Korean beef products at a market in Seoul on Oct. 27, 2025/ Yonhap
SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - South Korea has shipped its first beef exports to the United Arab Emirates.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Thursday that about 1.5 tons of chilled and frozen Korean beef were shipped to the UAE, marking South Korea’s formal debut in the country’s $1.9 billion halal beef market.
A ceremony celebrating the inaugural shipment was held at the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation’s headquarters. South Korea now exports beef to five markets — Hong Kong, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and the UAE.
The UAE imports more than 90 percent of its beef consumption, relying heavily on premium suppliers such as Australia and the United States. Demand for Japanese beef has surged in recent years, climbing from 24 tons in 2019 to 879 tons in 2023, highlighting an expanding appetite for high-quality meat across the region — and a potential opening for Korean producers.
To promote its product, the agriculture ministry said it will launch marketing initiatives tailored to Middle Eastern consumers, including culinary tours and cooking classes for foreign tourists visiting South Korea next month. The programs will target high-spending travelers and be developed in partnership with the tourism industry.
“This first shipment to the UAE is significant as it marks our official entry into the halal market,” said Kang Hyeong-seok, South Korea’s deputy minister of agriculture. “We plan to strengthen local promotions and continue quarantine negotiations to expand into additional export destinations.”
The ministry said it views the UAE deal as part of a broader effort to diversify agricultural exports, boost rural incomes, and elevate the global profile of Korean beef, or hanwoo, which is prized domestically for its marbled texture and rich flavor.
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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