The UAE is one of the largest importers of European cheese according to the latest statistics from the European Union, with 18,485 tonnes imported in 2017, said a Wam news agency report.

French cheese is also popular in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Kuwait.

Laurent Damiens, communication director of CNIEL, the French official cheese board, said that
European cheese exporters are keen to explore opportunities in the region and introduce even more variation to restaurants and supermarkets.

He added that the region is fast becoming a hotbed for foodies eager to experience the latest trends on the global culinary scene, providing good reason for many cheese experts to expediate their regional expansion plans.

Damiens noted that one of the most interesting increases in the usage of European cheese we’ve witnessed in the region is when its used in cooking, and are seeing more and more chefs in the Middle East use it in their dishes which in turn is encouraging others to experiment.

In order to ensure the quality of European cheese and to support the growth ambitions of exporters, the European Union has developed a programme dedicated to the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) quality labelling.

This provides safe and high-quality products for consumers. The mark identifies a product originating in a specific place or region, whose quality is due to a particular geographical environment with its inherent natural and human factors of production in line with strict EU regulations, added the report.