How public-private partnerships are fuelling food innovation and supply in the UAE

In a country where only 0.7% of the land is arable and over 85% of food is imported, addressing the United Arab Emirates’s (UAE) food challenges requires more than advanced tools — it requires strategic partnerships to drive sustainable, scalable impact.

Technology and innovation are critical for building resilient food systems. This is reflected in the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051, which prioritizes sustainable local production through modern agricultural technologies. Yet, to fully realize the potential of these innovations, an enabling ecosystem is essential: one that supports the adoption of fit-for-purpose solutions through enduring, collaborative models.

The Food Innovation Hub UAE was founded on the principle that the right enabling ecosystem is key to unlocking the power of innovation in food systems.

The Food Innovation Hubs Global Initiative, launched by the World Economic Forum and partners in 2021, strengthens food innovation through multistakeholder collaboration. There are hubs in development across Europe, Colombia, India, Viet Nam, Africa and the UAE. The Hubs are connected by the Food Innovators Network (FIN), a global community of Hub partners, experts, entrepreneurs, investors and innovation leaders from around the world.

Launched at COP28, the UAE Hub was created in partnership with the World Economic Forum and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. It aims to address the country’s key food system challenges and focuses on three priorities: arid climate food production, integrity and circularity and localization and alternatives.

Public-private collaboration is central to the UAE’s food strategy, blending national leadership with global expertise to drive impact. Led by a National Council chaired by the UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment and key leaders from government, business and the World Economic Forum, this cross-sector approach ensures innovation aligns with national priorities. The governance model promotes shared ownership and strategic collaboration, enabling lasting change in how food is produced, consumed, and valued.

The first major milestone of the Food Innovation Hub UAE was reached in May 2024, when local partners came together with international leaders for the Food Innovation Conference 2024 in Dubai. Hosted by the World Economic Forum and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, the three-day event welcomed over 150 public and private sector participants.

The Reimagining Future Food Systems conference, convened innovators, farmers, business leaders, civil society and policymakers to address regional and global food challenges. Drawing participants from FIN, the global community of practice of the Food Innovation Hubs, the event enabled rich cross-pollination of ideas and collaboration across diverse sectors to address these pressing issues.

The event’s impact is already visible. Inspired by the conference, several Food Innovators Network (FIN) members are now pursuing partnerships in the UAE. One example is Kevin Lang, CEO of Agerpoint. Through Agerpoint’s recognition as a Top Innovator on UpLink, the World Economic Forum’s early-stage innovation ecosystem, Lang was invited to join FIN and to showcase Agerpoint's work at the conference. As a result, Agerpoint is now entering the Food Innovation Hub UAE’s Access Programme. This demonstrates how global connections can spark local impact and bring solutions to where they’re needed most.

Eighteen months after its launch at COP28, the Hub is already strengthening the UAE’s food innovation landscape. To build on the momentum, its flagship initiative, the Access Program, officially launched at the Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition in May 2025, marking a key milestone in advancing food innovation in the UAE.

The Access Program is designed to help food and agriculture innovators grow by connecting them with the resources, capital infrastructure, networks and support they need to succeed. The program offers a structured path for promising startups and entrepreneurs to develop their ideas and bring them to market in collaboration with UAE-based partners.

A network of satellite offices hosted by local institutions supports hands-on learning through internships, real-world trials and expert-backed pilot projects. Current partners include Khalifa University, ICBA and Silal.

The program is starting with 10 innovators and aims to support over 100 in the next three years, strengthening the UAE’s food innovation ecosystem.

The Producers Collective, a one-of-a-kind group convened by Food Innovation Hub UAE, aims to strengthen the role of local producers in the country’s food system. Focused on collective action, this collective brings together commercial agriculture producers to champion UAE-grown produce through industry collaboration, local sourcing and targeted support. Together, the group represents over a billion UAE dirhams in agriculture investments in the UAE.

By aligning with the UAE’s national food security goals, the Producer’s Collective is empowering producers, strengthening supply chains and making locally-grown food a central part of the country’s food future.

The third flagship initiative focuses on equipping UAE professionals with the skills to strengthen food security. In partnership with EIT Food, the leading partner of the Food Innovation Hub EU, the Food Innovation Hub UAE will launch the program in autumn 2025 to prepare agrifood leaders for challenges like climate change, supply chain disruptions and resource pressures.

Through expert-led sessions, participants will learn to identify risks, drive innovation and lead cross-sector collaboration. The program emphasizes real-world application and UAE-specific challenges. Over the next three years, it aims to train more than 100 food policy professionals.

Together, these three initiatives are shaping a resilient, innovation-driven food ecosystem. Backed by strong leadership and UAE-focused priorities, the Hub is driving local change and setting a model for global collaboration.