Rice

Rice is the third most important staple food in the UAE after wheat and maize. Historically, rice is a key commodity for urban and expatriate consumers. Over the years, rice consumption has been growing faster than domestic production at an average rate of 11 percent per year. Rice was the most spent-on commodity in 2019 according to UAE trade statistics. Traders brought in 0.16 million metric tons valued at AED 218.7 billion. This was a 23 percent increase in volumes compared to 2017-18 when 0.13 million metric tons valued at AED 119.7 billion was imported, mainly from Pakistan, Vietnam, Thailand, and India.

Meffier is looking to import 300 containers of rice annually to the UAE, with a focus on parboiled rice (long grain), long grain, and Basmati from India. Of the many varieties of rice available today, parboiled rice is one of the most nutritious. Parboiled (converted) rice is partially precooked in its husk, which retains some nutrients otherwise lost during refining. Because of the special processing, parboiled rice is a better source of fiber, calcium, potassium, and vitamin B-6 than regular white rice.