Food processing rises to top of UAE's investment push

Biggest gains lie in processing food, not just growing it, says Touq Al Marri

- BY NIVETHA DAYANAND Assistant Business Editor

Food and food processing now sit at the very top of the UAE's strategic investment agenda, with the sector offering some of the fastest and most scalable value creation opportunities across the economy, according to Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism.

Speaking during a panel at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2026, Al Marri said the sector now sits at the centre of economic planning as consumption patterns shift and supply chains face rising pressure.

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