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How startups are changing food security in the Middle East

Dubai's agritech landscape is experiencing a transformative evolution, moving beyond traditional desert innovation narratives. Today, a dynamic ecosystem of startup success stories, robust incubators, and strategic investments is reshaping the food technology sector.

Despite ranking as high as =21st globally in the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) according to the most recent 2022 data, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — and much of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) — continue to import over 85% of their food. This reflects the region's ongoing dependence on external supply chains as of early 2025.

This has prompted long-term measures to reduce import dependency, unifying GCC regional strategies to develop agricultural, livestock, and fishery projects that strengthen food security and sustainability. The UAE's approach has been strategic, with agriculture and fisheries now contributing 1.8% to gross domestic product (GDP), and the number of Gulf companies in these sectors growing by 20%.

At the forefront of Dubai's agritech incubation ecosystem stands in5, TECOM Group's entrepreneurship incubator, which has been instrumental in nurturing innovation. "Start-ups are the inherent problem-solvers we need to unlock sustainable growth," stated Majed Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President at TECOM Group.

Read more at The Economic Times