Dubai continues to grow sharply as an importer
Dubai is currently a constantly growing and very diverse market. According to Mujahid Siddique, Mana…Dubai is currently a constantly growing and very diverse market. According to Mujahid Siddique, Managing Director of Alward International Trading, an experienced Dubai-based exporter and importer" This growth is not preventing all volumes available from being consumed. The country is inhabited by people from many countries and every nationality has its own preferences, so we have to fulfill that demand as well.”
In order to achieve it, Siddique explains that Dubai makes use of distribution networks to different supply chains. Alward itself has its own distribution network, but also supplies other companies within the supply chain. These products need to move fast from the port and airport, as the maximum time for consumption is 4 to 5 days. He added that the transport need to be very efficient.
This challenge comes accompanied by a constantly increasing import volume, which in Alward’s particular case stood at 15 to 18% this year; a clear consequence of the fact that Dubai is attracting more and more visitors, but is unable to grow any kind of crops, like fresh fruits, so “definitely, the only option is to import. Every month, 5 to 6 thousand companies are registering here, and because of the Expo 2020, the number of people is also increasing, so ultimately the volume is only going to go up,” says Siddique.
Siddique also said "The key idea is that when business is flourishing, everyone is prosperous and the Middle East is currently offering much better opportunities for growth than Europe, where the market is more stagnant. We are glad that the government is working very hard to stabilize the market and offer the best services to the people living in this country,” he concludes.