The October 13 edition of the Verified Buyer & Exporter Authority Series reviews the latest available Al Aweer market intelligence, onion-import economics, Gulf logistics risk, origin-level supply restrictions, and the operating requirements for exporters entering the UAE.
The latest published Al Aweer board remains dated 19 September 2026. No newer official board has been published. The market should therefore be treated as a consolidation and holding pattern after the 17 September correction and subsequent rebound. The prices below are indicative references, not executable purchase offers.
For background, exporters can also review Mayil Global’s UAE food export and Al Aweer market guide.
1. Al Aweer market direction
The 19 September board showed broad volatility across vegetables. Green capsicum increased 336.7% to AED 10.00/kg, cucumber from Iran increased 144.0% to AED 2.44/kg, local cucumber increased 66.7% to AED 2.25/kg, cabbage increased 130.8% to AED 3.00/kg, and lettuce increased 125.0% to AED 5.40/kg.
Other notable increases included:
- Ground tomato: AED 2.78/kg, up 93.1%
- Red chilli: AED 3.86/kg, up 80.4%
- Eggplant: AED 3.00/kg, up 76.5%
- Greenhouse tomato: AED 4.89/kg, up 69.2%
- White onion from Iran: AED 2.22/kg, up 66.9%
- Brown onion from Iran: AED 3.00/kg, up 50.0%
- French beans: AED 7.67/kg, up 35.3%
- Kenya air-freighted Hass avocado: AED 12.50/kg, up 8.7%
Selected fallers included India garlic at AED 6.67/kg, Egypt strawberry at AED 20.00/kg, Egypt Kent mango at AED 6.57/kg, and South Africa lemon at AED 3.67/kg.
Compliance warning on Iran-origin references
Iran-origin prices shown on the board are historical intelligence only. They are not executable for procurement, shipment planning, container budgeting, or negotiations because the UAE suspension of Iran-origin trade took effect on 19 August 2026. More than 200 containers of Iranian fruits and vegetables were reportedly returned from the UAE in September.
Exporters and buyers must not treat Iran-origin board prices as available replacement supply. Use compliant alternative origins and confirm current import permissions before commercial commitment.
Stable references included UAE local zucchini at AED 1.75/kg, Pakistan white potato at AED 1.61/kg, China carrot at AED 2.75/kg, China garlic at AED 5.00/kg, Ecuador bananas between AED 6.15 and AED 6.77/kg, and India G9 Cavendish green bananas at AED 3.08/kg.
2. Importing onions Dubai: landed-cost economics
The relevant onion references on the latest board are:
| Origin and specification | Indicative price |
|---|---|
| Egypt, 20 kg PPE bag | AED 2.10/kg |
| Turkey red onion | AED 2.55/kg |
| Yemen onion | AED 2.55/kg |
| Sudan pink onion, approximately 50 mm | AED 3.35/kg |
| India new crop, 18 kg | AED 3.75/kg |
Egypt currently provides the lowest headline reference. However, importing onions Dubai decisions should be based on usable landed cost per saleable kilogram, not only the Al Aweer board price.
India’s Maharashtra crop is reportedly delayed by one to one-and-a-half months. Export-suitable Garwa pink stocks remain limited. Nashik farmgate prices are reported around USD 42–52 per quintal, with an upside scenario of USD 84–94 per quintal if Diwali demand exceeds supply. The sharpest potential pricing window is expected between 25 September and 30 October 2026.
There is currently no Indian onion export ban, minimum export price, or export duty stated in the available briefing data. Exporters must nevertheless check current DGFT notifications before committing cargo. India–UAE CEPA may provide zero-duty potential for eligible products, subject to correct classification, origin documentation, and applicable conditions.
Worked Egypt landed-cost example
Assume a 20,000 kg Egypt onion shipment at AED 2.10/kg:
- Product cost: 20,000 kg × AED 2.10 = AED 42,000
- Assumed ocean freight: AED 8,000
- Assumed port and terminal charges: AED 3,000
- Documentation and handling: AED 4,000
- Assumed customs duty at 5% of product value: AED 2,100
- Total assumed landed cost before shrinkage: AED 59,100
- Assumed shrinkage: 6%, leaving 18,800 saleable kg
- Usable landed cost: AED 59,100 ÷ 18,800 = AED 3.14 per saleable kg
| Origin | Product cost | Assumed total landed cost | Saleable quantity | Usable landed cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt at AED 2.10/kg | AED 42,000 | AED 59,100 | 18,800 kg | AED 3.14/kg |
| Sudan at AED 3.35/kg | AED 67,000 | AED 85,350 | 18,800 kg | AED 4.54/kg |
| India at AED 3.75/kg, 5% duty | AED 75,000 | AED 93,750 | 18,800 kg | AED 4.99/kg |
| India at AED 3.75/kg, CEPA zero duty scenario | AED 75,000 | AED 90,000 | 18,800 kg | AED 4.79/kg |
These are planning assumptions, not quotations. Actual freight, port storage, inspection, duty treatment, clearance timing, quality loss, and market price must be confirmed for each shipment. The calculation demonstrates why the lowest board price does not automatically produce the lowest commercial risk.
3. Logistics, shelf-life, and sea-freight risk
Iran has reportedly proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States eases military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports. The proposal was reportedly delivered through mediators, according to Reuters reporting.
The immediate logistics reality remains unstable. Only two commodity vessels crossed the strait on Monday, compared with 10 the previous day. Seventeen crossed during the weekend, compared with 37 the previous week, against a pre-war daily average of approximately 125 large commercial vessels. Two tankers were also struck by projectiles over Sunday and Monday.
