Sri Lanka’s tea exports to the UAE rose to 18.32 million kilograms in 2025, up 3.3 per cent from 17.73 million kilograms in 2024, a senior official said.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the UAE, Dr Arusha Cooray, said demand for Ceylon tea is expected to remain strong across the UAE and GCC markets, driven by its global reputation for quality and authenticity.
Data showed Iraq remained the largest importer of Sri Lankan tea in 2025 with a 15.31 per cent share, followed by Russia at 8.39 per cent and Türkiye at 8.27 per cent.
The remarks were made during an International Tea Day event organised by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Abu Dhabi at Abu Dhabi Global Market, which brought together diplomats, industry stakeholders and tea exporters. The event highlighted Sri Lanka’s tea heritage, production diversity across seven growing regions, and its continued importance as a major global exporter.