% |
| Ice Berg | −22.3% |
| Grapes White Seedless | −17.9% |
| Celery | −16.5% |
Lower prices may create replenishment opportunities, but buyers should distinguish between genuine supply improvement and price reductions caused by quality variation, aging stock or excess arrivals.
Onion Outlook: Secure Egypt-Origin Shipments Promptly
Indian fresh onion supply remains tight following mid-August rainfall. Lasalgaon arrivals have declined, and Indian prices increased by approximately 25 percent over five trading days. Government buffer releases through the Kanda Express rail and truck network are being directed to 19 consumption centres.
The Indian APMC wholesale average is approximately INR 4,362 per quintal. This supply intervention may moderate local market pressure, but exporters and UAE buyers should continue to expect short-term volatility.
Egyptian fresh onion FOB prices are edging upward as Nile Delta curing progresses. Dubai wholesale new-crop onion references are around AED 1.95–2.00 per kilogram, subject to grade, pack size and arrival condition.
Procurement Recommendation
For September and early October:
- Compare Indian and Egyptian origin on a saleable-kilogram basis.
- Confirm bulb size, dry matter, curing condition and packaging.
- Include expected wastage and rejected bags in landed-cost calculations.
- Secure suitable Egypt-origin shipments promptly where specifications match buyer demand.
- Confirm current Al Aweer pricing before loading or issuing a purchase order.
Mayil Global supports product inspection, hygienic handling, storage and organized delivery from supplier to UAE buyer. Exporters can review the company’s sourcing and logistics services for supply-chain coordination.
Regulatory Essentials for Exporters
Dubai Central Laboratory has launched an A-to-E grading system for the accuracy of nutritional information on packaged food. The grading assesses whether declared nutrition values correspond with laboratory results. It is an accuracy classification, not a health or safety rating.
Exporters and manufacturers should also review the following requirements before shipment:
- Arabic-English bilingual labels.
- Product name, ingredients, origin, net weight and importer information.
- Applicable Nutri-Mark A-to-E front-of-pack requirements.
- ZAD and FIRS registration where required.
- Halal certification for animal-origin products.
- Shelf-life and storage requirements.
- Product-specific health, phytosanitary and conformity certificates.
- Veterinary and animal-product controls under Federal Law No. 6 of 2025.
Dubai Municipality provides services for registering and assessing food items and releasing imported food consignments for sale. Requirements vary by product, origin and intended use. Exporters should confirm current conditions with the UAE importer and relevant authorities before loading.
How to Export Food to Dubai
Businesses researching how to export food to Dubai should follow a controlled process.
1. Define the Product
Confirm product type, variety, origin, grade, pack size, quantity, shelf life and loading date.
2. Verify the UAE Buyer
Match the shipment with a supermarket, restaurant, retailer, distributor or wholesale supplier. Buyer verification should cover receiving capacity, import permissions, payment terms and final delivery requirements.
3. Confirm Compliance
Review labels, certificates, product registration, halal requirements, traceability records and shelf-life rules before production or loading.
4. Inspect Before Dispatch
Check product condition, weight, packaging strength, hygiene, lot identification, temperature requirements and photographs before container sealing.
5. Calculate Landed Cost
Include product value, inland transport, freight, insurance, port charges, customs clearance, inspection, storage, local delivery, wastage and the agreed distribution commission.
6. Clear and Distribute
Coordinate customs, food-safety inspection, release, storage and delivery to Al Aweer, a buyer warehouse or another approved UAE receiving location.
7. Review Performance
Measure arrival quality, wastage, realized selling price, payment timing, claims and repeat-order potential.
Trade Context for UAE Exporters and Buyers
The UAE’s non-oil exports are reported at approximately US$123.3 billion, supported by an expanding CEPA network of 38 agreements. UAE-Canada CEPA negotiations concluded in July 2026, while UAE-New Zealand trade remains above NZD 1.6 billion.
The UAE has also opened its market to Brazilian pet food, received 60 tonnes of Armenian fish products and is developing an Armenian fresh-produce corridor with potential supply of up to 40 tonnes per week.
The suspension of trade with Iran remains in effect. Iran-origin listings are therefore non-executable references unless formally cleared by the relevant authorities. Importers are continuing to evaluate Egypt, Jordan and India as alternative sourcing origins.
Mayil Global: Verified Buyer and Wholesale Distribution Partner
Mayil Global supplies fresh fruits, vegetables, premium spices, premium rice and farm-fresh eggs to supermarkets, restaurants, retailers and wholesale distributors in the UAE.
For international and local exporters, the company provides two defined commercial routes:
3 Percent Commission Distribution
The 3 percent commission distributor UAE model provides a transparent distribution cost for eligible products. Mayil Global coordinates buyer engagement, product inspection, logistics, storage and UAE distribution while supporting dependable supply and consistent quality.
The 3% commission is a key Mayil Global USP for exporters seeking a structured UAE route without multiple unclear intermediary margins.
Immediate Cash-and-Carry Container Purchases
Exporters seeking faster liquidity can discuss immediate cash-and-carry container purchases. Transactions remain subject to product verification, agreed specifications, inspection, documentation, regulatory eligibility and confirmed commercial terms.
Exporters seeking a verified buyer for exporters UAE should provide:
- Product and origin.
- Grade and pack size.
- Available quantity.
- Loading and arrival dates.
- Certificates and inspection reports.
- Target price.
- Preferred settlement terms.
UAE buyers can review Mayil Global’s products or contact the company for wholesale supply requirements.
Conclusion
The 5 September market position is defined by tomato-led gains, firm red-onion movements, supply tightness from India and continued demand for disciplined origin and quality comparisons. UAE food manufacturing is also expanding, creating opportunities for exporters that can meet strict standards and support reliable local supply chains.
Mayil Global connects global exporters and UAE B2B buyers through farm-direct sourcing, strict quality control, hygienic handling, organized logistics and reliable distribution. The 3 percent commission distribution model and immediate cash-and-carry container purchases provide practical routes for exporters seeking market access, liquidity and long-term commercial relationships.
Sources
- Al Aweer Prices
- Thai Fruits and Food Festival 2026 : Royal Thai Consulate-General Dubai
- Thai Fruits and Food Festival 2026 : Gulf News
- Gulfood Manufacturing 2026: Food Security and Manufacturing Innovation
- Dubai Central Laboratory Nutrition-Label Accuracy Grading
- Canada-UAE CEPA Negotiations
- Dubai Municipality Food Safety Services
- Mayil Global Products
- Mayil Global Sourcing and Logistics
- Mayil Global Contact
Disclaimer
All market figures are indicative planning references, not quotations, offers or binding transaction prices. Actual prices vary by origin, grade, size, pack format, availability, arrival condition, logistics and negotiation. Exporters and buyers must independently verify current prices, customs requirements, food-safety regulations, certificates, route availability and trade restrictions before making a commercial commitment. Iran-origin references are non-executable unless formally cleared by the relevant authorities.