The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to establish three date processing plants in Pakistan. According to the Ministry of National Food Security, this initiative is part of a new cooperation agreement that will soon be formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The announcement followed a virtual meeting between Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and UAE officials, including Ms. Simisola Nicola Abere.
Under the plan, the processing facilities will be built in Sindh and Balochistan. Both sides agreed to fast-track implementation once the MoU is signed, with the ministry’s secretary designated to oversee coordination efforts.
Pakistan currently produces over 500,000 tonnes of dates annually across more than 100,000 hectares of farmland. The country earns over $50 million each year from date exports to markets such as the UAE, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Türkiye.
Ms. Abere reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to speed up the operational phase of the project under the bilateral cooperation framework.
Dates are among the world’s earliest known cultivated fruits, valued for their sweetness, taste, and health benefits. Rich in fiber, antioxidants, and essential nutrients, they are a natural source of quick energy and aid in maintaining good digestion.