Uganda is seeking to expand its agricultural exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the wider Middle East following discussions between Uganda’s Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Zaake W. Kibedi, and Lulu Retail Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Saifee.
The meeting focused on increasing the volume and competitiveness of Ugandan products in the Middle Eastern market, addressing supply and quality challenges, and strengthening collaboration ahead of the upcoming Uganda-UAE Business Forum.
One of the key proposals from the discussions was to jointly conduct a market study to better understand consumer preferences, demand trends, and market opportunities in the UAE. The findings are expected to help Ugandan producers and exporters improve product quality, meet international standards, and position their goods more competitively.
Lulu Retail already imports a variety of fresh produce from Uganda, including avocados, pineapples, sweet potatoes, passion fruits, and chilies. Since the company established an office in Uganda, exports have grown significantly, with avocados becoming the country’s leading product supplied to the retailer.
According to available trade figures, trade between Uganda and the UAE reached US$4.72 billion in 2025, with agriculture accounting for around half of the total value. The government hopes stronger partnerships with major retailers such as Lulu will create more opportunities for Ugandan farmers, exporters, and agribusinesses.
What is Lulu Retail?
Lulu Retail is one of the largest supermarket and retail chains in the Middle East, operating under the Lulu Group International. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the company operates more than 250 hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience stores across countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, and India.
The retailer serves millions of customers every year and is one of the region’s biggest buyers of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, and other food products sourced from suppliers around the world.
For Uganda, partnering with Lulu Retail provides direct access to a large consumer market in the Gulf region, creating opportunities to increase agricultural exports, earn foreign exchange, and improve incomes for local farmers and exporters. The partnership is also expected to strengthen trade relations between Uganda and the UAE while supporting the country’s broader export diversification agenda.
