- Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024
- Location: Expo City, Dubai (Russian Pavilion)
Speakers:
- H.E. Mohammed Al-Madani – Chairman of the Foods Group and President of The Association of Franchise & Trademarks Services (TAGMOA) in UAE and GCC.
- H.E. Sultan Ahmed Darwish – Director of Consumer Protection and Commercial Control at the Ministry of Economy.
- Mr. Thomas Guerrero – Director of the Halal Center in Dubai Airport Free Zone.
- Representatives from Dubai Municipality, the Department of Tourism, DP World, and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce Food Association.
- Private sector food companies from Dubai and other Emirates.
- Russian commercial companies via virtual participation.
The “Export of Russian Halal Food Products” conference was held at the Russian Pavilion in Expo City on Thursday, August 29, 2024, in collaboration with the Al-Madani Group and The Association of Franchise & Trademarks Services (TAGMOA) in UAE AND GCC.
The conference was inaugurated by H.E. Mohammed Al-Madani, who introduced the pioneering Al-Madani Group in the franchise sector. As a leading Emirati franchise owner both locally and internationally in fields such as food, national clothing, and brands like Charlie’s and Al-Barza, he emphasized the group’s continued support for importing Russian products and making them available in the UAE. He highlighted that the goal of such meetings is to diversify global halal product sources and establish the UAE as a distinguished hub for importing and re-exporting diverse halal products worldwide. Dubai, as a global center for halal product re-exports, serves as the second-largest destination for international franchise and global brands.
H.E. Al-Madani also noted the UAE’s vital role as a global halal trade hub, positioning the country as a platform for supporting Russian companies in the food and beverage sector to expand within the halal market. The UAE is strategically located at the heart of trade with the 57 member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, whose halal-related imports exceeded $300 billion in 2022.
He stressed the importance of food security, safety, and quality within the Tagmoa strategy as a tool for transferring technical, managerial, and innovative capabilities and supporting the expansion of innovative Emirati brands globally, especially for youth. These efforts align with the UAE’s economic strategy to enhance the private sector’s role.
H.E. Sultan Ahmed Darwish spoke about the continuous growth of halal trade worldwide, reaching over $2.2 trillion, with halal products comprising 3.7% of global trade. He highlighted the UAE’s status as Russia’s largest trade partner in the Arab world and its 16th-largest global trade partner as of 2023, climbing from 23rd place the previous year.
In the first half of 2024, the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade with Russia reached AED 14.1 billion ($3.8 billion). In 2023, total trade amounted to AED 40.2 billion ($10.9 billion), a 1.5% increase compared to 2022. While this growth rate appears modest, it is more than double the 2021 figure and nearly triple the 2019 bilateral trade volume. Agricultural goods and food products accounted for 5% of non-oil trade between the two countries in 2023, valued at over AED 2 billion ($507 million).
The UAE remains one of the largest importers of Russian halal products, with non-oil foreign trade achieving record levels of AED 1.395 trillion in the first half of 2024 and surpassing AED 3.5 trillion by the end of 2023. Legislative and policy reforms targeting key sectors, including the Islamic economy, have significantly bolstered the halal industry as one of its cornerstones.
Mr. Thomas Guerrero presented a summary of the significant growth in halal consumption, which reached $1.4 trillion in 2022, with beverages accounting for $500 billion. By 2027, consumption is expected to rise to $1.8 trillion, representing around 20% of global food and beverage consumption.
Halal food consumption in 57 Islamic countries increased significantly, with Dubai emerging as a global halal trade hub in the Middle East and among OIC member states, reaching over $300 billion in 2022. This growth has attracted Russian food and beverage companies to tap into this expanding market.
Representatives from Union Coop met with Russian brand representatives, supported by the Al-Madani Group and the Tagmoa Association. The franchise sector, as a private enterprise, plays a critical role in market dynamics, job creation, and strengthening ties with the global economy through smart partnerships between global brand owners and local investors. This approach enhances the private sector’s contribution to national economic growth, opens new investment opportunities for entrepreneurs and SMEs, and fosters collaboration between Russian and Emirati businesspeople.
The Tagmoa Association emphasized the importance of this conference in developing partnerships in this sector with franchise and supply chain companies to strengthen and ensure the continuity of supply chains, regardless of circumstances like conflicts, climate change, or wars, which impact global economic and food security.
At the conclusion of the conference, which received significant attention and participation from various government and private entities, the Al-Madani Group was honored for its efforts in developing food and beverage trade.