The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has confirmed full operational readiness ahead of Eid Al Fitr, launching a proactive plan to ensure smooth and uninterrupted movement of food, agricultural, and animal consignments across all UAE entry points.
Working closely with relevant authorities, MOCCAE is deploying specialized personnel and technical resources to speed up inspection and clearance processes for key imports such as fruits, vegetables, and meat, while maintaining strict food safety standards. This follows joint field inspections of agricultural and veterinary quarantine centers to assess workflows, monitor procedures, and ensure faster customs clearance.
Inspection procedures implemented at agricultural and veterinary quarantine centers across all UAE entry points include precise tracking of consignment origins, thorough verification of accompanying documentation and health certificates, and meticulous inspection of live animals and agricultural crops.
Samples from shipments are also subjected to advanced laboratory testing to confirm full compliance with the UAE’s highest approved standards. A strict immediate rejection policy is applied to any shipment found to be non-compliant, ensuring that the country’s markets remain fully protected and entirely safe.
All land, sea, and air entry points across the country operate in complete harmony within the unified and flexible operational system. The system is managed through an operations room that ensures real-time coordination at the highest level with all strategic partners and relevant local authorities.
HE Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary of MOCCAE, affirmed that the Ministry operates in line with the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership to strengthen the pillars of national food security, adopting an advanced and flexible operational framework to ensure the easy availability of all essential goods for consumers.
HE Al Nuaimi stated that between January 1 and March 18, 2026, the UAE processed 1,454 livestock consignments totaling 441,574 animals, including sheep, goats, cattle, and camels. He added that these volumes, along with the steady daily inflow of fresh produce, are sufficient to meet local market demand, underscoring the strength and stability of the UAE’s food supply chains.
Mohammed Saeed Sultan Al Nuaimi Under-Secretary UAE MOCCAE
“Our border entry points across all Emirates, each representing strategic and commercial importance on the global trade map, operate with exceptional efficiency and at maximum capacity as part of a fully integrated national system. This extensive logistics network forms the first line of defense in safeguarding our community by ensuring the safety and integrity of all incoming consignments. At MOCCAE, we manage the food value chain with the highest level of professionalism, and the flow of imports and goods continues seamlessly through our major entry points to supply our markets with all they need.”
HE Marwan Al Zaabi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Regions Sector at MOCCAE, said food import operations have been running smoothly in recent days to meet Eid Al Fitr demand, with entry points receiving large daily consignments of fruits, vegetables, meat, and other food items. He noted that teams are working around the clock to ensure fast, efficient inspection and clearance.
He emphasized that food safety remains central to the national food security system, stressing that increased import volumes do not compromise regulatory standards. All consignments, he added, undergo strict checks to ensure they are safe and free from risks before reaching consumers.
MOCCAE diversifies food import sources
The MOCCAE Assistant Undersecretary explained that the UAE’s strategy of diversifying import sources, combined with integrated logistics, ensures a steady and reliable flow of food, agricultural, and livestock products ahead of Eid Al Fitr. This approach strengthens the country’s competitive position in global trade while providing a wide range of options to meet community needs and maintain market stability.
Al Zaabi highlighted innovative mechanisms that shorten domestic supply chains and accelerate inspection and clearance, enabling fresh produce and goods to reach markets faster without compromising quality or freshness.
To handle the seasonal surge in demand, MOCCAE has reinforced quarantine centers with additional specialized staff, including veterinarians, agricultural engineers, and lab technicians, while activating fast-track clearance channels. These measures ensure the efficient and safe flow of products, keeping markets well-supplied and fully stable for consumers.
