Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormFresh
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Fresh Thompson Seedless grapes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are supplied primarily through imports and distributed through modern retail and wholesale channels. UN Comtrade data (via WITS) shows substantial UAE imports of fresh grapes (HS 080610), with multiple origins supplying the market and enabling year-round availability. Dubai also functions as a major regional food trade hub with significant inbound volumes and re-export activity, which can include fresh produce flows. Market access and continuity depend on consistent cold-chain performance and compliance with UAE border inspection and documentation expectations for agricultural consignments.
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer and re-export hub market
Domestic RoleHigh-volume consumption market supplied mainly by imports; distribution via wholesale markets and modern retail.
Market GrowthGrowing (Recent trend (2021–2023))Import growth observed between 2021 and 2023 (value and quantity) for HS 080610.
SeasonalityYear-round retail availability supported by seasonal switching across multiple supplying origins.
Specification
Primary VarietyThompson Seedless
Physical Attributes- Seedless berries in intact bunches with fresh, green stems (rachis) and minimal shatter (berry drop)
- Clean bunches, free from rotting, pests, and abnormal external moisture (excluding condensation after cold storage)
Compositional Metrics- Minimum maturity/ripeness is commonly referenced in Codex for table grapes as at least 16°Brix (refractometric index).
Grades- UNECE marketing classes: "Extra", "Class I", "Class II" (table grapes).
Packaging- Packaging should protect the produce during handling and transport; cartons commonly carry markings including product name, variety, class, and country of origin.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Origin vineyard/packhouse → pre-cooling → refrigerated transport (sea/air) → UAE entry point inspection → importer/wholesaler distribution → retail/foodservice
Temperature- Recommended postharvest storage temperature for table grapes is around -1 to 0°C with high relative humidity (about 90–95% RH) to reduce moisture loss and stem drying.
Atmosphere Control- Table grapes are generally not highly ethylene-sensitive, but elevated ethylene exposure can contribute to shatter; good ventilation and segregation from high-ethylene commodities help reduce quality risk.
Shelf Life- Quality deterioration risk is driven by water loss (stem drying/browning, shrivel) and fungal decay; maintaining recommended temperature and humidity is critical.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeMultimodal
Risks
Phytosanitary HighUAE entry can be blocked if a fresh grape consignment is found to be infected with quarantine or regulated plant pests during inspection, triggering rejection or other enforcement action.Use approved pest-management programs and pre-shipment inspection; ensure the phytosanitary certificate is complete and aligned with the consignment, and confirm any required additional declarations with the importer before shipment.
Documentation Gap MediumMissing or inconsistent core documents (e.g., phytosanitary certificate, origin certificate, transport documents, invoice/product list) can delay inspection release and disrupt cold-chain timing.Run a pre-shipment document reconciliation (certificate numbers, consignee/consignor, weights, packaging counts) and provide digital copies to the importer ahead of arrival.
Logistics MediumCold-chain deviation during transit or port dwell time accelerates moisture loss and decay risks for table grapes, reducing commercial acceptance and increasing claim/rejection risk.Pre-cool promptly; ship under validated reefer settings and monitoring; target storage/shipping conditions around -1 to 0°C and ~90–95% RH, and minimize temperature breaks at handovers.
Food Safety MediumEven under cold storage, table grapes are susceptible to fungal decay and quality deterioration if handling is rough or if water loss is not controlled, which can lead to customer complaints and disposal.Maintain gentle handling to reduce shatter, keep high RH, and use strict cold-chain discipline from packhouse through last-mile distribution.
FAQ
Which documents are commonly required to clear fresh grape consignments into the UAE?Commonly referenced documents include a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country’s competent authority, a certificate of origin, transport documents (such as bill of lading/delivery authorization and customs manifest), and an invoice or product list.
What quality standards are commonly used as references for table grape shipments (including Thompson Seedless) into import markets like the UAE?International reference standards include the Codex Standard for Table Grapes (CXS 255-2007) and the UNECE Standard FFV-19 for table grapes, which cover minimum quality requirements, maturity guidance, and class/marking expectations.
What cold-chain conditions help preserve table grape quality during shipment to the UAE?Authoritative postharvest guidance recommends storing/shipping table grapes around -1 to 0°C with high relative humidity (about 90–95% RH) to reduce moisture loss, stem drying, and quality deterioration.