Dubai – WAM
The “World of Coffee Dubai 2026” exhibition has recorded its largest international participation from coffee-producing countries since its inception, featuring 76 exhibitors from various “Coffee Belt” nations. The fifth edition will take place from January 18 to 20, 2026, at the Dubai World Trade Center.
Organized by DXB Live, the event management arm of the Dubai World Trade Center, in collaboration with the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), this edition will showcase eight national pavilions from Ethiopia, India, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, Brazil, with Kenya and Peru joining for the first time. Notable returning producers include Colombia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Mexico, and Rwanda, all of which will offer expanded displays.
This year, the exhibition boasts a record 76 exhibitors, with the “Producers Village” featuring 14 dedicated spaces that connect farmers with roasters, importers, and buyers, demonstrating the diversity of agricultural environments and processing methods from their respective origins. Additionally, specialized auctions will be held to present rare coffee bean types and experimental micro-lots, debuting in the region.
The event will also involve various national organizations related to coffee and export, including the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association, the Costa Rican Coffee Institute, the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama, the Peruvian Export Promotion Agency (PROMPERU), the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, the Kenyan Coffee Directorate, and the Saudi Coffee Company.
This extensive participation highlights the growing regional demand for specialty coffee, with recent data indicating a 12% increase in Kenyan coffee exports in 2024, while Ethiopian coffee export revenues reached $2.65 billion during the 2024-2025 financial year, driven by rising demand from Middle Eastern markets, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, African coffee exports experienced an annual growth rate of 8% by the end of 2024.
Shouq Bin Radha, the director of World of Coffee Dubai, emphasized that the diversity and scale of international participation in 2026 reflect the evolving perspective of producers towards Middle Eastern markets, which have become a key element in the global export strategies of producing countries.
Khaled Mulla, CEO of the Specialty Coffee Association in the UAE, noted the significant progress in the specialty coffee market in the region, characterized by enhanced quality demand and the establishment of direct partnerships between roasters and farmers. He highlighted that the exhibition has become a pivotal platform for connecting value chains and promoting sustainable trade within the sector.
The exhibition serves as a critical venue for enhancing Dubai’s role as a global hub for specialty coffee trade, bringing together producers, buyers, importers, and roasters, supporting the sector’s growth both regionally and globally.