Trade show - Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Gulfood - The Worlds Largest Annual F&B Show

The MENA regions food sourcing flagship in Dubai every February. Next edition: February 21-25, 2027 at Dubai World Trade Centre.

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Next edition

February 21-25, 2027

Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Official site
Tracking for intelligence

We monitor this show for buyer trends and product intelligence without exhibiting this year.

About the show

What it is, who attends

Gulfood is the largest annual food and beverage trade show by exhibitor count. Held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, it is the Middle East and North Africa sourcing event - GCC retail chains, hospitality groups, and import distributors source private-label and finished tea from international suppliers.

Why it matters

Gulf hospitality (Marriott, Jumeirah, IHG, Hilton MENA properties) sources hotel-branded tea through this show. The MENA private-label tea market is growing faster than European retail. Long-term we expect to ship into MENA via a UAE-based distributor; Gulfood is where those relationships start.

128,000+

Visitors

5,500+

Exhibitors

125

Countries

Calendar

Upcoming editions

Past editions

Since 1987

How it grew

39 years of editions, reshaped by changing buyer behaviour and category growth.

  1. 1987

    Inaugural edition launched with 65 exhibitors from 13 countries and 1,600 trade visitors.

  2. 1991

    Third edition became the first with truly international participation, adding exhibitors from 10 new countries including Kenya, Malaysia, Singapore, and reunified Germany.

  3. 1995

    Show renamed from "Gulf Food" to the single-word "Gulfood" brand.

  4. 2005

    10th anniversary and final biennial edition. Show moved to annual frequency. Record 20,000 trade visitors.

  5. 2008

    13th edition sold out completely at 60,000+ sqm. First waiting list for potential exhibitors created.

  6. 2015

    Crossed 84,000 visitors from 170 countries, spanning 127,000 sqm.

  7. 2026

    First show ever to run simultaneously across two mega venues: Dubai World Trade Centre and the new Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City. 100% expansion in a single year to 280,000+ sqm. 8,500+ exhibitors from 195 countries.

Floor plan

Halls and zones to know

Where tea, private label, and beverage buyers concentrate on the show floor.

Za'abeel Halls (Beverages) - DWTC

Tea, coffee, iced tea, juices, carbonated drinks, bottled water, energy drinks, and functional beverages. Subcategories: Brewed & Infused Selections (tea, coffee, iced tea), Hydration & Wellness, Functional & Sparkling Drinks, Natural & Infused.

Why it mattersThe primary zone for tea buyers and private-label beverage sourcing. 500+ beverage exhibitors from 65+ countries offering 5,000+ brands. Tea suppliers concentrate here, including private-label CTC black tea, orthodox leafy tea, and herbal blends. DAS Tea Packing FZE (UAE-based private-label tea packer) exhibits here.

Power Brands Hall - DWTC

Global FMCG brand owners presenting flagship and private-label ranges across all food and beverage categories.

Why it mattersGCC retail chains and hospitality procurement visit this hall to evaluate branded and co-branded tea ranges from established multinationals. Useful for competitive intelligence on how global brands position against private label.

Gulfood Grocery Trade (Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City)

Dedicated marketplace for manufacturers, brand owners, traders, distributors, and buying groups seeking volume partnerships and FMCG distribution deals in the MENA region.

Why it mattersWhere GCC retail chains (LuLu, Carrefour ME, Al Maya, Spinneys) send procurement teams to initiate private-label supply agreements. The most direct route to a formal retail listing discussion in the MENA market.

Gulfood Startups Zone - DWTC

Founders, FoodTech startups, and new-to-market brands seeking investors, distribution partners, and buyer introductions.

Why it mattersSeveral specialty tea and functional-beverage startups use this zone as a low-cost first entry point into Gulfood. Useful for tracking which formats and blends are gaining traction with MENA buyers.

