Gulfood 2026: Shaping the Future of the F&B Industry in Middle East

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Massive Global Participation and Product Showcase

Gulfood 2026 has concluded in Dubai, setting new benchmarks for the global food and beverage sector and reinforcing the emirate’s position as a leading hub for sourcing, innovation, and investment in the Middle East.

This momentum was reflected in the event’s largest-ever edition, which expanded across two venues, Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai to accommodate record growth. The dual-venue format highlighted rising global demand for international sourcing, market entry, and cross-border partnerships, while underscoring Dubai’s role as a central gateway for regional and global food trade.

For manufacturers, distributors, and investors, Gulfood 2026 offered valuable insights into F&B market trends, evolving supply chains, and future-ready technologies shaping the global ecosystem. Building on the momentum of Gulfood 2025, the event saw exceptional international participation, with an estimated 150,000+ professional visitors, around 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries, and more than 1.5 million products.

From raw ingredients and private-label offerings to premium packaged foods and innovative beverage solutions, the exhibition reflected the scale, diversity, and competitiveness of the Dubai food and beverage market. These Gulfood 2026 highlights provide critical perspectives for businesses seeking growth across regional and international markets.

India as Official Partner Country

India served as the official Partner Country for Gulfood 2026, marking a significant milestone and showcasing one of its largest international presences to date. More than 160 agricultural and food exporters from 25 Indian states participated, strengthening India’s agri-food export visibility and reinforcing its role in the global food and beverage market.

Gulfood AI and Innovation Hubs: Driving Digital Transformation

Technology and innovation took center stage at Gulfood 2026 through dedicated AI and Innovation Hubs, highlighting the accelerating digital transformation of the food and beverage sector. These platforms focused on artificial intelligence in demand forecasting, smart logistics and cold-chain optimization, agritech solutions, retail analytics, blockchain-based traceability systems, and automation in food processing and packaging.

Notable exhibitor showcases included AI-powered inventory management platforms for distributors, smart cold-storage monitoring systems using IoT sensors, predictive analytics tools for restaurant and retail chains, digital farm-to-fork traceability solutions, and automated quality-control systems. Together, these innovations demonstrated how digital adoption is becoming essential for supporting long-term food industry trends and reshaping operational efficiency across the value chain.

Expanded Sector Categories Reflect UAE Market Growth

Gulfood 2026 featured more specialized sector coverage, reflecting the rapid expansion and diversification of key food and beverage segments within the UAE. The exhibition included dedicated zones for fresh produce, cold-chain logistics, grocery and private-label products, beverages, dairy, meat and poultry, as well as plant-based and alternative protein solutions. 

This reflects the growing trend for alternative proteins in the UAE, highlighting how evolving consumer preferences and sustainability initiatives are driving innovation and shaping sourcing strategies across the region’s food and beverage sector.

The UAE food and beverage sector is already substantial, with total market revenues forecast at around USD 39.8 billion in 2025, growing at an estimated 5–6% CAGR through 2030, driven by rising consumer spending, and a strong population with diverse tastes. Similarly, the UAE foodservice market is poised for significant expansion, with valuations ranging from USD 23.2 billion in 2025 to forecasts of USD 50.2 billion by 2033, propelled by tourism, dining-out trends, and delivery services. 

Trade Partnerships at Gulfood 2026

The Big Deal Hub emerged as one of the most commercially impactful features of Gulfood 2026, serving as a dedicated platform for high-value business engagement. It connected large-scale buyers, retail chains, foodservice operators, distributors, and manufacturers through curated matchmaking and private meeting zones.

Key outcomes included multi-year supply agreements between Middle Eastern retailers and Asian manufacturers, export partnerships between European ingredient suppliers and GCC food processors, strategic distribution deals for plant-based and wellness brands entering MENA markets, and private-label sourcing agreements for regional supermarket chains. Several participating companies reported six- and seven-figure deal pipelines initiated during the event, reinforcing Gulfood’s role as a catalyst for cross-border trade and long-term partnerships.

Germany’s Diverse Product Showcase at Gulfood 2026

Germany had a strong presence at Gulfood 2026, with a dedicated German Pavilion featuring more than 70 exhibitors presenting a wide array of food and beverage products “made in Germany.” The pavilion showcased premium dairy and cheese ranges from Molkerei Ammerland and Privatmolkerei Bauer, sustainable pasta and gluten-free options from ALB‑GOLD Teigwaren, specialty honey varieties from Langnese Honig, classic condiments and sauces by Develey Senf & Feinkost, artisan bakery goods and cereals from H. & J. Brüggen, and premium coffee from Deutsche Extrakt Kaffee.

Other exhibitors highlighted plant-based ingredients, innovative snacks, and functional food solutions, reinforcing Germany’s role as a key European source market for high-quality F&B products. The participation also underscores the strong Germany-UAE trade partnership, with non-oil trade reaching USD 13.8 billion in 2024, up about 5.4 % year-on-year, reflecting deepening economic ties. Similarly, in the first six months of 2025, non-oil trade between the UAE and Germany grew by about 19% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching nearly USD 7.5 billion, driven by higher exports, imports, and re-exports. T

These trends highlight the broader EU-UAE trade partnership, whose continued expansion is expected to have a positive impact on the food and beverage sector, encouraging more innovation, sourcing, and market opportunities in the region.

Gulfood 2026: Shaping the Future of F&B in the Middle East

Gulfood 2026 was not just the largest edition ever of the world’s premier food and beverage trade show but it was also a strategic convergence point for innovation, global partnerships, and future-focused solutions in food security, digitalization, and supply chain resilience. With sustained growth in trade, particularly between the UAE and Europe, the event also highlighted opportunities for collaboration and market expansion that will continue to define the industry in the years ahead.

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