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Dubai Chamber of Commerce has organized a high-level business meeting on the sidelines of Gulfood 2026, bringing together over 400 representatives from international food and beverage companies. The event, which took place during the world’s largest annual food and beverage industry exhibition at Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai, focused on market insights and industry trends shaping the UAE’s food and beverage sector. Gulfood 2026 continues until January 30, providing a crucial platform for global partnerships and business opportunities.
According to Dubai Chambers, the business meeting attracted 410 representatives from specialized global food and beverage companies. The gathering featured presentations highlighting Dubai’s competitive position as a leading global hub for food and beverage trade and manufacturing.
Dubai Food and Beverage Trade Shows Strong Growth
Khaled Al Jarwan, Senior Vice President of Commercial and Institutional Services at Dubai Chambers, stated that the food and beverage sector in Dubai is experiencing notable growth. This expansion is driven by a strong economy, population growth, and thriving tourism, he explained. Al Jarwan emphasized that Gulfood serves as an important platform for establishing global partnerships and exploring new opportunities while connecting international companies with local opportunities.
The presentation revealed significant trade growth based on Dubai Customs data. Dubai’s imports of food and beverage products achieved a compound annual growth rate of 3.1 percent during the period from 2014 to 2024. Meanwhile, the emirate’s exports of these products recorded a compound annual growth rate of 4.4 percent during the same period.
Re-Export Activity Demonstrates Robust Performance
Re-exports from Dubai showed even stronger performance, registering compound annual growth of 5.4 percent between 2014 and 2024, according to the chamber’s presentation. This data underscores Dubai’s strategic role as a regional distribution center for food and beverage products. Additionally, the figures demonstrate the emirate’s capacity to serve both local consumption needs and regional market demands.
Statistics based on Euromonitor data indicated that retail sales of fresh and packaged food in the UAE reached 17.3 billion dollars during 2025. Furthermore, consumer spending in the country on food purchases through e-commerce platforms reached 1.2 billion dollars. This digital food retail segment is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate of 8.5 percent through 2029, reflecting shifting consumer preferences.
Foreign Direct Investment Flows into Food and Beverage Sector
The food and beverage sector in Dubai attracted new foreign direct investment valued at 576 million dollars during the period from 2021 to 2025, according to FDI Intelligence data presented at the meeting. However, the restaurant technology sector in the UAE drew even larger investments totaling 898.8 million dollars during the same timeframe. These investment figures highlight growing international confidence in the region’s food industry infrastructure and digital innovation capabilities.
The presentation outlined projections for soft drink retail sales in the UAE to achieve a compound annual growth rate of 6.1 percent from 2025 to 2030. According to these forecasts, sales are expected to reach 4.5 billion dollars by the end of the projection period. In contrast, ready-to-drink tea and coffee beverages emerged as the fastest-growing categories within the beverage segment.
Ready-to-Drink Beverages Lead Growth Projections
Ready-to-drink tea products are expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate of 9 percent, while ready-to-drink coffee products are projected to grow at 8.3 percent annually from 2025 to 2030, the chamber reported. These categories represent emerging consumer trends toward convenience and premium beverage options. The strong performance projections reflect changing lifestyle patterns and increasing demand for on-the-go consumption formats among UAE residents and visitors.
As Gulfood 2026 continues through the end of January, participating companies and stakeholders will have additional opportunities to explore partnerships and assess market entry strategies. The full impact of connections made during the exhibition and associated business meetings will likely become evident in the coming months as companies finalize investment and expansion plans for the UAE market.
