Kenya’s Horticulture Exports to Gulf States Rise 38% in 2023

Kenya’s fresh produce exports to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar grew by 38% in 2023, reaching Ksh42 billion. Key items include French beans, baby corn, and herbs, shipped via direct cargo flights from Nairobi to Riyadh and Doha. The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) accredited 300 farms to Gulf standards, reducing rejection rates to below 1%. The Gulf now accounts for 30% of Kenya’s horticultural exports, rivaling the EU. New ventures include hydroponic lettuce farms in Naivasha targeting Dubai hotels. Challenges include phytosanitary compliance costs and competition from Egypt.