For produce exporters, this creates:
- Gulf routing and arrival-date risk
- Higher insurance and charter costs
- Possible rerouting through the Gulf of Oman
- Ship-to-ship transfer risk
- Greater detention and demurrage exposure
- Increased need for buffer inventory
Exporters should contract freight with clear force-majeure, detention, and demurrage terms. Build a 7–14 day schedule buffer for sea cargo and use mixed sea-and-air programmes for high-value perishables where commercial margins support the additional cost.
AD Ports ownership consolidation is another relevant development. The October briefing records the AD Ports Group buyout by L’IMAD/ADQ settling early on 25 September, with ADQ expected to hold 98.93% and a mandatory acquisition and delisting process to follow. For exporters, the operational implication is continuity rather than disruption: potential investment in cold-chain capacity, digital clearance, and port infrastructure. Re-verify terminal, inspection, storage, and customs-service providers periodically as ownership and operating arrangements develop. The AD Ports investor page provides the formal offer background.
The UAE’s diplomatic efforts at the United Nations to protect trade routes, energy flows, and global supply chains also reinforce the country’s food-security priority. Reliable origins with accurate documentation and predictable delivery remain commercially valuable.
Shelf-life remains a margin variable
Board price does not determine container margin. Saleable quantity, remaining shelf life, and clearance timing do.
Plan for 50–70% remaining shelf life at arrival. Products generally require at least 50% remaining shelf life, while products with a total shelf life of three months or less may require two-thirds remaining shelf life. Risk-based inspection and sampling at Jebel Ali typically takes approximately two to five working days.
Cold-chain interruptions, port dwell, and inspection delays increase usable landed cost per saleable kilogram and may cause cargo to miss the strongest Al Aweer trading period.
4. How to export food to Dubai: regulatory sequence
Exporters asking how to export food to Dubai should follow the same sequence:
- Confirm that the UAE importer holds a valid trade licence with food-trading activity.
- Register every SKU on the federal ZAD platform and Dubai Municipality FIRS before arrival.
- Approve Arabic-English labels showing product name, origin, ingredients, allergens, dates, net weight, storage conditions, and Nutri-Mark A-to-E grading where required.
- Secure phytosanitary certificates for fresh produce. Obtain health and halal certification from a MOCCAE-recognised body for animal-derived products.
- Obtain electronic MOCCAE import permits before dispatch.
- Align HS codes, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, bill of lading or airway bill, product specifications, and physical labels.
- Protect shelf life through production, packing, transport, inspection, and delivery.
- Allow the two-to-five-working-day inspection window in arrival and sales plans.
Requirements vary by product, origin, emirate, and route. Confirm the current position with the importer, Dubai Municipality, MOCCAE, and the relevant origin authorities before shipment.
5. Buyer qualification after Global Food Week
Global Food Week 2026 took place from 6–8 October at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. Exporters should use post-event discussions as a verification opportunity, not as a substitute for due diligence.
Confirm:
- UAE trade licence and food-trading activity
- Approved product categories and import routes
- Warehouse and cold-chain capability
- Purchase volume, frequency, and payment terms
- FIRS, ZAD, labelling, and import-permit readiness
- Actual distribution coverage across supermarkets, restaurants, and retailers
India is the official partner country for Gulfood 2027, scheduled for 15–19 March 2027. This provides a forward opportunity to verify Indian origin suppliers, onion programmes, rice exporters, and produce packhouses.
Thailand is also deepening food-export opportunities with the UAE. Rising Middle East demand is increasing competition in tropical fruit, rice, seafood, processed food, and seasonings. Thai exporters should differentiate through certification, quality control, halal compliance where applicable, and delivery reliability. Buyers should avoid single-origin dependence.
The Philippine Department of Agriculture has indefinitely suspended exports of fresh ube and propagative planting materials. The official notice states that processed ube remains available.
The sourcing lesson is direct: qualify secondary origins, map single-origin dependency, and maintain an approved substitute list. UAE food businesses should also evaluate alternatives such as Sri Lanka for selected crops and processed formats.
6. Mayil Global: verified buyer for exporters UAE
Mayil Global operates as a verified buyer for exporters UAE and a 3 percent commission distributor UAE for qualifying supply programmes.
Exporters can use two commercial routes:
- 3% commission on agreed realised sale value
- Immediate cash-and-carry container purchase, subject to commercial and quality approval
For an AED 100,000 realised sale value, the commission is AED 3,000, leaving AED 97,000 for the exporter before separately agreed costs. This compares favourably with a publicly advertised 5% commission structure, where the equivalent fee would be AED 5,000.
The approval process contains six stages:
- Offer and specification review
- Technical and compliance review
- Buyer and market validation
- Pre-shipment inspection
- Commercial approval
- Container acceptance and settlement
Exporters should submit:
- Origin and variety
- Grade and pack size
- Quantity
- Harvest date
- Shelf life
- Certifications
- Product photos
- HS code
- Target price
- Shipment schedule
- Preferred settlement route
Mayil Global supports wholesale fruits and vegetables Dubai supply, together with premium spices, premium rice, and farm-fresh eggs. The company combines farm-direct sourcing, inspection at every stage, hygienic handling and packaging, proper storage, organised logistics, and timely distribution to supermarkets, restaurants, retailers, and wholesale distributors across the UAE.
Explore the Mayil Global product range or contact the trade desk to submit a supply proposal.
Data note and disclaimer
Al Aweer references in this briefing are based on the latest published 19 September 2026 board. No newer board was available at publication. Prices are indicative market intelligence and not firm quotations.
Iran-origin prices are historical intelligence only and must not be used for procurement or shipment planning due to the UAE suspension effective 19 August 2026. Freight, duty, inspection, shrinkage, shelf-life, regulatory, and market assumptions must be independently confirmed before commercial commitment.