Page 48 - AA 2025 Year Book Summary

UAE

UAE Aquaculture Market Analysis

The United Arab Emirates Fish- commercial objectives through the
eries and Aquaculture Market size implementation of advanced farm-
is estimated at USD 22.93 billion in ing techniques and the adoption of
2025, and is expected to reach USD circular economy principles in aqua-
29.41 billion by 2030, at a CAGR culture operations.
of 5.1% during the forecast period UAE Aquaculture Market Trends
(2025-2030).
Rising Demand for Fish and Sea-
The United Arab Emirates’ fish- food Products
eries and aquaculture sector is un- The United Arab Emirates has
dergoing significant transformation emerged as the leading consumer of
driven by the government’s strate- fish and seafood production products
gic focus on food security and self- among all GCC countries, driven
sufficiency. The UAE Ministry of by increasing health consciousness
Climate Change and Environment The retail landscape for fisheries and changing dietary preferences
reports that while annual seafood and aquaculture products is experi- among consumers. The growing
production reaches approximately encing notable transformation, driv- awareness about the nutritional ben-
226,000 tons, domestic production en by changing consumer prefer- efits of seafood, particularly its high
from natural fish stocks in the Gulf ences and modernizing distribution protein content and low-fat charac-
accounts for only 70,000 tons, high- channels. Major hypermarket chains teristics, has led to a significant shift
lighting the significant opportu- are expanding their fresh seafood in consumption patterns. According
nity for aquaculture development. sections and implementing sophis- to recent data, the UAE’s consumer
The government has responded by ticated cold chain management sys- expenditure on fish and seafood
implementing comprehensive poli- tems to ensure product quality. The products reached USD 179 in 2021,
cies to boost domestic production, sector has witnessed increased con- reflecting the strong consumer pref-
including the establishment of ad- sumer demand for premium seafood erence for these products. This trend
vanced marine research centers and products, particularly among urban is further supported by the coun-
the introduction of sustainable aqua- consumers, with salmon becoming try’s large young population that in-
culture guidelines. These initiatives the second most consumed fish spe- creasingly prefers protein-rich diets,
are particularly crucial given the cies after hamour in the UAE market. contributing to sustained demand
country’s growing population and This shift in consumer behavior has growth in the sector.
increasing protein demands. prompted retailers to diversify their
Technological innovation and sus- product offerings and enhance their The rising demand is also evi-
tainable aquaculture practices are seafood handling capabilities. denced by the UAE’s substantial an-
nual seafood consumption, which
reshaping the UAE’s aquaculture Environmental sustainability and exceeds 220,000 metric tons, plac-
landscape, with several ground- resource management have become ing the country’s per capita con-
breaking projects demonstrating the central to the UAE’s fisheries and sumption at 28.6 kilograms per
sector’s evolution. The Environment aquaculture development strategy. year—significantly higher than the
Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) reported The country has implemented strict global average. This robust demand
that aquaculture production in Abu regulations on fishing practices and has attracted major international
Dhabi reached 810 metric tons of seasons to protect marine resources, suppliers, with Norway emerging as
aquatic organisms in 2023, valued while simultaneously investing in re- one of the biggest suppliers of fresh
at approximately USD 5.06 million, search and development for sustain- fish to the UAE, contributing imports
representing a significant increase able aquaculture technologies. The valued at USD 58.9 million in 2020.
in production capacity. Notable de- Environment Agency Abu Dhabi has The market has also witnessed in-
velopments include the establish- launched several initiatives to ad- creased diversification in seafood
ment of desert-based salmon farm- dress depleted fish stocks, including production, with various species
ing facilities and advanced sturgeon the release of commercially impor- gaining popularity among consum-
breeding programs for caviar pro- tant species into local waters and the ers, including small pelagic fish
duction, showcasing the country’s development of breeding programs like sardines and mackerel, as well
capability to adapt traditional aqua- for endangered species. These con- as large pelagic fish such as tuna.
culture methods to local conditions. servation efforts are balanced with Additionally, species like grouper,

46 Arab Agriculture 2025