Gulfood 2026 is where the food industry shows up in force.
Across five days in Dubai, global suppliers, buyers, and decision-makers will be gathering at one of the world’s largest food trade events.
From staples that feed entire regions to premium products shaping retail shelves, Gulfood 2026 Dubai brings together the full operating machinery of the food and beverage world. Buyers, suppliers, policymakers, logistics players, startups, and global brands converge at a scale few events can match.
Running from 26–30 January 2026, Gulfood stretches across two major venues in Dubai, hosting thousands of exhibitors from seven continents.
Important for you: Gulfood 2026 Timing
Gulfood 2026
Gulfood Dubai 2026 is a large-scale business-to-business food and agribusiness exhibition, covering the entire value chain: from raw agricultural commodities to branded, packaged, export-ready products, alongside logistics, food technology, and trade infrastructure.
Event: Gulfood 2026
Dates: 26-30 January 2026
Venues: (1) Dubai World Trade Centre, (2) Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai
Gulfood Dubai 2026 Dates & Timings
Dubai Gulfood will run from 26 to 30 January 2026.
Timings vary, please note:
| Dates | Timings |
|---|---|
| 26–29 January 2026 | 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM |
| 30 January 2026 | 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Venues
Gulfood 2026 is operating across two venues:
- Dubai World Trade Centre (Google Maps Location)
- Dubai Exhibition Centre (Google Maps Location)
Despite being quite some distance apart, the event is designed to function as one connected event rather than separate locations.
Movement between Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Exhibition Centre is simple and planned.
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Organisers are running dedicated shuttle buses throughout the day.
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The Dubai Metro connects both venues.
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And metered taxis operate from transport hubs at each site.
By road, the venues sit within roughly 30 minutes of each other, making it easy to structure full days across both locations.
Gulfood Dubai 2026 Exhibitor List
The Gulfood 2026 exhibitor list shows the companies taking part across the event and is updated on a regular basis.
It includes exhibitors from key sectors such as Gulfood Logistics, Gulfood Fresh, Gulfood Retail, Nature & Green, World Foods, Power Brands, Gulfood Startups, Beverages, Dairy, Sweets & Confectionery, Meat & Poultry, and Seafood.
The Gulfood Exhibitor List is easy to use. You can:
- Browse exhibitors alphabetically,
- Search by country,
- Or, filter by category or sector
This makes it easier to plan your visit, shortlist suppliers, and decide which halls and pavilions to focus on.
You can view the latest updated exhibitor list here: Click Here
View DWTC Exhibitor List | View DEC Exhibitor List
What’s Happening @ Gulfood 2026
Here is what you will find at each venue:
Dubai World Trade Centre
DWTC is hosting several of Gulfood’s most commercially active sectors:
Dairy: Premium dairy brands from across the world take centre stage, with buyers sourcing milk products, cheese, butter, and value-added dairy formats.
Seafood: With the global seafood market valued at around USD 400 billion, this pavilion draws suppliers and buyers looking at both volume and premium segments.
Meat & Poultry: Processed, frozen, fresh, and value-added offerings aimed at retail, foodservice, and institutional buyers.
Beverages: Tea, coffee, functional drinks, juices, and more. This category alone features 5,000+ brands, presented by 500+ exhibitors from 65 countries, making it one of the most diverse sourcing zones at the show.
Fats & Oils and Power Brands: From essential cooking oils to globally recognised packaged food brands.
You will also want to read: Everyone in Dubai Looks Rich. Most of Them Aren’t.
Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City
DEC focuses on categories that anchor everyday food trade at scale:
World Food: Global cuisines, export-ready packaged foods, and regional specialties.
Rice, Pulses & Grains: Core staples that power food security and international trade flows.
Grocery Trade: Pantry essentials, high-demand consumer staples, and private-label opportunities.
Gulfood Fresh: A curated marketplace bringing growers, suppliers, and buyers together to negotiate fresh produce deals in real time.
Gulfood Logistics: Cold-chain solutions, advanced routing, automation, and data-driven logistics systems that keep global food moving efficiently.
India Takes Centre Stage as Partner Country of Gulfood 2026
India is the Official Partner Country at Gulfood 2026, represented by APEDA under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India.
