Irish exporters target Gulf growth
Irish food and drink exporters are boosting Gulf presence as Bord Bia leads a three-day trade mission to the UAE led by Minister Noel Grealish
Print27 January 2026
Irish food and drink exporters are strengthening their presence across the Gulf region as Bord Bia, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, leads a three-day trade mission to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The mission, which runs from January 26th to 28th, is led by Minister of State for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Noel Grealish, and marks Bord Bia’s fourth trade mission to the UAE since 2013. Commenting on the market opportunity, the Minister said: “In recent years, the Gulf Region has emerged as a priority growth market for Irish food and drink exports, driven by population growth, a strong tourism sector and the region’s role as a global food and logistics hub.
“In 2025, the UAE imported an estimated 85–90% of its food to supply a population of more than 11 million people, highlighting the scale of opportunity in the region.
“Being here in person is an important part of delivering on the Department’s Food Vision 2030 strategy and the Government’s Action Plan on Market Diversification and supporting Irish exporters to grow in this strategically important market.”
Retail and travel retail a key focus
A major focus of the trade mission is exploring opportunities across premium retail and travel retail, where Irish food and drink brands are increasingly visible.
Speaking in Dubai today, Jim O’Toole, CEO of Bord Bia, said: “The retail and foodservice opportunity for Irish food and drink in the Gulf region is significant, and this trade mission is about building on that momentum.
“Markets like the UAE are particularly exciting because, unlike many export destinations, they support strong demand for premium, branded Irish products across retail, foodservice and travel retail, giving Irish companies direct access to consumers and greater brand visibility.
“Partnerships with premium retailers such as Spinneys and Kibsons, alongside the visibility offered by Dubai Duty Free, which serves travellers passing through Dubai International Airport – the world’s busiest international airport with over 90 million passengers annually – provide Irish brands with a powerful platform to reach consumers from across the region and beyond.
“These channels are central to our strategy for growing both the value and profile of Irish food and drink exports in the Middle East.”
Bord Bia is planning further promotional activity with Dubai Duty Free, including a major activation from March 2026 that will see 13 new Irish products listed from five Irish drinks companies.
Dubai Duty Free represents a strategically important channel for Irish drinks exporters, with approximately 50% of all liquor sales purchased by passengers travelling onward to India, offering Irish brands exceptional exposure to one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets.
In the retail channel, Bord Bia Dubai is also working closely with Spinneys, one of the UAE’s leading premium supermarket chains, which operates 80 stores across the region and stocks a significant range of Irish food and drink brands including Clonakilty, Keogh’s, Flahavans and Kerrygold.
Minister of State Noel Grealish is meeting with the Spinneys leadership team today (27 January) to launch Irish beef and Irish oysters in the market marking a further deepening of the relationship.
Today’s announcement follows Spinneys’ participation in a Bord Bia inward buyer visit to Ireland in 2025, where the retail team met with existing suppliers and explored new listing opportunities.
Gulfood and high-level engagements
The mission coincides with Gulfood, a world leading food trade exhibition, where Ireland has a strong presence through 14 meat, dairy and prepared consumer food exporters.
The three-day itinerary also includes senior-level meetings with key regional customers, including premium retailers and Emirates Flight Catering, which purchases over €1 billion of food annually, as well as a trade reception this evening (27 January) which will be attended by more than 100 commercial contacts.
Strong export growth across the region
Irish food and drink exports to the Middle East reached €370 million in 2025, an increase of 7.5% on 2024 values.
This growth was primarily driven by dairy exports (+7% to €315 million) and prepared consumer foods (+17% to €26.8 million).
The UAE and Saudi Arabia remain Ireland’s two most significant markets in the region, accounting for 30% and 25% of total Middle East export value respectively.
Read more: Bord Bia showcases Irish dairy excellence in China
© 2026, ShelfLife by Ryan Brennan
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