UAE firms to bolster construction and F&B exports to Saudi Arabia and Germany

Dubai Exports, an agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED), is continuing to spearhead the exports from the country through creating long term valuable overseas opportunities for UAE companies particularly in the building materials and food & beverage sectors by participating at Saudi Build, the Middle East’s largest construction and building material exhibition in the region; and Germany’s Anuga, world´s leading food fair for the retail trade and the food service and catering market.

The participation of Dubai Exports is built on its previous successes at both events last year after achieving record export orders for the exhibiting local companies. This year, Dubai Exports is hoping to set a new record through extensive business matchmaking events that took place on the sidelines of Saudi Build and Anuga.

“Dubai Exports is continuously looking for ways to aid local companies to expand their presence and increase their export opportunities in the Kingdom and Europe particularly in Germany. Through the Saudi Build and Anuga exhibitions, Dubai Exports is able to strengthen the country’s trade relations with the two countries by enhancing awareness on the products and services our local companies can provide in the construction and building sector as well as the food and beverage industry,” said Engineer Saed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Exports.

Research produced by Dubai Exports showed that Saudi Arabia remains one of the main export destination markets for Dubai-based products and services. In 2010, Dubai’s direct export to Saudi Arabia amounted to AED2.47 billion, while direct re-export was valued at AED3.34 billion. Meanwhile, Free Zone exports posted AED21.03 billion in the same year.

“Through the matchmaking events supported by our overseas trade office we hope to identify export opportunities for Dubai and UAE exporters in the Kingdom. We are expecting to further increase our exports through linking out exporters with key buyers in the construction sector from Saudi Arabia and the region. We are confident that our activities with lead to future business deals for UAE firms,” Al Awadi added.

Dubai Exports worked with companies in the building materials and services sector to assist them in securing the deals. Current estimates showed that over AED1 trillion is expected to be invested by GCC countries in various construction and infrastructure-related projects over the next decade. Some of these projects are continual projects offering UAE companies long term opportunities.

Similarly, in the food and beverage sector, Dubai Exports has also sought to raise the capabilities and skills of domestic’s producers so that they can enter foreign markets particularly Europe. Dubai Exports is showcasing various products from the UAE at Anuga exhibition, which will help raise the global profile of the country as an exporter of high quality products as well assisting firms to penetrate foreign markets.

The Dubai companies that exhibited at Anuga were able to take advantage of the presence of an expected 150,000 trade show visitors from throughout the world as well as approximately 6,500 exhibiting companies from various countries representing the international food industry. The Dubai companies also networked and discussed business opportunities as well as learned the latest trends and newest markets in the food industry. 

Research from Dubai Exports showed that Germany is an important market for Dubai with its total direct export to the country amounting to AED1 billion in 2010, while exports from the Free zones was valued at AED1.2 billion.

“The Anuga exhibition provided an excellent opportunity for UAE companies to showcase their products and services, and present the latest in the UAE’s food industry including Dubai’s export capabilities,” Al Awadi said.

During the Saudi Build and Anuga exhibitions, Dubai Exports provided various services to the local exhibitors such as readiness assessment for exporters, and general information about the construction sector in Saudi and the food and beverage industry in Germany.