Gulfood 2026 positions Dubai as global hub for next-generation food and beverage trade

The global food and beverage industry is entering a defining era of change, powered by the convergence of health, technology, sustainability, transparent sourcing and AI-enabled performance. With the global food and beverages market projected to hit USD 11.37 trillion by 2030, combined with the MENA region recording the world’s fastest F&B growth rate, businesses are seeking platforms that provide scale, intelligence and cross-border opportunity.

At the centre of this momentum stands Dubai, one of the world’s most connected trade hubs and a powerhouse for logistics, innovation and future-driven food systems. Against this backdrop, Gulfood 2026 emerges as the first and biggest sourcing event of the year, expanding across two mega-venues and opening a limitless landscape of opportunity, discovery and participation for the entire global food universe.

Gulfood 2026 will accelerate outsized scale to seize macro-trend advantage, with 8,500+ exhibitors, 1.5 million+ products and participation from 195 countries. The 31st edition is set to transform Dubai into the global headquarters of a connected, intelligent food economy. It will host multiple strategic government and industry alliances including Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) India, Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), Business France, Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, Dubai Holding, ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, Meat & Livestock Australia, National Aquaculture Group (NAQUA) Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, along with major industry powerhouses Americana, Barakat, BRF, Camelicious, Fresh Del Monte, Fage, JBS, Maersk, Monin and Oatly, as well as investors, unicorns and a dynamic mix of buyers, distributors, wholesalers and innovative startups poised to scale into global brands.

Mark Napier, Vice President Exhibitions Department at Dubai World Trade Centre:

"Gulfood 2026 opens the global F&B calendar as the first and most influential sourcing event of the year setting the industry’s strategic direction. As the first major international event to activate the Dubai Exhibition Centre and Dubai World Trade Centre, we are delivering unprecedented scale and visibility. Expanding its reach across five new sectors, Gulfood becomes the only truly complete platform for the entire food and beverage ecosystem."

"An unmissable destination for every brand serious about growth, innovation and global market access. We look forward to welcoming forward-thinking partners, igniting a new era for the industry."

100 percent more scale across two mega venues

For the first time in global food trade history, a sourcing event will run at full scale across Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City Dubai, expanding the show to 240,000 sqm and delivering the largest F&B trade footprint ever assembled.

This dual-venue expansion creates a seamlessly connected universe that enables buyers to source finished goods, fresh categories, commodities, national pavilions, innovations and next-generation technologies in a single, streamlined journey. It serves as a strategic anchor to extract greater value from adjacent, high-growth domains across the food ecosystem, unlocking powerful new opportunities for buyers, suppliers and investors.

The 2026 edition will also feature new exhibiting nations, including Ghana, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, the Kurdistan Region, Luxembourg, the Maldives, Qatar, Rwanda, Slovakia, Sweden and Uganda. Meanwhile, some of Gulfood’s most influential pavilions, Egypt, India, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Türkiye and the USA, will expand to their biggest footprints to date. New exhibitors will come from across the globe and every sector of the food ecosystem, including Choco, Bustanica, Farm Frites, MSC, Ostrich Oasis and RANA.

A packed exhibition hall at Gulfood highlights the scale and momentum of the global food and beverages market, as industry leaders showcase solutions shaping a USD 11.37 trillion market by 2030.

Dubai defines a new global model for food trade

Dubai World Trade Centre will be home to high-growth sectors, retail powerhouses and startup innovation across:
 

• Beverages
• Dairy
• Fats & Oils
• Meat & Poultry
• Power Brands
• Seafood
• Gulfood Startups

Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai will feature the world’s most innovative and impactful national pavilions, bulk commodity trade, strategic government delegations, procurement hubs and high-level global dialogue. It will also host major categories including Extended National Pavilions, Rice, Pulses & Grains, World Food and new sectors such as Gulfood Fresh, Gulfood Grocery Trade and Gulfood Logistics.

Anchored by global dialogue shaping economic, regulatory and trade frameworks, DEC will also host the Gulfood World Economy Summit, convening CEOs, policymakers, investors, scientists, academics and leaders driving the transformation of the global food economy.
 

India named official country partner for Gulfood 2026

With its food and beverage market projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.4 percent through 2028, India enters Gulfood 2026 as the Official Country Partner, delivering its largest-ever presence with 600+ exhibitors. Leading exhibitors will include Amul, Everest, MDH, Mother Dairy, Rasna and others.

Together, these platforms will transform Gulfood 2026 into a powerful ecosystem for strategic networking, cutting-edge insights and commercially meaningful connections across the global food value chain.