According to the free zone, DP World's food import portal 'Zadi' was able to endure all of the disturbances and challenges raised by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Zadi, a joint venture between Dubai Customs and the Municipality of Dubai, supports more than 18,000 companies across the network to engage in 360,000 annual transactions. It enables food and customs inspections and reduces the importers' operating costs and time.

Zadi assists in importing and re-exporting food shipments via ports in Dubai. CEO and Managing Director of DP World, UAE Region and CEO of Jafza Mohammed Al Muallem said, "We were not expecting COVID-19, but we were prepared to deal with the disruption it caused."

In the first six months of 2020, Dubai’s external food trade crossed nine million tonnes, representing Dh32 billion in total, while food imports amounted to Dh22 billion.

'Jafza plays an important role in implementing the National Food Security Strategy’s primary objective of promoting global food trade and expanding import sources,' the official added. "We work closely with the Dubai Food Protection Committee to ensure deteriorating consumer trade flows and have launched a main digital initiative based on prudent cost control, increased efficiency, asset utilisation and processes of automation."

Zadi helps protect the food supply chain from 'monopoly and disruption, allowing food supplies to be easily accessed by traders.' The presence of DP World in more than 50 nations is what makes for the smoother flow.

Jafza takes its social duty very seriously, and the crisis at COVID-19 makes it imperative that we remain committed to fostering food security in and beyond the UAE, "Al Muallem said."