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).

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.

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.

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.

Rice production in Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Mali is forecast at 8.02 million metric tons (MMT) in MY 2022/23 on average weather, improved irrigation, and enhanced stability in production areas. The 15 percent jump from MY 2021/22 follows a growing season that was plagued by poor weather, militant activity and instability in Mali, and irrigation issues and pest prevalence in Senegal.

Marketing year (MY) 2021/22 area harvested for rice in Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Mali is expected to increase about 9 percent to 3.35 million HA as movement restrictions are eased in Guinea, planted area rebounds from flooding, and financing and input access for farmers increases.

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.

The UAE’s overall consumption of grain and feed is projected to grow moderately over the next year. FAS Dubai (Post) forecasts all UAE wheat imports in MY2019/20 at 1.6 million metric tons (MMT)....

The UAE’s overall consumption of grain and feed is projected to grow nearly 6 percent over the next year.

n MY2016/17, the UAE’s wheat consumption is forecast to reach 1.03 million metric tons (MMT) of which only 5,258 metric tons (MT) will be imported from the US.