Gulfood 2026 Puts Dubai at the Center of Next-Gen Food Trade

The global food and beverage industry is set to converge in Dubai as Gulfood 2026 highlights the city’s growing influence in shaping next-generation food trade. The event will spotlight innovation, sustainability, and advanced food technologies, while bringing together producers, investors, and policymakers from around the world. It underscores Dubai’s role as a strategic gateway for future-ready food systems, international partnerships, and evolving global supply chains.

The global food and beverage sector is stepping into a pivotal phase, shaped by the powerful intersection of health awareness, advanced technology, sustainability, transparent sourcing, and AI-driven efficiency. As the worldwide F&B market moves toward an estimated value of USD 11.37 trillion by 2030 and with the MENA region emerging as the fastest-growing market globally, companies are actively searching for platforms that deliver reach, insight, and international growth opportunities.

At the heart of this accelerating momentum is Dubai, a city recognised as one of the world’s most connected trade gateways and a leader in logistics, innovation, and future-focused food systems. Against this dynamic backdrop, Gulfood 2026 takes centre stage as the year’s first and largest global sourcing event, spanning two mega venues and unlocking unprecedented opportunities for collaboration, discovery, and participation across the entire food ecosystem.

Gulfood 2026 is set to operate at extraordinary scale, featuring more than 8,500 exhibitors, over 1.5 million products, and representation from 195 countries. The 31st edition will effectively position Dubai as the command centre of a digitally connected and intelligent global food economy. The event will bring together major government bodies and trade organisations, including APEDA India, ApexBrasil, Business France, the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, Dubai Holding, ICEX Spain, Meat & Livestock Australia, and NAQUA Saudi Arabia, alongside industry leaders such as Americana, Barakat, BRF, Camelicious, Fresh Del Monte, Fage, JBS, Maersk, Monin, and Oatly. Investors, unicorns, buyers, distributors, wholesalers, and high-growth startups will converge with a shared ambition to scale globally.

Mark Napier, Vice President of the Exhibitions Department at Dubai World Trade Centre, highlights the event’s strategic importance, noting that Gulfood 2026 launches the global F&B calendar while setting the tone for the industry’s direction. As the first international event to activate both the Dubai Exhibition Centre and Dubai World Trade Centre simultaneously, the show delivers unmatched scale and visibility. With its expansion into five new sectors, Gulfood now stands as the only truly comprehensive platform representing the entire food and beverage ecosystem. It is positioned as a must-attend destination for brands focused on innovation, growth, and international market access.

For the first time in global food trade history, a sourcing event will operate at full scale across two venues—DWTC and the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai, expanding the exhibition footprint to 240,000 square metres. This marks the largest food and beverage trade showcase ever assembled worldwide.

The dual-venue format creates a seamlessly connected experience, allowing buyers to explore finished goods, fresh produce, commodities, national pavilions, innovation showcases, and next-generation technologies through one integrated journey. This structure also unlocks new value from adjacent high-growth segments across the food ecosystem, creating powerful commercial opportunities for suppliers, buyers, and investors alike.

The 2026 edition will welcome several new participating nations, including Ghana, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, the Kurdistan Region, Luxembourg, the Maldives, Qatar, Rwanda, Slovakia, Sweden, and Uganda. At the same time, major national pavilions such as Egypt, India, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Türkiye, and the United States will expand to their largest presence yet. New exhibitors will join from every corner of the globe, spanning all areas of the food value chain, including names like Choco, Bustanica, Farm Frites, MSC, Ostrich Oasis, and RANA.

Dubai World Trade Centre will host high-growth sectors, established retail leaders, and startup innovation across categories such as beverages, dairy, fats and oils, meat and poultry, seafood, power brands, and Gulfood Startups. Meanwhile, the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai will showcase impactful national pavilions, bulk commodity trade, strategic government delegations, procurement hubs, and high-level global discussions. Key categories will include extended national pavilions, rice, pulses and grains, World Food, and new sectors such as Gulfood Fresh, Gulfood Grocery Trade, and Gulfood Logistics.

Anchoring these activities will be the Gulfood World Economy Summit, bringing together CEOs, policymakers, investors, scientists, academics, and global leaders to shape the economic, regulatory, and trade frameworks driving the future of food.

India will take on a prominent role as the Official Country Partner for Gulfood 2026. With its food and beverage market projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 12.4 percent through 2028, India will present its largest-ever presence, featuring more than 600 exhibitors. Leading brands such as Amul, Everest, MDH, Mother Dairy, and Rasna will headline the country’s participation.

Together, these elements position Gulfood 2026 as a powerful global ecosystem, designed for strategic networking, future-focused insights, and commercially meaningful connections across the entire international food value chain.

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Source: potatopro‍