Efforts are underway to ensure steady food supplies in the UAE as disruptions across parts of the Middle East affect aviation routes and cargo movement. Retailers have begun arranging special shipments of fresh produce to keep supermarket shelves stocked and avoid supply shortages.
One such shipment arrived in Abu Dhabi on March 7 on a freighter operated by Etihad Airways. The aircraft carried nearly 12,000 packages of fruits and vegetables sourced from India, with the total consignment weighing about 80,000 kg.
The shipment was organised by LuLu Group International, which operates one of the largest supermarket networks in the UAE. The imported produce will be distributed across the group’s retail outlets nationwide to ensure customers continue to have access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
For retailers, speed is crucial when transporting perishable food products. Air cargo allows fresh produce to reach the country within hours rather than days, helping maintain quality and preventing supply disruptions.
The decision to rely on chartered cargo flights comes as aviation routes across some parts of the Middle East face disruptions linked to regional geopolitical tensions. Several passenger flights have either been suspended or rerouted, reducing the cargo capacity normally used to transport fresh produce between global markets and the Gulf region.
Passenger aircraft typically carry large volumes of fruits and vegetables in their cargo holds. When these flights are cancelled or limited, retailers must turn to alternative transport options to move goods quickly.
To avoid delays that could affect supermarket availability, companies are increasingly relying on dedicated cargo flights that can transport fresh produce directly from sourcing markets.
Industry analysts note that this approach highlights how global supply chains adapt during disruptions. When regular logistics routes are affected, retailers shift to faster transport solutions to maintain supply of essential food items.
For residents in the UAE, these shipments are intended to maintain normal availability of fresh food across supermarkets. The country imports a large share of its food, especially fresh produce, making efficient logistics networks vital for daily supply.
Retailers say the produce arriving through cargo flights will move quickly through established distribution channels across the Emirates to reach store shelves without delay.
The UAE’s broader food security strategy also plays a role in managing such disruptions. The country maintains diversified sourcing markets and supply routes to ensure consistent imports even during regional challenges.
Additional shipments are already being planned. Retailers are arranging further cargo flights from cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru and Melbourne, reflecting the UAE’s global agricultural sourcing network.
These operations highlight the scale of the country’s food supply chain, where fresh produce often travels thousands of kilometres from international farms to local supermarket shelves.
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