Food fuels growth of demand for Irish goods in Arab states

The value of exports to Saudi Arabia grew by almost 21% to €782.3m, an increase of €134.4m on 2024. File photo

The value of exports from Ireland to the Arab states exceeded €2.35bn for the first nine months of the year, representing a 14.64% increase on the same period in 2024, according to the Arab Irish Chamber of Commerce (AICC).

Food is a key driver of Ireland’s export growth. Fish, crustaceans, dairy products, eggs, and animal feed, along with organic chemicals, essential oils, and related chemical materials are among the leading exports.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt remained Ireland’s largest export destinations in the Arab region, while Qatar imported an additional 43% worth of goods from Ireland between January and September compared to the same period in 2024.

The value of exports to Saudi Arabia grew by almost 21% to €782.3m, an increase of €134.4m on 2024, the UAE recorded imports of €590.5m from Ireland, up 13.14% year-on-year and Egypt’s reliance on imports from Ireland rose by 5% to €169.9m.

While Morocco, Oman and Bahrain recorded steady growth, exports to a small number of markets in the region declined during the period, including Jordan and Kuwait.

AICC Chief Executive, Ahmad Younis said the data highlights continued resilience and expansion across key Middle Eastern and North African markets, and the success of Irish businesses in these regions.

“The latest CSO data underscores the extent to which the Arab region is becoming increasingly important to Ireland’s diversification strategy amid global trade uncertainty,” he said.

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“At our recent Arab Irish Business Summit, minister of state for international development & diaspora, Neale Richmond, spoke about the opportunities offered by this high-potential region and how the government’s Global Ireland Strategy has deepened and expanded trade relations, and we are seeing this on the ground with the hundreds of Irish businesses, particularly SMEs, with which we work.”

A recent report from economist, Jim Power, commissioned by the AICC highlighted the risk that Ireland faces due to its inordinate dependence on the United States, which contributes heavily to exports, corporation tax and FDI. 

With global trading conditions becoming increasingly volatile, the Arab world provides an essential counterbalance, offering scale, stability and long-term growth potential.