Dubai relies heavily on avocado imports to satisfy local demand. Its tropical desert climate with warm winters and hot summers does not favor commercial avocado production. The average rainfall is about 100mm per year and the temperatures ranges between 15°C and 36°C.
A bulk of avocados sold in Dubai are found in supermarkets. The biggest wholesale market in the city, Al Aweer Central Fruits and Vegetables Market, also sells a huge volume of avocados. Smaller retail outlets and street vendors around Dubai also trade in smaller quantities of avocados.
Dubai Avocado Imports
Imports of avocado in Dubai were valued at just above 53 million US Dollars in 2021. Compared to the previous year, it is an increase of 15%. The sharpest climb was from 2012 to 2013 when the import value rose from about 12 million US Dollars to around 17 million US Dollars.
Here are the total values in import of avocados in Dubai between 2012 and 2021.
Avocado Price per kg in Dubai
The cost of a kilo of imported avocados in Dubai can be between 8 UAE dirham (US2.18 dollars) and 9 UAE dirham (US2.45 dollars). This is based on the average import price per kg. This wholesale price has gone as low as 6.80 UAE dirham (US1.85 dollars) in the recent past.
Just like any fruit, retail prices of one avocado vary depending on the seller. The Emiratis can buy imported avocados for most of the year because they are sourced from several nations in different hemispheres. Market timing also determines the price range as late season avocados get a premium over early season avocados.
Avocado consumers in Dubai can also find either good discounts or higher prices depending on the time of shopping. Being a seasonal fruit, avocado prices are adjusted based on supply. Dubai imports avocado basically throughout the year. It supplements its supply of avocado from countries whose season comes later.
Hass Avocado Price in Dubai
The price of avocado in Dubai largely depends on the variety. Hass avocados can cost about 20 UAE dirham per kg. This is the average price across different retailers.
Avocado in Dubai
Dubai is gradually becoming a high-value avocado market. The country takes in major commercial varieties such as Hass and Fuerte. But it also brings in minor commercial green skin varieties. Many avocado consumers in Dubai still prefer green skin types of avocado because of their lower cost and large size.
The type, quality and size of avocado determines its selling price. Even though the dark skin Hass avocado costs more, it is gaining in market share little by little. Avocados of mixed sizes are sold in the domestic market. Avocados exported to Dubai are packed in both 4kg and 10kg cartons.
How to Make More Profit Importing Avocados in Dubai
The avocado import business in Dubai is profitable when logistical costs are reduced. Avocados from Kenya take a shorter transit time than those from South American countries that supply to Dubai.
Here is a top avocado exporter in Kenya.
Freshela Exporters
Freshela is a Kenyan based company that engages in the sourcing, processing and exporting of avocados and other fresh produce.
Freshela is a proud exporter of Kenyan avocados. Our avocados are organically grown in the most ideal climatic conditions in Kenya.
We source avocados from our company farms and partner farms. Our partner farmers are proud and happy working with us.
Our avocados are cultivated with uncompromising dedication to excellence and freshness. We guarantee optimum maturity of avocados.
We give competitive pricing to our customers.
We use a modern grading machine to achieve desired avocado weight. The fruit is also graded to eliminate any with physical quality defects.
We pack avocado fruit in 4kg cartons for both air and sea freights. We use dry wooden pallets to pack the cartons. Each pallet for sea freight takes 276 cartons while each pallet for air freight takes 144 cartons.
All of our avocado packing is approved by FDA and is certified by HACCP Quality Assurance.
The avocados in our pack house go through accurate machine selection. The avocados are classified according to dry meter, size, colour and external skin defects.
After packing, we pre-cool our avocados to 5°C in our cold rooms. This reduces field heat immediately after packing.
This process conserves the weight of our avocados preventing them from softening, water loss and wilting. Long shelf life is guaranteed because our avocados stay fresh throughout the supply chain. Our customers are happy because of the high quality of avocado we deliver.
The pre-cooling process is in preparation for shipping. We maintain the cold temperatures and achieve consistent preservation by loading close to the cold rooms.
Our trained staff properly seal the refrigerated containers. Our quality assurance team then confirms before the containers leave the pack house. The avocados are now ready for export.
We ship in controlled atmosphere (CA) refrigerated containers (reefer.)
By working directly with avocado growers and cooperatives, we are able to deliver our produce within a short lead time. We believe that growers grow and exporters export. That is how our growers are able to do what they do best and in return we guarantee superior, quality produce.
Avocado imports have to first go through the Dubai Customs. They are then tested using certain food safety protocols set by the Dubai Municipality Food Safety Department. The municipality of Dubai follows the requirements for importers of horticultural produce like avocado set by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
Cartons of avocado must be labeled according to guidelines determined by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology. Bilingual language, which includes Arabic, is required on the label. Labels must include the following information:
- Name and address of producer
- Brand or trademark
- Country of origin
- Type of avocado and grade
- Storage instructions and temperature requirements
- Gross weight and number of avocados per carton
- Shelf life
- Harvest year and packing date
Avocados imported in Dubai must undergo the pesticide maximum residue level (MRL) tests done by government laboratories. They should not exceed acceptable limits according to Codex. Dubai Municipality Food Safety Department is responsible for the control of pesticides residue on avocado imports.