Abu Dhabi Food Festival’s secret dinner event cancelled due to bad weather

The event was scheduled for December 21 at a secret location

Shake Shack plans Saudi expansion

The Gulf region is one of the burger chain’s largest international markets

Saudi to introduce calorie info on menus to tackle obesity

The kingdom has among the highest rates of obesity in the world

Oman bans chicken imports from five countries

The ban follows recent outbreaks of the bird flu virus

Dubai signs $367.5m deal with China’s Ningxia for food cluster

The deal will see the construction of a dedicated area for Chinese food production in Dubai

Saudi Grains Organisation orders 480,000 tonnes of wheat

The kingdom has made two other major wheat orders this year

Video: Dubai’s Meraas opens food truck park Last Exit Mad X in Jebel Ali

Last Exit Mad X caters to those travelling from Dubai towards Abu Dhabi

UAE banker sues Dubai hotel for $13.6m over ‘bloodied bandage’ in meal – report

The discovery was made during a dinner with the country’s top banking officials, according to reports

Dubai’s AlJeel Capital brings Shakey’s Pizza brand to UAE

The first outlet will open in Dubai later this year

Qatar presses ahead with $431m food processing plant as land, sea links remain closed

Al Jaber Engineering has 26 months to build the facility, which will meet local demand for sugar, rice and cooking oil

Dubai ruler launches $1.5bn Food Park

The park will facilitate repacking, storage, trading and processing

UAE-based Pure Harvest announces progress in $4.5m seed funding round

The company plans to establish the UAE’s first high-tech commercial-scale greenhouse for year-round tomato production

Oman’s markets hit by fruit and vegetable shortage – report

Government officials announced stricter controls on fruits and vegetables last month

Oman ups inspections, controls on fruits and vegetables after UAE ban

Last month, the UAE announced a ban on melons, carrots and watercress from Oman

Qatar introduces price caps on 418 products for Ramadan

Prices of products including rice, flour, cooking oil, milk and meat have been capped

Apparel Group signs GCC franchise deal for Sumo Sushi & Bento

The first location under the agreement will open on June 1 in Doha Festival City

ICONS Coffee Couture signs franchise deal for 15 branches in Saudi

The brand currently has nine outlets in the UAE

Qatar ups pesticide testing after UAE produce ban

The country now requires select fruits and vegetables to be tested before being released at ports

Oman says 98% of produce within pesticide limits after UAE ban

Yesterday, UAE media reported that the country had decided to ban some fruits and vegetables from the sultanate

UAE to ban produce from select Middle East countries in May

The ban is said to affect fruits and vegetables from Egypt, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and Yemen

Ireland seeks closer relationship with GCC countries

Globally, Ireland is seeking to grow its exports from EUR11bn ($11.86bn) in 2015 to EUR19bn ($20.4bn) in 2025

GCC soft drinks prices to rise 50% – report

Soft drinks manufacturers have decided to pass a new selective tax directly onto consumers, according to reports

Saudi Arabia halts Brazilian meat imports over food safety fears

Police in the country have accused more than 100 people of taking bribes to allow the sale of rancid products

UAE to implement soft drink, tobacco tax this year

The selective tax has been agreed by Gulf countries, with Saudi Arabia eyeing implementation from April

Saudi orders 735,000 tonnes of wheat

The order is expected to arrive in the kingdom from May to July

UberEATS eyes next Middle East location after Dubai growth

The delivery app has signed up more than 500 restaurants in Dubai, according to its regional head

Gulf food consumption to grow 4.2% annually to 2021 – Alpen

Alpen said Saudi and the UAE would continue to lead regional consumption

Saudi to maintain bread subsidies

The kingdom is the highest per capita consumer of bread in the world, according to reports

Saudi women allowed to operate food carts in Jeddah

The first cart operated by a Saudi woman has been licensed in Jeddah

French burger brand Big Fernand eyes Middle East expansion

Big Fernand opened its first Dubai outlet last year