UAE's Local Produce: From Import Dependence to Sustainable Agriculture
Dubai-based serial entrepreneur Atul Chopra writes that the use of locally sourced produce in the UAE has been on the rise in recent years, with an increased focus on sustainability and the reduction of carbon footprint. Currently, only 20% of fruits and vegetables consumed in the UAE are grown locally, but this is changing as the local agricultural industry is increasing its contribution to the market.
The decision to commit to a sustainable strategy is a huge undertaking, for restaurant owners, chefs and operators; but we all have to start somewhere.
Currently, only 20 per cent of fruits and vegetables consumed in the UAE are grown locally, the rest are imported from around the world. According to the Abu Dhabi and Dubai Statistics Centres, the combined 2019 local production of crops, fruits, and vegetables amounted to 523,297 tonnes. In value terms, UAE imports almost USD 3.5 bn of fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Hotel Yearbook 2023 - Annual Edition
As we have embarked on 2023, it is evident that the hotel industry has made a robust recovery from the
pandemic.
Occupancy and pricing have returned to their pre-pandemic levels. However, the future of our
industry is contingent
on how nimble the hospitality sector can be in adapting to ongoing innovation, changing market
conditions, evolving
consumer preferences, new staffing challenges, and sustainability realities. These uncertainties are
the new normal
in an unpredictable world.