Dubai UAE - 14 February 2019

Australian food and beverage products will be on the dinner tables of families across the UAE after the New South Wales (NSW) Government, Australia, assisted Australian supermarket Woolworths in securing an export partnership with the Al Maya Group.

Australian Ambassador to the UAE, HE Arthur Spyrou, said Woolworths is launching ninety products - including sauces, condiments, biscuits, confectionery, canned fruit and juices – into the UAE, most produced by Australian manufacturers under the Woolworths brand.

“This news will see world class Australian food and beverage products being sold in up to eight Al Maya supermarkets across Abu Dhabi and Dubai,” Mr Spyrou said.

“The NSW Government introduced Woolworths to the Al Maya Group during a trade mission we led to the UAE in 2018 for the world’s largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition, Gulfood, in Dubai,” said Mr Moin Anwar, Commissioner (Middle East), NSW Government.

The UAE is one of the Middle East’s fastest growing markets with over nine million people and having one of the world’s highest per capita GDPs. 

Woolworths’ Head of Exports, Mr Brian Newton, said they are pleased to be partnering with the Al Maya Group.

“We are very particular about our choice of partner in each of the overseas markets where the Woolworths brand is sold.  It is important for Woolworths to work with a like-minded partner who is focused on meeting changing customer needs.

“Working closely with Al Maya Group, we have selected an initial range of Woolworths’ products covering a variety of categories. We look forward to seeing how they resonate with customers in the UAE,“ Mr Newton said.

Al Maya Group Director, Mr Kamal Vachani, said the Group was pleased to be able to offer more Australian products to its customers and appreciated the assistance and support extended by Dubai Exports, Government of Dubai, and NSW Government to develop the relationship with Woolworths.
“Australia is globally-recognised as a reliable supplier of clean, green and safe products so we are confident that our customers will enjoy these products as much as Woolworths customers do across their stores in Australia,” Mr Vachani said.