UAE Retailers Charter Ships and Shift Sourcing to Asia Amid Maritime Disruptions
Food retailers and manufacturers in the UAE are restructuring supply chains and booking dedicated cargo vessels and aircraft amid maritime disruptions linked to regional tensions and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Retail giant Lulu Group International is independently chartering ships from suppliers in China and other Asian markets as sea transit times reach up to 70 days. Local manufacturers like United Foods and Al Ain Farms Group are also building raw material reserves and expanding domestic production.

