Fridays are popular in the Osman family’s Jumeirah household in Dubai. It’s the traditional weekend and after their prayers expatriate banker Ali Osman’s family of four head off to the malls to enjoy their evening.
Ali and his wife Ruksana have a shopping list of their requirements of fruit, meat, vegetables and other household items. While their children are busy playing, the Osmans head off to the supermarket.
“Most food is imported in Dubai,” says Ali, “My wife and I love Kenyan mangoes and avocadoes which are in season now.”
Kenyan fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, coffee and tea are popular in the United Arab Emirates and many supermarkets and grocery shops stock them. The UAE is among the leading import markets in the Middle East for Kenyan agricultural products with annual trade worth more than US$220 million.
Advertising agency executive Sabu Jacob says his family loves Kenyan mangoes and make it a point to buy these when they visit their local supermarket.
“I have tasted mangoes from other parts of the world but nothing matches the quality and the sweetness of Kenyan fruit,” he says.
Filipino secretary Ruth Pinoy says she has tasted Kenyan fruits and vegetables which she buys from her local supermarket in Deira.
“Though most Filipinos prefer fruits from the Philippines; an increasing number in Dubai also buy Kenyan fruits. They are tastier.”
Kenyan food products are also popular among the 50,000 Kenyans in the United Arab Emirates.
Kenyan mango exporters have hit the jackpot after participating in the Gulf Food Show here in February. The fruit now has more visibility and imports are expected to exceed the current $1.1 million.
Kenyan mangoes are on demand here because supplies from the traditional markets of China and India are off season between November and April. Kenyans used to carry packets of maize flour and other tinned foods in their luggage in the past but not anymore.
Since 2012, Kenyan Food in UAE has been importing a container-load of food products for sale throughout the Emirates. Ugali flour, njahi and rose coco beans are sold at over 30 outlets throughout the UAE. These include leading names such as Spinneys, 31 branches of Choithrams, Al Maya and Carrefour supermarkets. Omena is also sold in Dubai.
Sometimes, Kenyans also buy KCC butter and Farmers Choice products. Supplies are irregular because of an unreliable supply chain and transport delays.
These products are however, available at smaller shops, minimarts, some supermarkets and churches in Karama, Al Barsha and Noor Centre frequented by Kenyans.
Supplies are also delivered from the company’s location in Satwa. Machakos-born customer officer Aron Kiilu who works at the world’s largest shopping mall, the Dubai Mall says life isn’t the same abroad without Kenyan foods. They are a must on his regular shopping list.
“I feel cut off from home if I don’t buy Kenyan grown food,” he says. “Kenyan coffee is my favourite drink. Coffee from other parts of the world don’t taste the same!”
“In the Deira area we have a Kenyan restaurant selling ugali and I go there sometimes to enjoy a traditional meal. Githeri is difficult to get in Dubai and that is what I love the most and miss here. I have bought sukuma wiki in the Spinneys supermarket but stocks run out very fast!”
“In Dubai, shops and supermarkets sell food from all parts of the world but when I go shopping,” says Bur Dubai salesman Saidi, “I always look out for Kenyan produce. Meals are simply not the same in Dubai without food from my home country. I grew up at the Coast.”
Mary Onyango, a pizza restaurant cashier in Deira says though she loves Kenyan food products they are expensive in Dubai and many Kenyans cannot afford them.
I looked around in the shops and supermarkets — there were no Kenyan chapatis.
Kenyans here say there is a market for tinned or frozen githeri and ready-made vacuum-packed chapatis in the UAE.
Kenyan cut flowers are also sold at several outlets such as The Flower Shop in Dubai and Gardenia Flowers in Abu Dhabi.
The Dubai Flower Centre is the base for several holding companies such as Upendo Flowers and Uhuru Flowers who supply Kenyan premium quality flowers locally and to Europe.
Kenya’s flower exports to the UAE are reputed to be over $117,132,579 (Sh 10.7 billion).
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