Middle Eastern Buyers Interested in Hanwoo Ribeye and Tenderloin… 5 Export Cooperation MOUs Signed

Meat import and distribution companies from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar visited domestic Hanwoo production sites to explore potential export cooperation. With four out of five invited buyers requesting samples of premium cuts such as ribeye, tenderloin, and rump, attention is focused on whether this will lead to actual transactions in the future.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries Food Trade Corporation (aT) announced on November 2 that they invited five major meat buyers from the UAE and Qatar for five days from October 26 to 30 to introduce the Hanwoo production, slaughter, and processing sites in Hoengseong, Gangwon Province and Haenam, Jeonnam Province. During the event, 25 export consultations were conducted, and a total of five companies, including four domestic livestock cooperatives and one Hanwoo farm, signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the buyers.

The companies visiting Korea this time specialize in the distribution of catering ingredients, online sales, and retail distribution. Their total annual meat import volume is approximately 13,000 tons.

Among the participating companies, MLS, headquartered in Oman, operates distribution networks in both the UAE and Oman. As Qatar's The Food Co. is also preparing to enter the UAE, aT expects to expand the supply of Hanwoo by utilizing these companies' distribution networks within the Middle East.

Buyers visited domestic Hanwoo producer organizations and livestock cooperatives to hear explanations regarding the current status of Hanwoo production and distribution, as well as the grading system and traceability management system. In Hoengseong, they visited Hanwoo farms and Halal slaughter and processing facilities to personally verify the processes necessary for export, ranging from the rearing environment to slaughter, butchering, and storage. In Haenam, they visited Hanwoo producers and relevant local agencies to discuss production and quality control systems and export cooperation strategies.

Along with the site visit, evaluations of different Hanwoo cuts and demonstrations of their application in local menus were conducted. Buyers assessed the marketability of the Hanwoo and negotiated specific transaction terms, such as export prices and minimum order quantities, with domestic exporters. They showed particular interest in premium cuts like ribeye, tenderloin, and striploin, and four out of five companies requested sample supplies.

The export market for Halal Hanwoo is expanding from Malaysia to the Middle East. Following Malaysia in late 2023, the first exports were made to the UAE in October 2025, and according to aT, the cumulative export value to the UAE is $400,000 as of this press release.

In September of this year, negotiations with the Qatari government regarding export sanitary conditions for boneless chilled and frozen beef were completed. As a result, Qatar was added as the third country eligible for Halal Hanwoo exports, following Malaysia and the UAE. In the same month, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and aT also held a Hanwoo tasting and promotional event for local chefs and media in Dubai through the ‘Global Next K-Food Project.’

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and aT plan to provide follow-up support, such as supplying samples, handling initial export logistics, and conducting local promotions, to ensure that these consultations and MOUs lead to actual exports. Regarding Saudi Arabia and Oman, where quarantine consultations for Hanwoo exports have not yet been finalized, they intend to support quarantine negotiations in cooperation with overseas diplomatic missions and relevant agencies, and to establish a buyer network in preparation for market opening.

Jeon Ki-chan, Director of Export Food at aT, stated, “This is highly significant as it establishes a foundation for export cooperation with buyers who have distribution networks in major Middle Eastern countries, such as Oman, extending beyond the UAE and Qatar.” He added, “We will strengthen support to ensure that Halal Hanwoo stably establishes itself in the Middle Eastern premium meat market and expands exports to new markets in the future.”