Dubai’s strategic geographical location between the world’s major tea-producing and tea-consuming markets has positioned the emirate as the industry’s international gateway for tea trade.

To further strengthen tea trade in Dubai, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority (DMCC) launched the Dubai Tea Trading Centre (DTTC) in 2005 to facilitate the expansion of the tea trade in accordance with international best practices.

DTTC is a dedicated facility offering its members warehousing, blending and packaging solutions. Through this facility, DTTC allows international tea producers and merchants to hold stocks of tea to be readily available to meet the immediate requirements of importers in the Middle East and adjacent regions. This availability is beneficial for both exporters and purchasers, giving them the convenience of obtaining a variety of teas from multiple origins.

Since its inception, DTTC has expanded its range and reach to process teas from 13-producing countries, including Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Nepal, China and Iran.

In keeping with its mandate to further increase the tea trade in and through Dubai, the DTTC also facilitates the trade of tea to buyers in the GCC states, Iran, Iraq and CIS countries, and has plans to expand its services to other markets. Dubai remains the second largest export destination for both Indian and Sri Lankan tea, and in 2010, DTCC handled 10.6 million kilograms of tea, an increase of over 40% compared to 2009.