The “Gulfood 2026” exhibition is set to take place from January 26 to January 30 at the Dubai World Trade Centre and the Expo Dubai Exhibition Centre. It is expected to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors from approximately 195 countries. This year’s event will be the first to span two major venues, reinforcing its status as one of the largest specialized trade exhibitions in the food and logistics sectors globally.
Covering 12 primary sectors across both locations, Gulfood will increase its exhibition space and enhance its capacity by 100%. According to Mark Napier, Vice President of Exhibition Management at the Dubai World Trade Centre, this expansion is timely as Dubai continues to solidify its positioning as a key global hub for trade and exhibitions, supported by its advanced infrastructure and strategic location connecting over a third of the world’s population within a few hours of flight.
Napier emphasized that this growth not only establishes Gulfood as the largest global meeting point in the food sector but also enhances Dubai’s role as a major center for high-value trade, food supply chains, and global logistics services. The hosting of the exhibition in both the Dubai World Trade Centre and the Expo Dubai Exhibition Centre is expected to attract more visitors, increase transaction volumes, and reinforce Dubai’s reputation. This development marks a significant shift in the history of the exhibition by doubling the exhibition space and improving capacity. It allows for broader international participation, greater representation from national pavilions, and the introduction of rapidly growing sectors like Gulfood for Grocery Trade, Gulfood Fresh, Gulfood for Logistics Services, Seafood, and the Gulfood Startup Platform. This expansion will boost buyer engagement, accelerate deal-making, and highlight Dubai’s integrated infrastructure and logistical capabilities, ultimately cementing the emirate’s position as a global hub for food trade and logistics.
With forecasts predicting the global logistics market to grow from $9.4 trillion to $23 trillion, the Gulfood Logistics Platform positions Dubai at the heart of this growth trajectory. The platform brings together global supply chain leaders, investors, and innovators to address issues around efficiency, resilience, and sustainability in food logistics. Dubai’s world-class infrastructure, multi-modal transport network, and easy access to regional and international markets will facilitate valuable partnerships, expedite cross-border trade, and enhance the emirate’s appeal as a preferred gateway for global food supply chains.
Discussing the economic opportunities presented by the growth of the food logistics sector for Dubai’s economy, Napier noted that this annual growth rate of 8.4% represents a significant economic opportunity. Gulfood 2026 enhances these prospects by serving as a meeting point for suppliers, distributors, investors, and technology providers to collaborate and implement advanced logistical solutions. This momentum supports increased trade volume and foreign investment, creates job opportunities in storage, cold supply chains, transportation, and technology, while further establishing Dubai’s reputation in effective, resilient, and future-ready supply chains. This, in turn, has a positive impact on sectors such as trade, tourism, and services.
Gulfood 2026 is preparing to launch the “Gulfood Grocery Trade” platform, designed to cater to the fast-moving consumer goods sector and grocery brands, which are fundamental drivers of the region’s food economy. This initiative aligns with the rapid expansion of grocery retail and wholesale sectors in the Middle East, reflecting significant transformations in the food and beverage industry. The “Gulfood Grocery Trade” platform will be a highly impactful commercial marketplace, bringing together manufacturers, brand owners, traders, distributors, and purchasing groups seeking expansion, partnerships, and sales-driven growth. The Middle East is recognized as one of the fastest-growing retail markets in the world, propelled by population growth and the swift expansion of modern retail.