Australian meat exports to the United Arab Emirates reached approximately 800 million dirhams in 2025, while exports to the Middle East and North Africa region hit a record 5.5 billion dirhams, reflecting growing regional demand for Australian meat. Darren Watson, Regional Director of Meat & Livestock Australia for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, told Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the first day of Gulfood in Dubai that the UAE represents one of the most strategic markets for Australian red meat. He noted that the value of exports to the country reached 316 million Australian dollars, equivalent to about 800 million dirhams in 2025, compared to 236 million Australian dollars in 2024. Over the same period, Australia's red meat exports to the Middle East and North Africa region reached 2.2 billion Australian dollars. Watson explained that Meat & Livestock Australia is a leading global organization in research, development, and marketing, investing around 320 million Australian dollars annually on behalf of cattle, sheep, and goat producers. The goal of these investments is to support innovation, open new markets, and build global demand for Australian red meat. He also mentioned that 32 Australian red meat exporters are participating in Gulfood 2026 on an exhibition area of about 720 square meters, double the area of the previous edition. This reflects a high level of commitment and the increasing desire of Australian exporters to strengthen their presence in the UAE market. Watson confirmed that the exhibition has become a global platform that transcends the regional framework, bringing together companies and buyers from Europe, the UK, North America, Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. This allows Australian exporters to meet a large number of business partners from different countries in one place, whether to maintain existing relationships or to establish new partnerships. He highlighted that Meat & Livestock Australia works with various markets of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as broader markets in the Middle East including Turkey, Iraq, Morocco, Lebanon, and Jordan, in addition to expanding its presence in the Indian subcontinent, the UK, and Europe. Watson confirmed that Australia is one of the few countries with production capabilities and advanced global standards that enable it to export to more than 100 markets worldwide. Regarding the outlook for 2026, Watson explained that the focus will be on enhancing value-added demand and high-quality meat products. He noted that the UAE, with its developed tourism sector, upscale restaurants, and world-class hotels, provides an ideal environment for the growth of demand for Australian meat.
