Browse Data and Analysis

Continuing economic growth; increasing tourism; a healthy hotel, restaurant, and institutional sector; and a growing population will lead the UAE’s wheat and rice consumption to grow in the 2025-2026 marketing year (MY).

For marketing year (MY) 2025/26, Post estimates that the wheat area harvested will total 193,000 hectares (ha), representing a 1.0 percent decrease from MY 2024/25 due to high input costs and low prices.

In MY 2024/25, Post forecasts imports by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of all wheat, rice, corn, and barley to increase to meet high local demand. Strong tourism, population growth, and expanding poultry and dairy sectors will drive this demand.

For MY 2024/25, Post estimates that wheat area harvested will total 195,000 hectares (ha), a 2.5 percent decrease from MY 2023/24 to due to high input costs and low prices. Wheat production will reach 1.17 million metric tons (MMT).

Strong tourism, high petroleum rents, and an accompanying economic boom in the United Arab Emirates are forecast to grow the consumptive base and drive imports of wheat and rice higher in the coming marketing year.

In marketing year (MY) 2023/24, Post forecasts wheat area harvested will reach 215,000 hectares (ha) and production will total 1.32 million metric tons (MMT), unchanged from MY 2022/23 as production was limited by the high costs of inputs.

UAE’s overall economic recovery will boost consumption and imports of grain and feed in MY 2022/23. The Ukraine conflict and other factors contributing to high commodity prices and food security may put downward pressure on UAE consumption in MY 2021/22.

For marketing year (MY) 2021/22, Post forecasts 230,000 hectares (ha) of wheat planted area totaling 1.4 million metric tons (MMT) of wheat production, which represents a 2.56 percent increase over MY2020/21 due to high price expectations.

The United Arab Emirates’ consumption and imports of grain and feed are projected to increase over the coming year.

The United Arab Emirates’ consumption and imports of grain and feed are projected to increase over the coming year.

FAS Dubai (Post) forecasts UAE imports of wheat, rice, corn and barley to increase in MY2020/2021.

For marketing year (MY) 2020/21, Post projects 205,000 hectares of wheat planted area and 1.288 million metric tons (MMT) of wheat production which represents a 2.4 percent decrease over MY2019/20.