KNCCI Opens Dubai Office to Protect Exporters From Fraud and Unpaid Deals

Kenya, January 15 2026 - The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has opened a new office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), in a strategic push to protect Kenyan exporters from rising cases of fraud, nonpayment and market exploitation in the Middle East, officials said on Friday.

The move comes amid growing concern that Kenyan businesses, particularly those exporting fresh produce and livestock, have been incurring heavy losses in key Gulf markets due to rogue importers and payment disputes. At the official opening, KNCCI President Dr Erick Rutto described the Dubai office as a long overdue operational hub to shield Kenyan exporters operating in one of the country’s most strategic international markets.

“The launch of the KNCCI Dubai Office is not ceremonial. It is operational and urgently needed,” Dr Rutto said, underscoring the chamber’s commitment to safeguarding trade interests abroad. The UAE is a major trading partner for Kenya, ranking among the country’s top five export destinations and fourth largest source of imports, with exports to the UAE worth about USD 401.5 million (approx. KSh 55 billion) in 2023 alone.

Despite strong trade figures, Kenyan exporters have faced persistent challenges, especially in fresh produce and livestock: In the fresh produce sector, KNCCI estimates that exporters lose an average of three containers every week due to unscrupulous buyers who receive goods and disappear, fabricate quality complaints, or issue credit notes that are never honoured, translating to roughly 156 containers lost annually.

The livestock sector faces even deeper issues, with between 25 % and 30 % of exports to the UAE and Saudi Arabia reportedly going unpaid, resulting in annual losses of up to KSh 6 billion. Exporters also incur about KSh 4,000 in additional losses per goat due to depressed prices linked to inadequate disease controls, making Kenyan goat meat less competitive compared with competitors such as Ethiopian exporters.

“These losses affect farmers’ livelihoods, threaten SMEs, and undermine our exportled growth ambitions,” Dr Rutto said. The newly established Dubai office is expected to serve as a frontline support hub for Kenyan businesses operating in the Gulf. Its mandate includes:

1. Facilitating safer payment arrangements, including escrow mechanisms to ensure exporters receive funds before releasing goods.