UAE poultry imports forecast at 410,000 tonnes in 2026 as Gulf demand keeps climbing

UAE poultry imports forecast at 410,000 tonnes in 2026

Demand for imported chicken in the United Arab Emirates continues to rise. In its Poultry and Products Annual report for the UAE, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts that the country will import approximately 410,000 tonnes of chicken meat in 2026 — about 2.5% more than the previous year.

The report links the increase to steady demand from labour-intensive sectors and from major cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where hotels, restaurants, catering operators and retailers all consume imported frozen poultry.

What this means for importers and wholesalers

• Halal certification is mandatory. An Islamic slaughter certificate is required for poultry exported to the UAE; certificates recognised by the GCC Accreditation Centre (GAC) help avoid delays at clearance.
• Cold chain is the whole business. Frozen product is shipped and stored at −18 °C, and reefer FCL containers remain the standard format for volume programmes.
• Documentation decides your port time. Certificate of origin, veterinary/health certificate and HACCP records should be ready before the container is booked.
• Plan volumes early. With regional demand growing, space on reefer services tightens in peak months.

Nau International Food Group supplies frozen poultry raw materials to importers, wholesalers and food-service distributors, with halal, HACCP, origin and veterinary documentation prepared per shipment. For product specifications and current price offers, write to info@naufoodgroup.com.

Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, GAIN report “Poultry and Products Annual — United Arab Emirates” (5 September 2025).