A series of high-level field visits by the UAE’s Minister of Economy and Tourism has spotlighted the country’s efforts to keep essential goods flowing steadily through its markets amid what officials describe as a period of heightened vigilance over supply chains.
Salmeen Al Ameri, Managing Director and CEO of Agthia Group, which owns Grand Mills, said the ministerial visit to the company’s factory underscored the producer’s role in the country’s food supply architecture. “Through operational efficiency and flexible, reliable supply chains, Grand Mills ensures the continuous availability of flour and feed, maintaining the stability of essential commodity supplies, thereby contributing to enhancing the sustainability of food security and consolidating the UAE’s long-term resilience,” he said.
Grand Mills was among the stops taken by Minister Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri during a round of inspections that also included the fruit and vegetable market in Al Ain. At both locations, the minister reviewed stock levels, pricing compliance, and the overall condition of distribution networks.
On the flour sector specifically, Bin Touq pointed to signs of growth. “The flour industry in the UAE is witnessing remarkable development, as local mills, such as Grand Mills, contribute to efficiently meeting local market needs, alongside enhancing the presence of Emirati food products in foreign markets,” he said. “This reflects the competitiveness of this vital sector and its ability to support the country’s food security system and enhance the sustainability of food supply chains.”
Enforcement data released alongside the visits showed the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and local economic departments have conducted around 12,284 inspection campaigns across UAE markets since the start of the current period. Of those, 249 violations were recorded—primarily unjustified price hikes—leading to 905 warnings issued to traders, suppliers, and retail outlets.
Bin Touq described the country’s logistics infrastructure as a key buffer against disruption. “The UAE possesses advanced infrastructure and a sophisticated logistics network that have strengthened the protection of essential supply chains since the beginning of the current circumstances, particularly for food, medical, and industrial goods. This has been achieved through activating alternative routes and developing the strategic stock system, which has become an integrated and flexible network capable of efficiently redirecting supplies within record timeframes,” he said.
Officials reported no signs of shortages, with daily import volumes described as normal and warehouses adequately stocked. The minister urged residents to buy only what they need, warning that panic purchasing drives waste and puts upward pressure on prices.
Daily monitoring of stock at both supplier and retail levels is ongoing, Bin Touq said, with commodity-by-commodity adequacy assessments being conducted alongside periodic reviews of strategic reserves. “We, at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in collaboration with local economic departments and relevant authorities, continue to monitor stock levels at suppliers and retail outlets on a daily basis, and conduct precise analyses of the adequacy levels for each commodity,” he added.