India also represents the largest country participation at the event, with over 600 exhibitors across the show and 150 companies featured within a flagship, government-led pavilion.
You will see globally recognised Indian brands such as Amul, Everest, MDH, Mother Dairy, Rasna, Supil Tech, alongside exporters spanning grains, spices, dairy, beverages, meat, seafood, and processed foods.
The partnership reflects India’s export scale, compliance strength, and growing role in global food security under the India–UAE CEPA framework.
Where Deals Get Done: The Gulfood Big Deal Hub
The Gulfood Big Deal Hub is designed for focused buyer–seller engagement at scale.
Connecting participants from 195 countries, this is where:
- global buyers place purchase orders
- suppliers secure high-value deals
- negotiations move quickly from discussion to commitment
It functions as one of the most commercially active spaces at Gulfood, aligning sourcing intent with execution.
A Truly Global Marketplace
Gulfood 2026 brings together suppliers from seven continents, showcasing products and innovations from across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas.
Visitors encounter offerings from countries such as South Korea, Spain, Iran, Egypt, China, Kuwait, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the UAE, creating a marketplace that reflects both global diversity and deep category expertise.
Evolved Agri-Food Tech Startup Challenge
High-level decision-makers will also gather to assess next-generation agri-food technologies. Visionary integrators will present AI-driven solutions and scalable systems, competing for:
- USD 30,000 first prize
- USD 20,000 second prize
- USD 10,000 third prize
The challenge highlights where technology, agriculture, and capital intersect.
Gulfood World Economy Summit Launches in 2026
Gulfood 2026 also marks the launch of the Gulfood World Economy Summit.
Under the theme Driving Global Prosperity and Progress, ministers, policymakers, CEOs, and global institutions come together to address food security, trade, and economic resilience. The summit provides a platform for collaboration, deal-making, and discussion on sustainable food systems and the next era of global food innovation.
Who should attend Gulfood 2026?
Gulfood 2026 is designed for professionals who make decisions that move food across borders, categories, and supply chains. If your work touches sourcing, selling, distribution, policy, or food systems at scale, this event is built for you.
Global Buyers & Importers
If you source food across multiple markets, Gulfood gives you a single place to evaluate suppliers, assess quality, compare pricing, and initiate purchasing discussions. You come to sample products, shortlist partners, and plan supply for the year ahead.
Exporters & Manufacturers
If you sell into international markets, Gulfood places you in front of active buyers and distributors from across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia. You attend to present export-ready products, discuss volumes and specifications, and open new trade corridors.
Retailers & Foodservice Operators
If you manage assortments for supermarkets, hospitality groups, or institutional buyers, Gulfood helps you identify high-rotation categories, private-label opportunities, and differentiated products. You attend to benchmark suppliers and align sourcing with consumer demand.
Distributors & Trading Companies
If you operate distribution or trading businesses, Gulfood allows you to deepen category coverage, expand supplier networks, and align sourcing with regional demand. You attend to compare origins, formats, and pricing across markets efficiently.
Logistics & Supply Chain Leaders
If you manage how food moves, Gulfood connects you with producers, buyers, and logistics providers solving real-world distribution challenges. You attend to explore cold-chain infrastructure, routing solutions, automation, and systems that support fresh and secure delivery.
Food & Agri-Tech Founders and Investors
If you build or back food innovation, Gulfood gives you direct exposure to how technology is entering production, processing, and logistics. You attend to engage with founders, integrators, and decision-makers shaping the next phase of food systems.
Government Bodies & Trade Organisations
If you represent ministries, export councils, or trade institutions, Gulfood offers a platform to support exporters, facilitate partnerships, and engage with global stakeholders. You attend to strengthen trade relationships and advance food security agendas.
Senior Executives & Policy Leaders
If you shape strategy or policy, Gulfood provides a ground-level view of how global food trade is evolving. You attend to understand market realities, engage at leadership forums such as the Gulfood World Economy Summit, and align long-term decisions with on-the-ground dynamics.
Gulfood 2026 is where the food industry operates at full scale. Products move from samples to supply chains, conversations turn into contracts, and global trade directions begin to align.
If you had five days to understand how the world feeds itself, this is where you would start.
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