Rice Buyers in UAE 2025: Top Importers and Rice Types Imported

Key takeaways about rice buyers in UAE 2025

• India leads rice buyers in UAE at US$215.17 million (47.94%) in 2025, with Pakistan close behind at US$189.49 million (42.21%) and Vietnam third at US$42.36 million (9.44%).
• Milled rice (HS 100630) dominates UAE rice imports at US$431.71 million (96.18%), reflecting the country's preference for Basmati and Jasmine long-grain varieties across retail, foodservice, and re-export channels.
• The UAE rice market is 90%+ import-dependent, with imports forecast at 975,000 metric tons for MY 2025/26 from USDA FAS, and the broader UAE rice market projected to exceed US$888 million by 2029 per Ken Research.

Who is the largest rice importer in the UAE? Discover the top rice buyers in UAE in 2025

The top rice buyers in the UAE in 2025 are led by M S INTERTRADE GENERAL TRADING LLC (6.91% share), ARROZ LUCKY GENERAL TRADING LLC (4.31%), and CONSIGNEE NOTIFY 1 DHIRANI FOOD (3.95%), per TradeInt UAE import shipment records under HS 1006.

The largest rice buyers in the UAE in 2025 were:

1. M S INTERTRADE GENERAL TRADING LLC - 6.91%: Premium food distributor leveraging global sourcing networks and rigorous quality control for Basmati and specialty ingredients across UAE retail and high-end hospitality.
2. ARROZ LUCKY GENERAL TRADING LLC - 4.31%: Market-research-driven wholesaler with robust ocean freight capability, consolidating regional supply to meet rising urban grain demand.
3. CONSIGNEE NOTIFY 1 DHIRANI FOOD - 3.95%: High-volume mass-market procurement specialist sourcing from Southeast Asian hubs such as Vietnam for regional food retailers.
4. F H M GENERAL TRADING LLC - 3.36%: Multi-commodity diversified trader anchoring competitive wholesale pricing and bulk supply across GCC distribution networks.
5. GLOBAL RICE FOODSTUFF TRADING LLC - 2.10%: Low-cost grain specialist with deep Indian export logistics serving price-sensitive bulk markets and African re-export flows.
6. SUN CORPORATION GENERAL TRADING LLC - 1.81%: Long-established regional player with strong financial liquidity for multi-continental rice sourcing into major UAE retail chains.
7. WALQ FOOD INDUSTRIES LLC BRANCH - 1.57%: Integrated manufacturing and packing operator handling branded retail packaging and wholesale export of processed rice staples.
8. BEAUFOND PLC - 1.54%: Multinational-scale distributor with sophisticated maritime logistics for premium grain and parboiled rice flows across MENA.
9. AL DAHRA FOOD SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP - 1.43%: Vertically integrated agribusiness operating the largest automated rice mills in MENA, anchoring UAE national food security.

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Where does the UAE import rice from? Discover the top 5 rice-exporting countries supplying to the UAE in 2025

UAE imports rice mostly from India, valued at US$215.17 million & accounted for nearly 50% of the rice import market in UAE, then Pakistan at US$189.49 million, and Vietnam at US$42.36 million, with these three countries together supplying 99.59% of the UAE's rice import value in 2025 under HS code 1006.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh round out the top 5 with smaller volumes targeting specialty and food security segments, per TradeInt UAE shipment records.

Top 5 source countries for rice buyers in UAE in 2025:

1. India - US$215.17 million (47.94%): Primary supplier and cornerstone of the UAE's massive re-export industry, ensuring regional food security and the availability of staple Basmati and non-Basmati for retail and foodservice channels.
2. Pakistan - US$189.49 million (42.21%): Crucial for price competition and high-volume supply of premium aromatic rice for UAE domestic use and regional GCC redistribution, especially 1121 Basmati varieties.
3. Vietnam - US$42.36 million (9.44%): Pivotal for diversifying supply chains, providing affordable non-Basmati and Jasmine rice to mitigate concentration risk on South Asian sourcing.
4. Sri Lanka - US$847,634 (0.19%): Strategic partner for specialty value-added grains, supporting niche ethnic markets and high-end boutique food retail sectors in the UAE.
5. Bangladesh - US$773,637 (0.17%): Key partner in the 2025 G2G aromatic rice agreement, providing stable reserves and strengthening bilateral food security between Dhaka and Abu Dhabi.

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Top 1 rice-supplying country to UAE: India at US$215.17 million

India is the UAE's largest rice supplier in 2025, anchoring nearly half of the UAE's total rice imports through premium Basmati and non-Basmati grain channels. Indian rice serves both domestic UAE consumption and the country's regional re-export network into the GCC and East Africa.

Key dynamics shaping India-to-UAE rice imports in 2025-2026:

• Basmati category leadership: Indian 1121 Basmati and Pusa Basmati varieties dominate UAE premium-rice shelves and biryani-grade foodservice procurement, with Indian mills supplying the bulk of the UAE's high-aroma long-grain demand.
• Re-export channel anchor: Indian rice arriving at Jebel Ali Port is repackaged and redistributed by UAE traders to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and East Africa, leveraging Dubai's free-zone infrastructure to capture re-export margins on Basmati and parboiled rice.
• Diverse variety pipeline: Indian suppliers offer the UAE the widest variety mix on the market, including Sona Masoori, Sella, Pusa, and 1509 Basmati, supporting UAE retail chains and ethnic food brands serving the country's large South Asian expatriate population.

