Minister Grealish concludes successful agri-food trade mission to the UAE

Minister of State with responsibility for Food Promotion, New Markets, Research and Development, Noel Grealish TD, has concluded an agri-food trade mission to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which was delivered this week in collaboration with Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland.

As part of this visit, Minister Grealish met Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment on Tuesday. This meeting saw the successful renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) originally signed between both countries in 2022 to enhance cooperation for food security. The meeting included discussions on environmental challenges and solutions, further areas for cooperation including market access and trade.

Speaking after the meeting, Minister Grealish said:

"I was delighted to meet with Her Excellency Amna Al Dahak during my visit. We had an excellent discussion on potential areas for cooperation and agreed to renew the Memorandum of Understanding. Such cooperation provides a strong framework to support industry, facilitate market access and encourage innovation-led partnerships. It demonstrates the shared commitment of Ireland and the UAE to working together constructively to our mutual benefit. I am confident Ireland and the UAE will remain strong partners in the areas of trade and food security.”

On Wednesday, Minister Grealish addressed a meeting of the Irish Business Network, providing an opportunity to connect with the Irish business community based in the region, and attended the first gathering of Bord Bia alumni. Minister Grealish also visited Al Ain dairy farm, the UAE’s biggest dairy company which has key Irish management and close ties with Irish suppliers. The Minister also visited Meydan Racecourse to promote the Irish-UAE relationship in the equine industry. The trade mission concluded on Thursday with a meeting with Dubai Duty Free, acknowledging their role as a key partner in the support of the Irish agri-food sector.

Commenting at the end of the trade mission, Minister Grealish said:

“From my engagements over the course of the week, I have seen first-hand how Irish people and products are significantly shaping the agri-food sector in this country. It was particularly impressive to see such a strong performance by our food producers on a world stage like Gulfood. This success is testament to the high quality of Irish food produce and our country’s reputation as a trusted supplier and trading partner.

“It is clear to me that we can build on this momentum and explore further opportunities for those who are looking to scale and grow in the region. I will continue to work with the Embassy of Ireland, my officials and Bord Bia to strengthen Ireland’s cooperation with the UAE and support Irish agri-food exporters.”

Also commenting, Bord Bia CEO Jim O’Toole said:

“Minister-led trade missions like this are hugely important for Irish food and drink. They give us access to senior decision-makers, open doors at the highest levels, and create the conditions for real commercial progress.

“It’s been a very productive week here in the UAE, with meaningful discussions across retail, foodservice and trade. At Gulfood, a large-scale food show, Irish exporters have invested significant time meeting customers, showcasing their products and building relationships. The opportunity now is in the follow-up, and I’m confident our Bord Bia team on the ground in the UAE will continue to build on the momentum from this week to deliver growth for Irish exporters in the Gulf region.”

IE-UAE Agri-Food Trade

Irish agri-food exports to the UAE totalled €105m in 2024, broadly consistent with export levels for the previous two years. Exports in 2024 were dominated by dairy (€78), beverages (€10m) and animal feed (€5.4m). Imports from the UAE to Ireland amounted to €2.82m in 2024.

The CSO export figures for 2025 will be available next month.

Bord Bia estimates that Irish food and drink exports to the Gulf region 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).