World Economy Summit Stage - DWTC

Four-day conference program covering food security, trade diplomacy, supply-chain resilience, AI in F&B, and climate-smart food systems. Inaugural edition launched at Gulfood 2026.

Why it mattersPolicy makers and senior food-industry executives attend. Relevant for tracking regulatory changes affecting tea imports into GCC markets and MENA-wide trade-agreement developments.

This edition

What to look out for

Dual-venue expansion 2026

Gulfood 2026 became the first trade show ever to operate simultaneously across two full-scale venues: Dubai World Trade Centre and the newly opened Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai. The 100% single-year expansion to 280,000+ sqm sold out completely.

Gulfood Innovation Awards

Annual product-awards program judged by a panel of GCC retail buyers and hospitality professionals. 12 categories in 2026 including Best Beverage Product, Best Packaging, and Best Health & Wellness Product. 300+ entries compete. Winning or shortlisting provides credible third-party validation for the MENA market.

Gulfood World Economy Summit

Inaugural edition launched at Gulfood 2026. Four-day ministerial-level conference on food security, supply-chain resilience, AI in F&B, and trade diplomacy. Convenes government ministers, CEOs, and international institutions alongside the main exhibition.

FoodTech 500 and Agri-FoodTech Startup Challenge

Forward Fooding unveils its annual global FoodTech 500 ranking at Gulfood. A separate pitch competition invites agri-food startups to present to investor panels. MENA's role as a FoodTech investment hub is a recurring theme.

India as Official Country Partner 2026

India delivered its largest-ever Gulfood presence as the 2026 Official Country Partner: 600+ exhibitors including Amul and Rasna. This scale of Indian participation directly increases the number of tea suppliers visible to MENA buyers, raising the competitive bar for non-Indian origin suppliers.

Who you will see

Exhibitors and buyers at recent editions

Notable exhibitors

Brands typically exhibiting in the tea, private-label, or adjacent halls.

  • DAS Tea Packing FZE (UAE) - private-label tea packer, Ajman Free Zone, custom blending and packaging
  • Tea Country (Georgia) - premium hand-picked artisan Georgian teas, Stand Z6-F4 Za'abeel Hall 6
  • Samsher & Gangadevi Tea Co. Pvt. Ltd (Nepal) - bulk and packaged teas, Za'abeel Hall 5
  • Ispahani Foods Limited (Bangladesh) - one of the largest tea brands in South Asia, CTC black tea
  • Ceylon Tea Gardens - Sri Lankan origin teas, positioned for Japanese and European retail channels
  • Al Kabous Tea (MENA) - regional tea brand and Gulfood 2026 beverages sector sponsor
  • Amul (India) - India country partner flagship brand, dairy and beverage portfolio including tea-based drinks
  • Rasna (India) - instant beverages and tea mixes, part of India's 600+ exhibitor delegation

Notable buyers

Retail chains, hospitality groups, and importers known to send delegations.

  • LuLu Group International - largest hypermarket chain in the GCC with 259 outlets, sources from 85 countries, dedicated sourcing office network
  • Carrefour Middle East (Majid Al Futtaim) - pan-GCC hypermarket and supermarket operator, active private-label program
  • Al Maya Group - UAE and GCC multi-format retailer, Innovation Awards jury member at Gulfood 2026
  • Spinneys UAE / Waitrose UAE - premium grocery operator, actively developing private-label ranges
  • Agthia Group - Abu Dhabi-based listed food and beverage company, sourcing across tea and beverage categories
  • Almarai - largest dairy and food company in the MENA, diversifying into beverages
  • Marriott MENA, Jumeirah Group, IHG MENA, Hilton MENA - hospitality groups with combined 400+ properties sourcing hotel-branded tea
  • Dubai World Trade Centre Culinary Operations - in-house food buyer for the venue itself, jury member for Innovation Awards
  • GCC import distributors from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain - mid-tier agents that supply hotels, cafes, and independent retailers
Plan your visit

Tickets, travel, accommodation, exhibiting

Ticket access

Trade-only event. Visitor registration is AED 295 per person (approx. EUR 75), VAT included. No public entry. Some exhibitors distribute complimentary passes via their own channels. Registration opens online at gulfood.com several months before the show.

