Dubai's food stocks may last only 10 days amid Middle East war
Photo: attack on the UAE (Getty Images)
Fighting in the Middle East could lead to food shortages in the region. In Dubai, fresh supplies are estimated to last only about 10 days, according to the Financial Times and Bloomberg.
According to Stefan Paul, CEO of the Kuehne + Nagel international logistics company, about 18% of global air cargo capacity is currently unavailable due to airspace restrictions over the Persian Gulf region.
Among the goods transported by air are temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals, fresh fruit, and other perishable products.
As a result, the region faces risks to food security, since Gulf countries rely heavily on food imports.
According to Paul, Dubai’s supply of fresh food is estimated to last for roughly ten days.
Since most food is imported, stocks, especially fresh goods, can run out quickly, he noted.
Searching for alternative routes
Logistics companies are now looking for alternative routes — for example, flying goods to Saudi Arabia and then transporting them by truck. However, the scale of maritime shipping makes such solutions difficult.
According to Paul, one container ship can carry up to 20,000 containers. Therefore, it's impossible to replace that with trucks.
Rising logistics costs
Disruptions to logistics have also driven transportation costs higher.
According to Bloomberg, the cost of shipping cargo from Southeast Asia to Europe has increased by more than 6%, to $3.82 per kilogram.
Freight rates from the Middle East to the EU rose 8% to $1.62 per kilogram, while shipping from China to the United States jumped 15% to $6.90 per kilogram.
Due to partial airspace closures around the Persian Gulf, airlines Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad have restricted cargo transportation.
In addition, around 100 container ships are currently stuck in the Persian Gulf area, and some parts of the Middle East have been cut off from food imports. Ships are avoiding passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for transporting grain and other food products.
Amid missile and drone attacks, the UAE is considering a scenario involving the use of military force against Iran to stop further strikes and stabilize the security situation.
At the same time, Qatar and the UAE are calling for the fastest possible end to the military confrontation between the United States and Israel and Iran, hoping for rapid de-escalation and an end to hostilities in the region.
