UAE Food Cluster and GS1 UAE launch National Food Catalogue to elevate sector standards
A landmark digital platform establishes unified product information across the UAE food ecosystem, streamlining registration, enhancing traceability and supporting businesses of all sizes.
The UAE Food Cluster and GS1 UAE have introduced the National Food Catalogue (NFC), a transformative digital platform unveiled at the Future Food Forum 2026. Developed under the patronage of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, the initiative represents a significant advancement in strengthening the nation’s food sector through verified product information and trusted data services.
The platform consolidates product data into a single, secure digital environment accessible to government entities, retailers and industry stakeholders. By establishing a unified national framework, the NFC eliminates the inefficiencies of fragmented registrations and inconsistent records that have historically complicated food sector operations.
Central to the initiative is the principle of “register once, accepted everywhere.” This approach streamlines processes for businesses ranging from large enterprises to small and medium-sized enterprises, enabling seamless product identity recognition across the market whilst ensuring compliance with customs requirements and supporting comprehensive traceability from source to shelf.
The catalogue directly supports the UAE’s Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme by reducing administrative duplication and simplifying regulatory processes. Government agencies, commercial partners and businesses can now access reliable, shared product data, fostering greater transparency and improving operational efficiency across the entire food value chain.
Rami Habbal, Chief Executive Officer of GS1 UAE, emphasised the strategic importance of the development: “The National Food Catalogue gives the UAE food sector a national foundation of trusted product data. With one verified identity for every product, it brings greater transparency from source to shelf and enables government and industry to work from a single, shared source of information.”
The platform’s capabilities extend across product registration, customs procedures, retail operations, traceability systems and the promotion of UAE-manufactured products. By providing access to verified information, the NFC strengthens controls against misleading product claims and enhances visibility of parallel imports, safeguarding market integrity.
Saleh Lootah, Chairman of the UAE Food and Beverages Manufacturers Group, highlighted the collaborative spirit underpinning the initiative: “The Cluster’s role is to remove obstacles across the value chain so the sector can move faster and grow bigger, and the National Food Catalogue, our first initiative, does exactly that.”
Designed collaboratively with industry stakeholders, the NFC represents a shared foundation capable of evolving to support emerging use cases and services. This strategic launch signals the beginning of a broader national effort to enhance information exchange, facilitate trade and strengthen the competitive positioning of the UAE food sector globally.
Source: WAM