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The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology convened the Interactive Council for Service Development for the Food Industries Sector in collaboration with the Sharjah Agricultural and Livestock Production Establishment at Mleiha Wheat Farm in Sharjah. The gathering supported objectives under the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology along with the Make it in the Emirates initiative and the UAE government’s Agentic AI programme, according to the ministry. Participants included investors, factory operators and companies from the food sector as well as representatives from government and private entities in Sharjah.
Discussions addressed factories’ needs for improved customer experiences while exploring development of proactive services powered by Agentic AI that understand requirements and ease procedures. The ministry’s programme of interactive councils across emirates seeks to involve industry players directly in shaping government services that raise efficiency and bolster competitiveness in priority sectors. This event marked the latest in the series aimed at strengthening the industrial business environment throughout the country.
Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, said, “In line with the Ministry’s strategic objectives and the Make it in the emirates initiative, we are focused on listening to our customers from industrial and service companies, and we are keen to go out into the field and meet them across the UAE’s emirates, to hear their proposals in order to design services that are more efficient and closely aligned with the needs of the industrial sector.” Al Nowais added that the ministry is focusing on plans to deploy Agentic AI by incorporating direct dialogue with factories as input for service improvements.
Al Nowais described the food industries sector as one of the vital sectors supporting food security and sustainable industrial growth in the UAE. “Through our partnership with EKTIFA and companies in the private sector, we discussed opportunities to develop services that help reduce time and effort, simplify procedures, and support factories’ capacity to grow and expand,” he stated according to the ministry. Al Nowais commended EKTIFA for creating a platform for dialogue that allowed the ministry team to address customer needs and guide them on procedures.
The ministry said the council focused on enhancing experiences for investors, industrial firms, service companies and suppliers while improving overall service efficiency. Plans centre on transitioning toward proactive tools capable of anticipating customer journeys across the industrial ecosystem. Such efforts form part of a continuing national push to refine government services through industry partnerships.
Mordor Intelligence data shows the UAE food products market is estimated at USD 16.3 billion in 2026, having grown from USD 15.68 billion in 2025 with forecasts reaching USD 19.81 billion by 2031 at a compound annual growth rate of 3.96 percent. Grand View Research figures place the UAE food technology market at USD 4.75 billion in 2023 with expectations to expand to USD 8.9 billion by 2030. These trends highlight the sector’s rising significance amid national food security priorities.
Market Data Forecast reports the UAE food service market stood at USD 22.21 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 100.33 billion by 2034 with an 18.24 percent compound annual growth rate. The ministry’s initiative to integrate Agentic AI aligns with demands for streamlined operations in this expanding industry. Ongoing councils will continue to gather industry feedback to refine future service offerings.
