UAE | Dubai made global exhibition history as Gulfood successfully delivered a record-breaking 100 percent expansion by operating seamlessly across two mega venues.
Held in January at the Dubai World Trade Centre and the newly unveiled Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City, Gulfood sold out more than 280,000 square metres of exhibition space, setting a new global benchmark for scale, delivery and commercial ambition.
Over five days, close to 300,000 attendees from 195 countries and 8,500+ exhibitors showcased more than 1.5 million products across 12 sectors, engaging directly with international buyers and distributors through a fully integrated two-venue model that transformed unprecedented scale into measurable commercial outcomes and uninterrupted deal-making.
From Buyer Meetings to Signed Deals
At the show's commercial core, the Big Deal Hub reinforced Gulfood’s role as a deal-making engine by uniting more than 1,000 premium buyers from around the world through 3,500+ curated meetings, generating AED 168 billion in deals.
"The Big Deal Hub is an excellent initiative. The concept of pre-arranging meetings in one place is extremely valuable and made our participation far more productive," said Gil Ben Moshe, CEO, Nature Shield Trading FZCO.
Commercial outcomes defined the 2026 edition. During the event, Al Maya Distribution Group and Frío Beverages signed a major distribution agreement to expand Frío’s presence across Gulf markets.
"Gulfood 2026 was particularly significant for us as our beverage division formalised a distribution agreement with Al Maya for Dilmah iced tea across the UAE," said Dilhan C. Fernando, Chairman and CEO, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC.
Sayed Ashraf Hashimi, Chairman of Asia Food Forum, added that Gulfood remains the most effective global platform for turning trade dialogue into real business.
“This year alone, our participation supported concrete outcomes, including an understanding linked to the purchase of approximately 12,000 metric tons of sugar.”
Meanwhile, Brands Republic Limited signed exclusive distribution agreements totalling AED 500 million over the next five years.
“Gulfood 2026 was a defining milestone for Brands Republic, enabling us to secure distribution partnerships across multiple international markets and reinforcing the global potential of premium Emirati brands,” said Dr Ghandy Abuhawash, Group CEO, Brands Republic Limited.
Innovation with Commercial Intent
As the global agri-tech market is projected to exceed USD 40 billion by 2030, Gulfood 2026 reinforced its evolution beyond food and beverage into a broader innovation ecosystem focused on scalability and market readiness.
Gulfood Startups connected over 250 high-growth startups, investors and visionaries, to accelerate pathways from innovation to commercialisation, seizing the opportunity to align with Gulfood’s landmark scale and reach.
The inaugural World Agri-Foodtech Startup Challenge, organised by Gulfood and DMCC in partnership with the India Middle East Agri-Alliance (IMEAA), culminated on day five of the show.
“The World Agri-FoodTech Startup Challenge, organised by DMCC in partnership with Gulfood and the India Middle East Agri-Alliance, made its debut at Gulfood 2026, underlining the scale and maturity of global food-tech innovation,” said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO, DMCC.
“With hundreds of startups participating in this inaugural edition, and a cash prize of USD 135,000, the largest of its kind globally, the challenge showcased commercially focused solutions spanning next-generation ingredients, sustainable food systems, and applied agri-technology. DMCC remains committed to translating such innovation into tangible trade outcomes by supporting high-potential startups to scale and grow from Dubai, while strengthening the emirate’s position as a leading global hub for food security, innovation, and agri-food trade.”
Two Mega Venues, One Integrated Trade Engine
Strong buyer participation from major retailers, distributors and food-service operators reinforced Gulfood’s position as the industry’s most effective buyer-seller platform, with
Awad Ahmed, Executive Chairman of Vendorr, stated that Gulfood continued to play a critical role in the business. The expansion across the Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai Exhibition Centre has significantly enhanced supplier discovery and meeting efficiency. The Big Deal Hub in particular has been instrumental in connecting with both existing partners and new suppliers, turning conversations into real commercial opportunities.
Returning national pavilions further underscored Gulfood’s pull as a global convening point, with Elisha Tham, Group Business Development Director, Yeo Hiap Seng International Pte Ltd, delighted to be returning to the exhibition as part of the Singapore Pavilion after a 10-year hiatus, and to be part of the inaugural opening at Dubai Expo City.
New Markets, Global Expansion, Real Trade Outcomes
The 2026 edition also welcomed first-time participation from Ghana, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Maldives, Rwanda, Slovakia, Sweden and Uganda, paving the way for measurable trade outcomes.
Kazakhstan’s debut alone generated export and investment agreements worth $335.4 million, reinforcing Gulfood’s role as a launchpad for national trade agendas.
“Our first participation at Gulfood has enabled Ugandan exhibitors to connect directly with international markets. The response from buyers has been extremely encouraging, and we are confident this exposure will significantly strengthen Uganda’s global market access,” said Hon. Dr Monica Musenero Masanza, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Government of Uganda.
Gulfood 2027 Editions
Building on its strongest commercial edition to date, Gulfood will return from the 15th to the 19th of March 2027, with an expanded mandate to unlock new markets, deepen buyer engagement and deliver even greater global trade outcomes for the food and beverage industry.
The inaugural Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya is set to be held in Nairobi in May 2027, signalling a new era of food trade as Nairobi opens the door to the wider African market.
