Contributing an estimated 4% of the national GDP, 14% of agricultural GDP, and 44% of livestock GDP, the dairy industry is well-positioned to significantly contribute to the UAE government’s economic diversification and food security goals. The dairy industry has been growing at an estimated rate of 5 percent per annum in recent years. The dairy industry in the UAE faces a dichotomy: limited domestic production and a strong surge in processing infrastructure and new plants, as new entrants enter the sector, including cooperatives transitioning to processors to meet the growing demand for value-added products.
The dairy industry is one of the fastest-growing agricultural multi-billion-dirham sub-sectors in the UAE, providing a livelihood to numerous stakeholders. The UAE currently imports a percentage of its dairy products from Saudi Arabia.