Input WAM
DP World has officially unveiled the Dubai Food District, a landmark expansion and rebranding of the Al Aweer Central Fruit and Vegetable Market that will transform the site into one of the world’s largest and most advanced centres for global food trade.
The new district, first announced in July 2024 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, significantly broadens the scope of the existing market. In addition to fruits and vegetables, the Dubai Food District will cater to dairy, gourmet foods, staples, and speciality products, reinforcing Dubai’s position as an integrated gateway for international food trade.
The development will be delivered in phases, with the first phase scheduled to commence in 2027. Once completed, the district will more than double the size of the current market, creating 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 is designed as a fully integrated ecosystem that brings together trading, storage, processing, and distribution within a single, connected platform. Facilities will include cold storage and temperature-controlled warehousing, primary and secondary processing units, digital back-office solutions, cash-and-carry services, and a gourmet food hall serving both businesses and consumers.
The Al Aweer Central Fruit and Vegetable Market, which opened in 2004, has grown into one of the region’s most important food markets, supporting more than 2,500 traders supplying fresh produce across the UAE and neighbouring markets. The new expansion builds on this foundation while enhancing scale, efficiency, and product diversity, improving speed to market, and reducing supply chain risks for food businesses.
Commenting on the announcement, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said the Dubai Food District will further strengthen Dubai’s leadership in food trade by combining world-class infrastructure, global connectivity, and advanced logistics in one location, enabling producers and traders to reach international markets more efficiently and sustainably.
Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC, noted that the project represents a critical investment at a time when global food demand is rising, and supply chains are under increasing strain. He said the district is designed to act as a launchpad for trade-led innovation in the food sector, supporting the UAE’s industrial strategy while delivering long-term economic impact.
Strategically located, the Dubai Food District will offer multimodal connectivity, linking producers and traders to more than 20 global markets through DP World’s logistics network. The infrastructure is designed to make supply chains more agile, secure, and cost-effective, helping businesses of all sizes expand into new markets.
DP World is set to showcase the Dubai Food District at Gulfood 2026, highlighting the project’s role in shaping the future of global food trade.
