The beauty of the UAE lies partially in how quickly the food and wellness economy is evolving, without losing the time-honoured traditions of the past. As different guests and long-term residents move into the area, keeping all that food cool is crucial for distributors, restaurants, and businesses.
The trouble is that numerous factors impact food spoilage. For one, the heat is rising faster than expected. In 2025, the UAE experienced some of its hottest summer temperatures on record, with some regions reaching a temperature of 51.8°C (Reuters, 2025).
Add to that the fact that the population is growing so rapidly that expats make up a significant portion of residents, and you have a combination of climate volatility and cultural diversity all impacting the way perishable, premium, and specialty items should be stored, handled, and delivered. That is why companies like ours at Transcorp focus on temperature-controlled dark stores and last-mile delivery. If a business wants to thrive in the UAE, it needs cold-chain logistics.
A More Diverse Appetite Equals a More Demanding Supply Chain
From halal-certified supplements and artisanal vegan cheeses to sushi-grade seafood and locally sourced microgreens, the UAE offers some of the freshest foods available. The UAE is home to 12 of the recent entries on Forbes’ list of the best MENA restaurateurs (Forbes Middle East, 2024). People come from all over to experience dining here.
The trouble is that it also puts a lot of pressure on owners. Without precise temperature-controlled environments in the supply chain, bottlenecks and warehouse limitations risk compromising food quality and allowing competitors to gain an advantage.
Transcorp provides access to strategically placed dark stores across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. That reduces the time between orders and delivery, providing chilled or frozen environments with precision and proximity. Owners can rely on that availability instead of having to risk rising global prices, supply chain bottlenecks, and customer demands impacting food quality.
The Logistics of Food Waste
Beyond diversity, the UAE is currently fighting a food waste issue. Our region wastes an estimated 38% of its food supply, placing unnecessary strain on economic and environmental systems (Moukayed-Small, 2023). A significant portion of this waste occurs at home and within food preparation areas of retail establishments and restaurants. All that improper handling causes delivery delays, which tend not to have temperature-controlled systems in place.
The fragility of seasonal goods, the development of innovative products such as plant-based alternatives, and the increasing demand for luxury items require more care to ensure freshness. Receiving a shipment of American beef, Japanese seafood, or European fruit shouldn’t risk a total loss due to a single node in the supply chain lacking proper refrigeration.
We mitigate this risk using predictive systems and closed-loop delivery networks. From first-mile pickup to last-mile delivery, the future of logistics is promising when it is supported by operators like our professional team members, who utilize dark stores and temperature-controlled environments to ensure food quality.
Backing the UAE’s Food Security & Sustainability Goals
As the UAE leads many innovative initiatives globally, the introduction of the National Food Security Strategy 2051 (UAE Government, 2024) aims to create a more resilient and self-sustaining food ecosystem. Our region will support local farms, hydroponic innovators, and small food producers, all of which require proper supply chain support to get products to market.
Although the UAE imports 85-90% of its food (World Economic Forum, 2025), it remains deeply committed to safeguarding its local supply chains from the risks of climate-related issues or price shocks. That is why the Food Innovation Hub UAE was launched at COP28, to ensure a more climate-resilient food system in arid regions through circular practices and robust public-private partnerships.
Transcorp is honoured to be a supportive part of this supply chain by offering scalable, technology-enabled solutions for food-driven SMEs and enterprise clients. We help connect food producers to regional and local consumers more quickly, without ever compromising quality. Our advanced dark stores and temperature-controlled solutions ensure that everything, from a freshly harvested batch of peppers at a vertical indoor farm to an aquaponic system supply of white fish, reaches the market safely.
The Real Future of Logistics
The future of logistics in the UAE, particularly in terms of food quality, will not be defined by who owns the most trucks or square footage. While those help, the fundamental factor will be who can move sensitive goods quickly, cleanly, and with intelligent connected monitoring for real-time notifications.
When you think about it, cold storage, dark store warehousing, and temperature-controlled last-mile delivery expand well beyond food quality. Many items, including pharmaceuticals, flowers, textiles, cosmetics, chemicals, and more, require precise temperature settings. That means less emphasis on massive warehouses and more on strategic, smaller hubs that can be appropriately controlled.
Transcorp is building that future right now, one delivery at a time. We understand the pressures on the UAE’s food systems from sources like:
- Diverse populations
- Health and wellness trends
- Economic growth
- Tech innovation
- Food industry evolution
- Premium and artisanal products
- Local and sustainable initiatives
- Halal certification
We provide the essential infrastructure and logistics that brands look to when growing or scaling in the current market. The future of food quality can be managed. The explosion of diverse trends, climate shifts, and population shifts doesn’t have to spell a challenge for businesses. If anything, it can mark a fantastic opportunity, as long as the necessary precautions are taken.
Transcorp is pleased to assist retailers, distributors, restaurants, and individual connoisseurs in maintaining the freshness and quality of food throughout the region. Contact us today to learn more about how our technology-driven dark stores and temperature-controlled supply chain ensure you receive the premium-quality food needed to grow.
References:
- Reuters. (2025, August 4). UAE summer temperatures surge near record highs after hottest ever spring. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/uae-summer-temperatures-surge-near-record-highs-after-hottest-ever-spring-2025-08-04/.
- Forbes Middle East. (2024, July 19). Twenty leaders behind luxury dining in the Middle East. https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/lists/20-leaders-behind-luxury-dining-in-the-middle-east/.
- Moukayed-Small, M. (2023). A call to action: The global need to curtail food loss and waste. https://www.wasterecyclingmea.com/expert-talk/food-waste/a-call-to-action-the-global-need-to-curtail-food-loss-and-waste-br-small-by-dr-meis-moukayed-small.
- UAE Government. (2024, May 7). National Food Security Strategy 2051. https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/strategies-initiatives-and-awards/strategies-plans-and-visions/environment-and-energy/national-food-security-strategy-2051.
- World Economic Forum. (2025, June 11). How publicprivate partnerships are fuelling food innovation and supply in the UAE. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/06/how-a-local-global-ecosystem-approach-fuels-food-innovation-in-the-uae/.
