Business
DP World unveils Dubai Food District to create one of world’s largest food trade hubs
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 the site into one of the world’s largest and most advanced centres for food trade.
The project, first announced in July 2024 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, significantly broadens the market’s scope to include dairy, gourmet foods, staples, and speciality products, positioning Dubai as an integrated global gateway for food trade.
The Dubai Food District will be developed in phases, with the first phase scheduled to begin in 2027.
The project will more than double the size of the existing 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.
The district will integrate trade, storage, processing, and distribution within a single connected ecosystem. Planned facilities include cold stores and temperature-controlled warehousing, primary and secondary processing units, digital back-office solutions, cash-and-carry options, and a gourmet food hall serving both businesses and consumers.
Dubai Food District
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.
The expansion will preserve Al Aweer’s central role within the food ecosystem while enhancing scale, efficiency, and diversity, improving speed to market, and reducing supply chain risks for food businesses.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “Dubai Food District strengthens Dubai’s leadership in food trade by bringing world-class infrastructure, global connectivity, and advanced logistics together in one location. We’re enabling farmers, producers, and traders to reach new markets faster, more efficiently and more sustainably.”
Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC, said: “With global food demand on the rise and supply chains under strain, Dubai Food District is a critical investment. It’s designed to serve as a launchpad for trade-led innovation in the food sector, supporting the UAE’s industrial strategy while driving long-term economic impact.”
The infrastructure is designed to create more agile, secure, and cost-effective supply chains, enabling businesses of all sizes to access new markets.
DP World will showcase the Dubai Food District at Gulfood 2026.
