The third day of the “Gulfood 2026” exhibition marked a pivotal moment for this influential food and beverage platform, reinforcing the UAE’s role as a global driver of agricultural trade. This event highlights the transition of “Gulfood” into a holistic system that contributes to shaping frameworks spanning agriculture, technology, manufacturing, branding, and future food solutions. Building on previous successful expansions, “Gulfood” is now launching “Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya,” broadening its reach into a new continent while embedding agricultural technology and innovation at the core of the “from farm to table to future” chain.
To emphasize “Gulfood’s” role as a facilitator of systemic collaboration, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with the UAE Food Group. According to Saleh Lutah, Chairman of the UAE Food Group, “The group’s strategy has gathered ecosystem stakeholders together, allowing the UAE to solidify its position as a smart global food hub capable of tackling today’s challenges.” The UAE Food Group also honored “Gulfood” with a prestigious award in recognition of its contributions to building a robust food system within the country and connecting food sectors globally.
On the commercial front, the “Big Deal Hub” platform strengthened “Gulfood’s” status as a deal-making engine, linking buyers, suppliers, and emerging markets broadly. Jil Ben Moussa, CEO of Nature Shield Trading – a Free Zone Company, stated, “Our presence at “Gulfood” has been a unique experience as a specialist in chilled juices and individually quick-frozen fruits, primarily focusing on the American and European markets. Participating in the exhibition allows us to engage with a wide range of new suppliers, particularly evident through the “Big Deal Hub” and the pre-arranged meeting coordination in one location to enhance participation efficiency.”
Affirming its role as a global launchpad, new products were unveiled during the “Gulfood 2026” exhibition, alongside investment announcements and the debut of brands. Rasha Al-Awar, Regional Marketing Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Fresh Del Monte, remarked, “Over the past 19 years, the “Gulfood” exhibition has served as a strategic platform for Fresh Del Monte. In its current edition, the event continues to play a critical role in enabling interaction with global partners and enhancing collaborative relationships while showcasing our commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability. Every year, “Gulfood” attracts a large audience and industry stakeholders, providing an ideal environment to explore growth opportunities. This year is particularly special for us as we are launching two new product lines, with “Gulfood” serving as the perfect platform to introduce these innovative products to the global market. We value our long-term partnership with this event and look forward to more fruitful participations and successful editions.”
During the exhibition days, the focus was on the “from farm to table to future” chain, as leaders in agricultural technology, emerging food tech companies, and sustainability innovators came together to translate techniques for precision aquaculture, functional nutrition, and plant proteins into scalable solutions.
“Dubai World Culinary” hosted lively live cooking sessions during “Gulfood 2026” featuring renowned chefs like Chef Russell Impiazzi and Chef Suleiman Haddad. Michelin-starred chefs shared unique insights into contemporary cuisine across 80 workshops, inviting the global food and beverage community to discover bold and new flavors from around the world.