DP World unveils new hub to centralise global food trade

DP World has officially unveiled the Dubai Food District, a major expansion and rebranding of the Al Aweer Central Fruit and Vegetable Market that will transform it into one of the world’s largest and most advanced centres for the trade of food.

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The new market, initially announced in July 2024 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, will have a broader scope to cater to fruits and vegetables as well as dairy, gourmet foods, staples, and speciality products, positioning Dubai as an integrated gateway for the global food trade.

The new district will expand in phases, with the first phase scheduled to begin in 2027.

It will more than double the size of the existing market to create a 29 million square foot, multi-category food trade hub designed to strengthen food supply chains, expand trade capacity, and support regional food security.

Dubai Food District will bring together trade, storage, processing, and distribution into a single, connected ecosystem.

It will offer cold stores and temperature-controlled warehousing, primary and secondary processing facilities, digital back-office solutions, cash-and-carry options, and a gourmet food hall to serve businesses and consumers.

The Al Aweer Central Fruit and Vegetable Market first opened in 2004 and has since become one of the region’s leading food markets, supporting more than 2,500 traders supplying fresh produce across the UAE and the wider region.