By Desmond Nleya
Dubai’s DMCC has projected that the global tea market will expand from USD 282 billion to nearly USD 300 billion by the end of 2025. The growth is being fuelled by rising consumer demand for premium, organic, functional, and ready-to-drink teas, alongside climate-smart production and enhanced supply chain traceability.
The projection was announced at the ninth Global Dubai Tea Forum, where the DMCC’s Future of Trade: Tea report detailed the sector’s transformation. The report revealed that tea contributes USD 18 billion in annual production and USD 9.8 billion in global trade, supporting millions of small-scale growers worldwide. It also outlined strategies to build a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable tea economy — with the UAE emerging as a leading player in value-added trade.
Dubai currently handles over half of the world’s tea re-exports, having evolved from a logistics hub into a global centre for tea blending, packaging, flavour profiling, and trade facilitation. Through the DMCC Tea Centre, established two decades ago, the city has become a powerhouse in tea innovation and value creation.
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC, noted that climate resilience and traceability are no longer optional but essential for competitiveness in the tea sector. H.E. Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi from the UAE Ministry of Economy emphasized Dubai’s growing role in linking producers and consumers through technology-driven value chains.
The forum brought together policymakers, traders, and multinational corporations to discuss key industry challenges, including climate change, tariffs, shifting consumer preferences, and sustainability. Delegates called for greater investment in climate-resilient farming, inclusive financing, digital traceability systems, and wellness-oriented product innovation.
In 2024, the DMCC Tea Centre handled over 24,400 metric tonnes of tea, connecting traditional producing regions with major markets in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia — reaffirming Dubai’s position as a global hub for tea trade.
Source: Dubai Media Office
