Dubai has only 10 days of fresh food as war disrupts global trade, warns logistics CEO

War strains global supply chains, food

Dubai may have only around ten days of fresh food supplies remaining, as the ongoing war in West Asia disrupts shipping lanes and air cargo routes across the region.

The warning was highlighted by analyst Shanaka Anslem Perera in a post on X, citing remarks by Stefan Paul, chief executive of global logistics giant Kühne+Nagel. Speaking to Swiss broadcaster SRF on March 5, Paul said Dubai currently has roughly ten days of fresh produce available, based on supply chain data monitored by his company.

The Gulf region depends heavily on imports, with 80–90 per cent of its food sourced from abroad. Around 70 per cent of Gulf Cooperation Council food supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping corridor that has been closed to commercial traffic since February 28 amid the conflict.

Air freight capacity has also taken a hit. Data from aviation analytics firm Aevean, cited by Reuters, shows that air cargo capacity serving the Middle East fell 22 per cent between February 28 and March 3.

The situation has been compounded by disruptions at Jebel Ali, the region’s largest port and a key logistics hub serving tens of millions of people across the Gulf. The port was struck during the conflict and only partially resumed operations on March 5.

JUST IN: The CEO of one of the world’s largest logistics companies told Swiss broadcaster SRF on March 5 that Dubai has approximately ten days of fresh food left. That sentence has not appeared on a single major English-language front page. It should be the headline.Stefan… https://t.co/b5XTKxePsHpic.twitter.com/t2dA86YUMn

— Shanaka Anslem Perera ⚡ (@shanaka86) March 6, 2026

These simultaneous disruptions — to sea routes, air cargo and port infrastructure — have particularly affected perishable food supplies. Fresh produce such as fruit, vegetables and dairy has a short shelf life and cannot easily be rerouted via longer shipping routes, which can add four to six weeks to transit times.

Experts say the warning does not indicate an immediate food crisis. The UAE maintains reserves of grain, frozen foods and other non-perishable items. However, analysts say the first visible sign of disruption could appear in supermarkets, where supplies of fresh produce may begin to thin if supply routes remain constrained.

The situation underscores how the war is increasingly affecting civilian supply chains across the Gulf, with critical logistics routes and infrastructure under growing pressure.