The launch of the AED5.5 billion Dubai Food Park by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, will undoubtedly help enhance Dubai’s position as a leading regional hub for food trade and re-export of foodstuffs, said The Gulf Today in an editorial today.

"Benefiting abundantly from Dubai’s world-class infrastructure in land, marine and air transport, the park, which is the first of its kind in the region, will play a very important role in supporting food security in the country," the editorial explained.

The park includes a central wholesale market that serves the retail, hospitality and food service sectors, a logistics area, an area for complementary services such as packing, repacking, and processing, and a dedicated area for handling packaged goods.

The paper said that a key factor is likely to be the ease of doing business as the park is set to provide a range of comprehensive government services including customs, clearance, licensing, food safety and supervision, all under one roof.

"Providing a full suite of services will certainly help boost the growth of food companies and reduce supply chain costs, in addition to fostering innovation and creativity across the sector," it said.

Another big advantage, the paper pointed out, is the park's strategic location in Dubai Wholesale City, which is close to Dubai South, 10 minutes away from Al Maktoum International Airport, the Expo 2020 Dubai site, and a 15-minute-drive from Jebel Ali Free Zone.

The editorial went on to say that the opening of the park comes at a time when the demand from the food sector in the UAE and the region has been growing tremendously, triggered by population growth and the development of the tourism sector.

As Abdulla Al Habbai, Chairman of Dubai Holding, explained, "There is an increased need for specialised logistical services that ease supply chain costs, as well as for more dedicated spaces to accommodate the fast growing operations of food companies in Dubai."

"In terms of innovation, the services are expected to reduce paperwork and allow companies to focus on providing quality products," it said.

Abdulla Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Wholesale City, has made it clear that the new park will be a model one-stop destination for services related to the food sector.

"For companies that are aiming to strengthen their presence and contribute to enhancing food security, there can be no better place than the Dubai Food Park," the editorial concluded.