If you’ve noticed empty shelves where your dog’s usual kibble used to be, or if the price of your preferred imported brand has jumped overnight, you’re not imagining things. The disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is now directly affecting the availability and cost of imported pet food across the UAE.
For dog owners who rely on brands shipped from Europe, North America, or Asia, this is a genuine concern. The good news is that locally made, fresh dog food in the UAE is unaffected. Wunderdog produces every meal in-house at its own facility in Al Quoz, Dubai, using locally sourced, Halal-certified ingredients. There is no dependency on international shipping lanes. Raw materials have been secured for the months ahead, and deliveries continue on schedule across all seven Emirates, exactly as they always have.
This article explains what is happening with the global supply chain, how it affects the pet food you buy, and what your options are if your dog’s current food becomes unavailable or unaffordable.
Since late February 2026, the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed to most commercial shipping. The strait, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. Before the disruption, more than 100 commercial vessels transited the route daily. That number has collapsed.
Major international carriers, including Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, and COSCO, have suspended all transits through the strait. Vessels that would normally pass through are being rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, adding 10 to 14 days to transit times. Emergency freight surcharges have been applied to all shipments moving to and from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq. War-risk insurance premiums for vessels in the region have increased significantly, further raising the cost of every container that eventually arrives.
The UAE imports approximately 90% of its food. While the government has confirmed that strategic reserves of staple goods are sufficient for four to six months, and retailers have assured the public that shelves remain stocked, the reality for specific product categories, particularly imported specialty goods like premium pet food, is more nuanced. Products that rely on long international supply chains are the most vulnerable to delays, price increases, and temporary unavailability.
Most of the premium kibble brands sold in the UAE are manufactured overseas. Royal Canin produces in France, the United States, and several other countries. Hill’s Science Diet manufactures across multiple continents. Purina Pro Plan, Orijen, Acana, Taste of the Wild, and Farmina all ship their products into the UAE via maritime freight. These brands pass through complex international supply chains involving multiple intermediaries, distribution centres, and transport legs before reaching a shelf at Carrefour, Lulu Hypermarket, Petzone, or an online marketplace like Amazon.ae or Noon.
When the primary shipping route into the Gulf is disrupted, every link in that chain is affected. Transit times lengthen. Freight costs rise. Insurance premiums increase. And those costs are eventually passed on, either through higher retail prices or through reduced availability as distributors prioritise higher-margin products.
What does this mean in practical terms?
None of this is cause for panic. The UAE’s logistics infrastructure is among the most resilient in the world, and alternative routing is already underway. But it is cause for planning, especially if your dog has specific dietary needs that depend on a single imported product.
The supply chain for a locally manufactured product is fundamentally different from the supply chain for an imported one. When food is made in the same country where it is consumed, the vulnerabilities that come with international shipping, customs clearance, multi-country logistics, and maritime insurance simply do not apply.
Wunderdog produces all of its recipes in its own kitchen in Al Quoz, Dubai. Ingredients are sourced locally from UAE suppliers wherever possible, and all ingredients are Halal-certified. The facility holds an A rating from Dubai Public Health Services and operates to HACCP food safety standards. Every step, from sourcing to cooking to packaging to delivery, happens within the UAE. There are no overseas factories, no third-party production facilities, and no containers sitting in a port waiting for safe passage through a conflict zone.
This is not a new positioning. Wunderdog has always manufactured locally. But the current situation makes the practical significance of that decision clearer than ever. Fresh, locally made food also delivers nutritional advantages that go beyond supply security: research shows it is approximately 40% more digestible than kibble, meaning dogs absorb more nutrition from each meal. When an international shipping lane closes, the question of where your dog’s food is made becomes more than a point of interest. It becomes a question of whether that food will arrive at all.
In a message to subscribers on 18 March, Wunderdog’s founder and CEO, Abboud Kheir, confirmed that the company had reserved raw materials for the coming months and would continue purchasing ahead. Because Wunderdog produces everything in-house and sources the majority of its ingredients locally, there is no dependency on international supply chains.
In Abboud’s words: "Your dog’s food will arrive as it always has: fresh, consistent, and on time."
The Wunderdog team has also expanded its support for customers whose circumstances may be changing. Whether a delivery location needs to change, a dog will be travelling with its owner, or a dog will be staying behind while its owner is away, the team is available to help coordinate. This includes travel nutrition advice and assistance with temporary care arrangements.
