Keeping supermarket shelves stocked has become a logistics exercise playing out across ports, highways and international corridors, with operators reworking supply chains to ensure food and essential goods continue to reach the UAE without disruption.

At the centre of that effort is DP World, which has been prioritising critical cargo from the outset, working closely with government entities, traders and manufacturers to keep imports moving even as traditional shipping patterns face pressure.

In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Ahmad Yousef Al Hassan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC, said the approach has been structured around a clear hierarchy of needs, starting with food, pharma and agricultural inputs before moving to industrial supply chains that keep local production running.

“We work very closely with the government, especially a lot of the ministries, on the essential goods for the UAE. They fall into food and beverages, along with categories like milk, rice, animal feed and pharma,” he said.

Jebel Ali alone handled about 750,000 TEUs of essential goods last year, with roughly two-thirds tied to food and beverage shipments, providing a baseline for how much cargo needs to be protected during periods of disruption.

Mapping supply, not stockpiling

Instead of stockpiling, the focus has been on mapping demand and ensuring continuity of supply. Traders and manufacturers are being asked to identify their most critical imports, allowing DP World to prioritise cargo and route it through the fastest available channels.

“There’s enough essential goods, there’s no panic,” Al Hassan said, adding that the emphasis remains on keeping trade moving rather than building excess inventory.

That approach extends to sourcing as well. Where traditional suppliers face delays, alternative markets in India and Pakistan are being lined up, with feeder vessels used to move goods quickly into UAE ports. Other feeder operators have also been encouraged to follow the same prioritisation model to ease congestion and speed up turnaround times.

Cold chain gets added support

The fresh food supply has required additional intervention, particularly along longer inland routes. DP World has expanded refrigerated container capacity and introduced stopover solutions to maintain temperature control.

For instance, a dedicated inland facility has been introduced that allows refrigerated containers to plug in and stabilise before continuing their journey, reducing the risk of spoilage during extended transit.

“We have this reefer pit stop that will help out as well,” Al Hassan said, pointing to a broader push to reassure traders that temperature-sensitive cargo can be handled reliably.

Additional generator units have also been deployed to power refrigerated containers on trucks, giving logistics teams more flexibility across different corridors.

Global network steps in

The company’s international footprint is playing a central role in rerouting cargo flows. Ports in India and Pakistan are being used as staging points for transshipment, helping to keep eastern Gulf ports from becoming congested. For F&B alone, India and Pakistan together account for nearly 30% of the imports through Jebel Ali.

DP World is also using its integrated shipping and logistics solutions to design alternative routes and keep critical cargo moving efficiently across markets.

“This global network is what really pushes people to call us right away,” Al Hassan said, describing how customers are seeking real-time solutions to move construction materials, raw materials and food-related agricultural products.

Corridors expand across the region

Closer to home, multiple corridors are being activated to keep trade flowing. Routes through Fujairah and Khorfakkan are already operational, while discussions continue with Sohar Port in Oman to expand capacity and streamline processes.

Further north, DP World’s terminal in Jeddah is being used to absorb additional cargo, supported by ongoing talks between UAE and Saudi authorities to establish a bonded corridor that would allow smoother movement of goods between the two markets.

Each additional route adds flexibility for traders, reducing reliance on any single port or shipping lane.

Managing congestion to control costs

Even with supply holding steady, shipping and logistics costs have come under broader market pressure as diesel prices, insurance premiums, freight rates and other cost drivers evolve.

Al Hassan said that DP World’s focus is on keeping trade flowing efficiently and reducing congestion.

Faster clearance, better routing and coordinated planning help to ease pressures across the wider supply chain and limit the knock-on effect on end consumers.

Authorities are also closely monitoring prices, drawing on mechanisms developed during previous disruptions to maintain oversight across key categories.

Keeping the system balanced

The challenge is not only about moving food. Industrial supply chains must also remain active, from raw materials for manufacturing to equipment needed for ongoing projects.

Balancing these competing demands has required constant coordination among regulators, port operators, and private-sector players, ensuring that essential goods move first while maintaining sufficient capacity for broader trade.

The system has held so far, supported by a combination of planning, infrastructure and rapid decision-making.

That, according to Al Hassan, is what keeps shelves stocked without tipping into panic or shortage, even in a strained operating environment.

GN

The competent authorities in Fujairah announced that they are responding to an incident resulting from the targeting of a du telecommunications building in the emirate by a drone launched from Iran.

The Fujairah Media Office stated that no injuries have been reported.

One injured in Abu Dhabi after air defence interception

Authorities in Abu Dhabi are managing an incident at Rinn Systems Company in Musaffah—ICAD City after shrapnel fell following a successful air defence interception. A Ghanaian national sustained moderate injuries in the incident.

Officials urged the public to rely solely on official sources for updates and to avoid spreading rumors or unverified information.

