A market stall in Dubai on March 3, 2026.Image: EPA
Many tourists are stuck in the Gulf states. Because of the conflict, cargo ships are avoiding the Strait of Hormuz. This has an impact on the food supply. That’s the situation.
Mar 5, 2026, 10:24 amMar 5, 2026, 10:24 am
The Iran war has consequences for the population in the Gulf states. Because cargo ships avoid the Strait of Hormuz, fewer goods enter the region. In an interview with SRF Stefan Paul, head of Kühne+Nagel, reports that Dubai, for example, only has fresh food for around ten days. He warns that there could be shortages if the situation persists.
Those too Financial Times reported on Wednesday that certain areas in the Middle East are facing supply gaps. But that doesn’t apply to everyone. “The Gulf states are very dependent on imported food,” says Christian Henderson, assistant professor at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Around 30 million tons of grain were imported into the Gulf states last year.
Export ban in Iran and full pantries
Yemen, Sudan and Somalia, for example, used the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a transit country for imports. There could be bottlenecks and price increases here.
Iran also imports a lot of grain, corn and soybeans via the Strait of Hormuz. Sugar and tea are also affected. The population was asked not to panic buy. At the same time, an export ban on food and agricultural products was imposed. Before the conflict broke out, reserves had been created that were supposed to last for around four months. The United Arab Emirates has also built up strategic stocks.
These are the alternatives
As the Financial Times further reports, affected countries must look for alternatives. Iran has already begun to import grain or rice overland from Russia or Pakistan – even if quantities are not possible as if they were imported via the Gulf ports.
Saudi Arabia can also switch to the ports of the Red Sea. The UAE has access to ports outside the Strait of Hormuz. However, capacities are limited in both cases. Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain would be dependent on overland routes via Saudi Arabia and UAE. However, these two countries have a lot of money. If the conflict lasts longer, they could also finance more expensive imports, in extreme cases even by air.
Panic buying in the metropolises
So the situation is not yet dramatic. Several Middle Eastern media outlets are reporting that governments have confirmed in recent days that there is enough food available. However, there are reports of panic buying in Dubai. In the UAE, people have also already been clearing shelves, so the government publicly announced that this was not necessary as there were enough supplies. (front)