Commerce Department Pushes Thai Rice into UAE Health Market

The Department of Foreign Trade led a delegation to Dubai, United Arab Emirates from January 24-31 to meet major rice importers and traders, including companies like Al Rabia Al Food & Beverages Trading L.L.C. and Prima Biz General Trading L.L.C. The delegation discovered that Thai food, especially jasmine rice, is gaining popularity in Dubai due to increased UAE tourism to Thailand. With a growing health-conscious trend in UAE, special rice varieties like rice berry are becoming increasingly desirable. The department showcased Thai rice varieties at Gulfood 2026, the largest food exhibition in the Middle East, under the concept 'Think Rice Think Thailand'. Over 500 visitors explored the Thai pavilion, sampling and appreciating Thai rice's quality and taste. UAE currently imports between 804,000 to 1,039,000 tons of rice annually and serves as a crucial trade and logistics hub in the Middle East region.