UAE responds to a series of Iranian threats today

UAE residents received a series of mobile alerts from the Ministry of Interior on Monday confirming that the situation across the country is currently safe following multiple missile and drone threats. Authorities thanked residents for their cooperation and reassured the public that normal activities can now resume.

Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant, follow safety guidance, and monitor official channels for further updates as the situation develops.

GN

One month after the launch of Iran’s aggressive missile and drone attacks against the United Arab Emirates and several Gulf states—beginning on February 28, 2026—targeting both civilian and military infrastructure in the UAE as part of a broader regional escalation that included strikes on ports and critical facilities, the contours of a complex landscape are becoming increasingly clear.

This landscape reflects an unprecedented level of military escalation, met by a highly efficient Emirati response and a firm political and diplomatic stance underscoring that the UAE’s security and sovereignty are non-negotiable.

Key features of the Iranian escalation over the past month

Scale of attacks: Data indicates that the UAE has been the primary target of the Iranian assaults since February 28, with 2,156 attacks out of a total of 4,391 recorded across Gulf states, involving missiles and unmanned aerial systems.

Nature of targets: The strikes focused on vital facilities, ports, oil installations, and civilian areas, causing material damage and operationaldisruptions.

The UAE’s Position: The UAE has affirmed before international forums that these acts constitute a flagrant violation of international law and have deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure, thereby undermining energy security and global supply chains.

Diplomatically, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has engaged in consultations with international counterparts to address the repercussions of this escalation.

In a statement delivered by Jamal Al Musharakh, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, before the UN Human Rights Council, the UAE stressed that the ongoing Iranian attacks—exceeding 2,000 ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones—have targeted vital civilian facilities, airports, residential areas, and other civilian sites in blatant violation of national sovereignty and international humanitarian law.

The UAE emphasized that what is unfolding is not merely a military escalation, but a systematic and reckless pattern of behavior that undermines the foundations of the international order and threatens regional and global stability—particularly through the targeting of infrastructure directly linked to civilian safety, energy security, the global economy, and supply chains.

Unprecedented escalation: Figures reveal the scale

Over the past month, the UAE has faced one of the largest waves of aerial threats in its modern history. Official statistics highlight the scale of escalation:

• 378 ballistic missiles
• 15 cruise missiles
• 1,835 drones

Despite the intensity, air defense systems successfully intercepted the vast majority of these threats, reflecting the country’s advanced military and technological readiness.

However, the attacks were not without impact. Falling debris and a limited number of projectiles that penetrated defenses caused material damage in various locations.

Multinational casualties: The human toll

The human cost reveals the harshest dimension of these attacks. The total number of casualties stands at:

• 11 fatalities
• 171 injured individuals from 29 nationalities

 The victims include:

• Two members of the UAE Armed Forces who were killed in the line of duty
• A Moroccan civilian contractor working with the armed forces
• Eight civilians of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Palestinian, and Indian nationalities

These figures reflect the UAE’s diverse societal fabric and underscore the broad humanitarian impact of the attacks on civilians from multiple backgrounds.

Civilian and strategic targets

Official sources confirmed that the attacks targeted—or attempted to target—a range of critical sites, including:

• Airports and aviation infrastructure
• Energy and fuel facilities
• Residential areas
• Commercial zones

Several incidents were reported in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, including fires caused by drones near key facilities, as well as damage resulting from falling debris.

This pattern of targeting suggests an attempt to inflict both economic and psychological impact by striking at the core of daily life and essential infrastructure. 

Effective response: High state of readiness

Despite the intensity of the attacks, the UAE demonstrated a high level of crisis management and threat response through:

• Advanced air defense systems that intercepted most incoming threats
• Integrated coordination between military and security agencies
• Rapid response by emergency and civil defense teams
• Near-continuity of critical operations, particularly in the aviation sector

This preparedness significantly minimized losses and ensured the stability of daily life.

A firm Emirati stance: Rejection and accountability

Politically and diplomatically, the UAE’s position has been clear and consistent from the outset, emphasizing that these attacks constitute: 

• A blatant act of aggression and a violation of international law
• A direct threat to regional and global security
• Acts of terrorism targeting civilians and infrastructure

 The UAE at the United Nations: Active diplomacy

At the international level, the UAE has intensified efforts to present its case to the global community by:

• Providing official briefings on the nature and consequences of the attacks
• Calling for the activation of international accountability mechanisms
• Stressing the need to protect civilians and critical infrastructure

This approach reflects a strategy that combines operational firmness with legal and diplomatic engagement.

Abu Dhabi’s message: Resilience and continuity

After a month of escalation, Abu Dhabi’s message is unequivocal:

• National security is a red line
• Aggression will not break the nation’s resolve
• The path of development will continue uninterrupted

Despite the severity of the attacks and their deliberate nature, the UAE affirms that these challenges will not undermine its stability, but rather reinforce its commitment to its principles and its capacity to confront crises with resilience and determination.

GN