Egypt enhances agricultural exports to Gulf States to support food security amid ongoing regional war

CAIRO – 14 March 2026: In a bid to ensure the delivery of food and agricultural products to neighboring countries amid the ongoing regional war, Egypt announced it will enhance its agricultural exports to Arab markets, particularly the Gulf countries.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation highlighted intensive efforts by the Central Administration of Egyptian Agricultural Quarantine to facilitate access for agricultural exports to Arab markets, especially in the Gulf region.

The initiative reflects the Egyptian state’s commitment to supporting regional food security and ensuring the continued flow of agricultural goods to neighboring countries, the statement added.

Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, directed authorities to monitor regional developments, assess their impact on trade and supply chains, and facilitate agricultural trade with Arab countries.

The Ministry coordinated with agricultural quarantine authorities in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The Central Administration for Agricultural Quarantine indicated growing demand from some Arab markets for several Egyptian agricultural crops, including peppers, lettuce, and lemons.

The Minister of Agriculture affirmed the continued efforts to strengthen the position of Egyptian agricultural exports in regional and international markets. “This initiative will increase the volume of agricultural exports, maximize their returns, support the national economy, and reinforce Egypt's role as a reliable partner in achieving food security for neighboring countries in the region,” the statement said.

Since the US and Israel launched military attacks on Iran on 28 February, Iran and its allies in the Iraqi Islamic Resistance Forces and Lebanese Hezbollah have launched retaliatory attacks against US military bases in the Gulf states and Israel. The regional conflict has gradually spilled over, causing human casualties on both sides. US and Israeli forces reportedly killed several Iranian leaders, including the late Supreme Leader Khamenei.

In response to the continuous US and Israeli attacks, Iranian strikes also targeted vital oil refineries and fields in Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Additionally, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz led to a sharp increase in global oil prices; Brent crude futures closed above $100 a barrel for the first time since August 2022, BBC reported on Thursday.