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Top 2 rice-supplying country to UAE: Pakistan at US$189.49 million

Pakistan is the second-largest rice supplier to the UAE in 2025, closely trailing India and supplying high volumes of premium aromatic rice. Pakistani rice serves both UAE retail and foodservice channels, with deep cultural and demographic alignment with the country's South Asian expatriate base, reinforcing structural demand.

Key dynamics shaping Pakistan-to-UAE rice imports in 2025-2026:

• Premium aromatic rice supply: Pakistani 1121 Basmati and Super Basmati varieties anchor UAE premium retail and foodservice channels, with Pakistani mills supplying long-grain aromatic rice tailored for biryani, pulao, and Gulf cuisine preparations.
• Price-competitive sourcing: Pakistani rice provides UAE buyers with a strong price-competitive alternative to Indian Basmati, supporting cost-sensitive segments of HoReCa procurement and budget retail brands while maintaining quality benchmarks.
• GCC redistribution role: Pakistani rice imported through Dubai is widely re-exported to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, leveraging the UAE's free-zone logistics to extend Pakistani Basmati access across the broader Gulf rice market.

Top 3 rice-supplying country to UAE: Vietnam at US$42.36 million

Vietnam is the UAE's third-largest rice supplier in 2025, providing the primary non-South-Asian source for UAE rice imports. Vietnamese rice plays a critical role in diversifying UAE supply chains beyond Indian and Pakistani Basmati, with strong positioning in Jasmine and non-Basmati long-grain categories.

Key dynamics shaping Vietnam-to-UAE rice imports in 2025-2026:

• Jasmine rice specialization: Vietnamese Jasmine rice supplies UAE Asian foodservice operators, retail brands serving Southeast Asian expatriate communities, and supermarket private-label channels seeking aromatic non-Basmati varieties.
• Affordable long-grain supply: Vietnamese exporters offer UAE buyers competitive pricing on long-grain and parboiled rice, supporting budget retail and institutional foodservice procurement across hospitals, labor camps, and catering operators.
• Supply chain diversification: Vietnamese rice imports help UAE traders reduce concentration risk from South Asian sourcing, particularly important during periods of Indian export restrictions or Pakistani harvest disruptions. According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, the UAE actively maintains a multi-origin sourcing strategy to comply with its 3-6 month strategic stockpile mandate, positioning Vietnamese rice as a key alternative supply line for rice importers in UAE.

Major rice types imported by the UAE

Fully or partially milled rice (HS 100630) is the two major rice imported types in UAE, accounting for US$431.71 million or 96.18% of the country's rice import value, followed by broken rice (HS 100640) at US$16.54 million (3.69%) and brown rice (HS 100620) at US$329,737 (0.07%), per TradeInt UAE shipment records.

UAE imports across major rice HS codes in 2025:

• HS 100630 - Milled rice (polished or glazed): US$431.71 million (96.18%). The dominant category covering Basmati, Jasmine, and other long-grain white rice destined for UAE retail, foodservice, and GCC re-export channels.
• HS 100640 - Broken rice: US$16.54 million (3.69%). Fragments produced during milling, supplying UAE industrial food processing, animal feed segments, and budget-tier foodservice operations.
• HS 100620 - Husked (brown) rice: US$329,737 (0.07%). Low-volume but rising category tied to health-conscious retail demand for whole-grain rice across UAE supermarkets and specialty food channels.
• HS 100610 - Rice in the husk (paddy): US$292,274 (0.07%). A small-volume raw rice import line typically processed further within the UAE before retail or wholesale distribution.

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Conclusion

Rice buyers in UAE in 2025 are led by Dubai-based traders such as Hind Gate General Trading LLC, Al Maya, Nesto Group, Emirates Grain Products, and Jaleel Holdings, anchoring a US$888 million, 90%+ import-dependent market.

These rice buyers in Dubai source 99.59% of the supply from India, Pakistan, and Vietnam, with milled rice (HS 100630) at 96.18% of the mix.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the largest rice importer in the UAE?

Hind Gate General Trading LLC is among the largest rice importers in Dubai and the UAE in 2025, specializing in Basmati, Non-Basmati, Parboiled, and Organic rice. Verify the full list of rice importers in UAE by HS code, product name, or company name on the official TradeInt trade data intelligence platform.

Try today: Search rice importers or buyers in the UAE BY HS code via TradeInt's Global Trade Record Search tool

Where does the UAE import rice from?

UAE imports rice mostly from India (US$215.17 million, 47.94%), Pakistan (US$189.49 million, 42.21%), and Vietnam (US$42.36 million, 9.44%) in 2025, per TradeInt's UAE shipment records, with these three countries supplying 99.59% of the total UAE rice import value.

How much rice does the UAE import?

UAE rice imports totaled approximately US$449 million across the top 5 source countries in 2025, with the USDA FAS forecasting volumes of 975,000 metric tons for MY 2025/26. The broader UAE rice market is projected to exceed US$888 million by 2029, per Ken Research.

Which rice is most popular in the UAE?

Basmati rice is the most popular variety in the UAE, particularly 1121 Basmati and 1509 Sella Basmati for biryani, premium restaurants, and bulk catering. Per TradeInt data, milled rice (HS 100630) accounts for 96.18% of UAE rice imports in 2025.

Who are the top rice buyers in Dubai?

Top rice buyers in Dubai in 2025 include Hind Gate General Trading LLC, Al Maya, Nesto Group, Emirates Grain Products, Jaleel Holdings, Choithrams, and Al Adil Trading. Verify the complete list of rice importers in Dubai on TradeInt across verified Bill of Lading shipment records.