For customers on a Wunderdog subscription, there is nothing to do differently. Deliveries continue as scheduled. For those not yet on a subscription, this is a good moment to consider one. A subscription locks in your dog’s meal plan and delivery schedule, ensuring a guaranteed, uninterrupted supply of fresh food regardless of what happens in the global logistics landscape.
Alongside its supply commitment, Wunderdog has expanded the Gift a Meal programme. Since the start of the conflict, Wunderdog customers have helped deliver more than 1,068 kg of fresh meals to dogs in need across the UAE, including over 906 kg in March alone. The programme’s all-time total now exceeds 5,574 kg. Every Gift a Meal purchased delivers 3 kg of food, and Wunderdog matches it with another 3 kg, doubling the impact.
The expansion matters because the crisis has created a secondary problem. A small number of people leaving the country have left their dogs behind. Local rescue organisations, including the Stray Dogs Center, Haven of Hope, Second Chance Animal Sanctuary, and the RAK Animal Welfare Centre, are managing an increased number of animals that need care. Wunderdog is supporting these organisations directly through the Gift a Meal programme.
For those who want to contribute more, the Gift a Meal section on the Wunderdog website allows direct donations of fresh food to rescue dogs.
Dogs are remarkably resilient, but they depend on us. That responsibility does not expire when circumstances change.
If you are currently feeding an imported brand and want to ensure your dog’s nutrition is not disrupted, there are a few practical steps worth considering.
This is not a moment for fear. The UAE’s infrastructure is strong, its leadership is steady, and the essentials are protected. But for those of us who consider our dogs’ nutrition a priority, it is a moment for thoughtful planning. The simplest way to guarantee your dog’s meals is to choose food that never has to cross an ocean to reach their bowl.
Is there a pet food shortage in the UAE?
There is no generalised pet food shortage. The UAE government has confirmed that strategic reserves of essential goods are sufficient for four to six months, and retailers have maintained stock of most products. However, specific imported brands, particularly those shipped from Europe and North America via maritime freight, may experience intermittent delays, reduced availability, or price increases due to the Hormuz shipping disruption and associated freight surcharges.
Why is my dog’s food out of stock in Dubai?
If your dog’s usual brand is manufactured overseas, it relies on international shipping to reach the UAE. Major carriers including Maersk, CMA CGM, and MSC have suspended transits through the Strait of Hormuz. Rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope adds 10 to 14 days to delivery times and increases freight costs. This can cause temporary stockouts of specific imported products, especially niche or therapeutic formulations with lower volume.
Is locally made dog food available in the UAE?
Yes. Several brands produce dog food locally in the UAE. Wunderdog manufactures all of its fresh, gently cooked recipes in its own facility in Al Quoz, Dubai, using locally sourced, Halal-certified ingredients. The company has no dependency on international supply chains and has confirmed that raw materials are secured for the months ahead.
How does the Hormuz Strait disruption affect pet food?
The Strait of Hormuz handles a significant portion of the maritime trade entering the Gulf region. Its effective closure since late February 2026 has forced vessels to reroute around Africa, adding time and cost to every shipment. For pet food brands manufactured overseas and shipped to the UAE by sea, this means longer lead times, higher prices, and potential stockouts. Locally manufactured pet food is not affected.
Can I get a guaranteed dog food supply in Dubai?
A Wunderdog subscription guarantees a regular, uninterrupted supply of fresh dog food delivered to your door on a set schedule across all seven UAE Emirates. Because all production is local and raw materials are pre-secured, Wunderdog’s supply is not dependent on international shipping conditions. The Taster Pack is a commitment-free way to start.
What should I do if my dog is on a prescription diet that becomes unavailable?
If your dog is on a specific therapeutic or prescription diet from an imported brand (such as Hill’s Gastrointestinal or Royal Canin Renal), consult your veterinarian about alternatives before stock runs out. Wunderdog’s Wundercare range offers fresh, gently cooked therapeutic recipes formulated for conditions including digestive support, renal health, liver support, pancreatitis, cardiac care, weight management, and allergies. Dr. Georges Rizk, Wunderdog’s Chief Veterinarian, offers free 30-minute consultations to assess the right nutrition for your dog’s health needs.