Opening hours

10:00 - 18:00 (Days 1-4). 10:00 - 17:00 (Day 5, final day).

Getting there

  • Dubai International Airport (DXB) - 10 km to DWTC, metro Red Line direct to World Trade Centre Station
  • Al Maktoum International (DWC) - 45 km, taxi or pre-arranged transfer; used by some Gulf region carriers

Accommodation

Book hotels 4-5 months in advance. Gulfood falls in February, which overlaps with peak Dubai tourism season and the tail end of the Dubai Shopping Festival. Downtown Dubai and DIFC hotels within 2 km of DWTC fill first. Rates rise 30-50% during show week. Properties near the Expo City venue (Dubai Exhibition Centre) are 35 km from DWTC - confirm your primary hall before booking.

Exhibitor cost

Shell scheme booths (9-24 sqm): from AED 1,500-2,000 per sqm excluding custom fit-out. Space-only plots (24+ sqm): custom rates. National pavilion co-exhibition (e.g., EU or country-specific pavilion) often reduces cost and provides shared logistics support for first-time exhibitors. Early booking secures better hall placement and reduced rates.

Programme

Awards and co-located events

Awards + competitions

  • Gulfood Innovation Awards - 12 product categories including Best Beverage Product, Best Packaging, Best Health & Wellness Product. Open to exhibitors. Judged by GCC retail and hospitality buyers. 300+ entries in 2026.
  • World Agri-FoodTech Startup Challenge - pitch competition for early-stage food and agriculture technology companies.
  • FoodTech 500 by Forward Fooding - global ranking of food innovation companies, announced at Gulfood annually.

Co-located events

  • Gulfood Grocery Trade (at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City) - FMCG and private-label retail marketplace running concurrently with main show
  • Gulfood World Economy Summit - ministerial food-security conference, inaugural 2026 edition
  • FoodTech 500 / World Agri-FoodTech Startup Challenge - investor pitch competition and innovation ranking
  • Gulfood Manufacturing (November, separate event) - DWTC, packaging machinery and food-production technology; November 3-5, 2026
Our take

Why we think buyers should weigh this show this way

Gulfood is the entry point into the MENA food-supply chain, not the shortcut to it. For a Kosovo-based tea co-packer, the show's value is structural: GCC hospitality groups (Marriott, Jumeirah, Hilton, IHG) source hotel-branded tea through this event, and the hotel-tea segment in the Gulf is growing faster than European retail. The show is also where UAE-based distributors who can receive, warehouse, and redistribute product into Saudi, Kuwait, and Qatar operate. Neither relationship can be built remotely. A first visit as a registered trade buyer (AED 295) is the right first step - map the tea section in Za'abeel Halls, identify which distributors handle tea, and assess the private-label competition from Indian and Sri Lankan suppliers who dominate this market on price. Exhibiting comes later, once a UAE distribution partner is in place. The 2026 expansion to two venues and 8,500 exhibitors signals that MENA is accelerating as a sourcing destination, not plateauing. Long-term this is one of our three most important shows.

FAQ

Common questions

Quick answers buyers ask before committing the travel budget.

  • No. Gulfood is a trade-only event. Entry requires professional registration and payment of the visitor fee (AED 295 in 2026). Attendees must work in food, beverage, hospitality, retail, or a related industry.

Meet us

Going to Gulfood? Lock a meeting before you fly.

Send a brief by phone, WhatsApp, or form and we will set time aside on the floor or in a private meeting space. Co-packing, full production, sample-pack handover - whatever scope fits.

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Talk to us

Talk to us about your tea project

Phone, WhatsApp, or send a message. We answer Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00 CET in English, Albanian, Macedonian, and German.

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