Dubai – (Masaader News)
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in the presence of HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, launched Dubai Food Park, the latest addition to Dubai Wholesale City, which will be developed at a cost of AED 5.5 billion. according to a press release published by Dubai Government Media Office.
His Highness attended a briefing by His Excellency Abdulla Al Habbai, Chairman of Dubai Holding, who highlighted key features of the Park, which is positioned as an attractive environment for business operators and investors in the food sector to facilitate access to new markets and global investments.
The Park will benefit from Dubai’s world-class infrastructure in land, marine and air transport; and is set to play a vital role in supporting food security in the country.
The first-of-its-kind in the region, Dubai Food Park is located in Dubai Wholesale City, occupying around 48 million square feet. The project is in close proximity to Dubai South, only 10 minutes away from Al Maktoum International Airport and the Expo 2020 Dubai site, and a 15 minutes-drive from Jebel Ali Free Zone. The strategic location of the project adds to the attractiveness of the investment opportunities it offers.
With this project, Dubai Holding seeks to enhance Dubai’s position as a leading regional hub for food trade and re-export of foodstuffs. Given that food trade makes up 11% of the UAE’s GDP, and that the food industry is estimated to grow by 70% to AED 23 billion by 2030, the Park seeks to offer all categories of food-related services, including modern infrastructure and ancillary services.
The Park is also set to provide a range of comprehensive government services including customs, clearance, licensing, food safety and supervision all under one roof. Providing a full suite of services will help boost the growth of food companies and reduce supply chain costs, in addition to fostering innovation and creativity across the sector.
On this occasion, His Excellency Abdulla Al Habbai, Chairman of Dubai Holding, said: “The development projects by Dubai Holding strongly support Dubai’s economic diversification and are strategically designed to help ensure Dubai is well equipped for the future. This vision requires dedication and hard work, and a careful approach to planning and execution in line with the ambitious Vision of Dubai’s leadership”.
Al Habbai added: “Dubai Food Park has been established to meet the growing demand from the food sector in the UAE and the region, triggered by population growth and the development of the tourism sector. There is an increased need for specialised logistical services that ease supply chain costs, as well as for more dedicated spaces to accommodate the fast growing operations of food companies in Dubai.”
Al Habbai further explained: “The Park represents a valuable opportunity for these companies to strengthen their presence and contribute to enhancing food security in the UAE and the region. While focusing on business growth, UAE-based food companies also recognise innovation as an important factor of success. While this project is a unique commercial opportunity, it also provides the right platform for developing this vital sector and providing an exceptional experience that will contribute towards revolutionizing the sector on a global level.”
Dubai Food Park includes a central wholesale market that serves the retail, hospitality and food service sector, a logistics area, an area for complementary services such as packing, repacking, and processing, and a dedicated area for handling packaged goods. It will also host employees’ accommodation, in addition to hotels, financial services, a centre for integrated government services and recycling organic waste. With these features and facilities, the Park will be a world-class eco-friendly business community.
Commenting on the project, Dr. Amina Al Rustamani, Group Chief Executive Officer of TECOM Group, said: “Dubai Food Park is set to bolster Dubai’s status as a regional hub for the food sector, particularly in terms of innovation and a range of specialised services. These services will reduce paperwork and allow companies to focus on providing quality products on par with global standards, benefiting from 11 million sq. feet as a free zone for re-export activities. The Park will also play a pivotal role in enhancing food security and revitalising the growth of the food sector in the region and the world.”
Abdulla Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Wholesale City, said: “Through the development of Dubai Food Park, we seek to provide an advanced infrastructure that meets the current and future needs of this robust sector. The Park is designed to meet the highest global standards to ensure efficiency of operations and ease of procedures. This will be positively reflected in the day-today transactions between companies and consumers. The new Park will be a model one-stop destination for the governmental, administrative and logistical services related to the food sector.”
Dubai Holding revealed that it is currently in the final stages of negotiations with leading international food companies headquartered in Dubai that are seeking further growth and expansion. The aim of these negotiations is to facilitate these companies’ plans to join the Dubai Food Park.
Dubai Holding is actively contributing to advancing sustainable development in Dubai and the UAE by facilitating a host of sectors, including innovation, knowledge, technology, hospitality, entertainment, real estate, education, design, trade, communications, and more, with many projects in the pipeline to help further economic diversification efforts in the country.
Since its establishment, Dubai Holding has added strategic sectors to Dubai’s economy, established specialised business communities with world-class facilities, services, and integrated infrastructure that continually meet the needs of business and society.
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