The UAE’s Alternative Protein Strategy: Building a Regional Hub for Sustainable Food Innovation
The United Arab Emirates is channeling significant resources into the alternative proteins sector, integrating large-scale infrastructure projects, regulatory innovation, and collaborations between public and private entities to establish itself as a central hub for advanced food production in the region. These initiatives are closely tied to the nation’s broader goals of economic diversification and strengthening food security.
Global Food Week 2025 Signals a New Era of Plant-Based and Alternative Protein Innovation in the Middle East
Global Food Week 2025 in Abu Dhabi marked more than a celebration of ideas. It became a launchpad for concrete action, positioning plant-based innovation and alternative proteins at the heart of the region’s food security strategy. Leaders emphasized that cultivated proteins, fermentation-based foods, and plant-rich diets are no longer distant concepts but urgent solutions for a Middle East facing climate stress, water scarcity, and shifting consumer expectations
Sustained Growth Ahead: Middle East's Alternative Protein Sector Driven by Consumer Demand and Food Tech Innovations
The rising interest in plant-based meat and dairy alternatives in the Middle East, driven by growing health awareness and a wider range of product options, is expected to boost the alternative protein sector's growth in the coming years. Ayca Yumlu Karaozan, Regional Product Manager – Culinary & Alternative Proteins SAMEA at Givaudan, notes that the combined forces of consumer demand and technological innovation are likely to elevate the alternative protein sector to mainstream status across the region.