Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently visited Lulu Hypermarket in Abu Dhabi during his official tour of the United Arab Emirates, preceding the historic implementation of the Australia-UAE free trade agreement.
This visit is part of PM Albanese’s broader diplomatic and trade mission, which also includes trips to the United States and the United Kingdom, focusing on strengthening Australia’s global economic partnerships and promoting sustainable trade. While in the UAE, he also toured the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the largest and most iconic religious sites globally.
During his time at Lulu Hypermarket, PM Albanese was accompanied by Yusuffali M.A., chairman of Lulu Group. He explored a diverse array of premium Australian products, such as fresh meat, fruits, vegetables, dairy, and FMCG products.
The Prime Minister extended an invitation to Yusuffali to open Lulu Hypermarkets in Australia, highlighting the need for more competition in the Australian supermarket industry. “We’ve had discussions, and Lulu is large enough to form direct connections with Australian producers, from mango and orange growers to Halal-certified meat suppliers,” PM Albanese remarked.
He noted that the free trade agreement would eliminate tariffs on almost all Australian exports to the UAE and attract increased investment from the UAE’s substantial sovereign wealth funds into Australia. The agreement comes into effect on October 1, positioning the UAE as a key trading partner for Australia. “This visit supports our trade diversification agenda and aims to create more job opportunities in the region,” he stated.
Yusuffali expressed pride in offering high-quality Australian products in the region, reflecting strong demand and acceptance of premium Australian goods across the Middle East. “Our partnership consistently brings the best of Australia to homes throughout the region,” he said.
He also recalled his initial visit to Australia on September 8, 1983, when he began sourcing premium lamb and meat for Lulu Hypermarkets in the UAE, a business relationship that has grown over the decades.
Lulu Group, one of the Middle East’s largest retail chains, has sourcing offices in Australia and plays a significant role in supplying Australian food and consumer products, including fruit, vegetables, meat, lamb, and FMCG, to retailers across Asia, the GCC, and beyond.
Also in attendance were Ridwaan Jadwat, Australian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates; Fahad Obaid Mohamed Altaffag Almarashda, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Australia; Mohammed Althaf, Group Director and Chief Sustainability Officer of Lulu; Shabu Abdul Majeed, Global Operations Director; V. Nandakumar, Director of Marketing and Communications of Lulu; among other officials.
