Global supply chain disruptions are threatening Dubai with a severe deficit of fresh food. Reserves of perishable provisions in the emirate are projected to run out in just ten days due to the suspension of maritime shipping in the Persian Gulf.
While global logistical hurdles present a lucrative opportunity for major carriers, the situation remains dire for importers. Stefan Paul, CEO of the international logistics giant Kühne+Nagel, noted in an interview with SRF that clients become increasingly dependent on their services as market conditions grow more complex. Companies are rapidly redirecting aircraft to high-demand zones to fill the gap. A single charter flight from Asia to Europe currently costs approximately 500,000 francs, though prices reached as high as one million during the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizing such flights requires a massive budget, a feat only industry giants can manage.
However, aviation alone cannot save Middle Eastern nations from the looming import crisis. The city maintains food stocks sufficient for only one decade (ten days). The local market is critically dependent on external imports, meaning commodity shortages will manifest very quickly.
Alternative routes are practically non-existent. While logisticians can fly cargo into Saudi Arabia for subsequent ground transport by truck, the scale is incomparable. A single container ship can hold 20,000 containers, and forwarders physically cannot source enough trucks to compensate for such volumes. Stefan Paul stated bluntly: "A prolonged collapse will inevitably trigger severe restrictions."