According to His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, the UAE plans to generate 20,000 employment in the food sector by 2030 as part of its efforts to reduce food imports from 90% to 50% by 2050.

His Excellency stated that these steps will raise the food sector's contribution to the UAE's GDP by $10 billion.

"The UAE's commitment to food security is reflected in its designation of this sector as a national priority following the worldwide food crisis in 2007. We are happy of our success in local food production, with the ultimate goal of lowering dependency on imports from 90% to 50% by mid-century," he stated.

The UAE has made significant investments in food security to safeguard its population's long-term food supply.

The UAE's total food imports in 2023 were $23 billion, with exports of $6.6 billion. The sector's total commerce increased by 20% in the first half of the year, with food imports up 23% and exports up 19%.

Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, stated that the purpose of the clusters is to facilitate interaction among all stakeholders, including universities, scientists, research institutions, and ministries, in order to assure future food security. As a country that relies significantly on imports, we understand that there are numerous things we can do as a critical industry to improve food security and supply chains, expand exports, defend our market, and implement pragmatic policies. These challenges must be discussed freely among stakeholders."