Highlights of the opening of Gulf Food 2026 edition, at the Italian Pavilion in Expo City location and the amazing evening at Chic Nonna, along with Edoardo Napoli, Consul General of Italy in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Matteo Zoppas, President of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA/ICE), Valerio Soldani is the Trade Commissioner of Italy to the UAE and Oman, Sandro Gambuzza & Kevin Pimpinella from Presidency of Confagricoltura, key players of the industry and friends.
Gulfood 2026, the 31st edition of the world’s largest food and beverage sourcing event, is currently taking place in Dubai from January 26 to 30, 2026.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, officially toured the exhibition on its opening day, January 26, 2026.
The opening of Gulfood 2026 was nothing short of spectacular, setting the tone for what promises to be a transformative week in global food and beverage trade. At the heart of the festivities, the Italian Pavilion at Expo City was a vibrant showcase of Italian excellence—where tradition meets cutting-edge innovation. Industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and dignitaries from around the world gathered to celebrate the power of food as a bridge between cultures and economies.
This year’s event broke records with its unprecedented scale and ambition. For the first time in its history, Gulfood is spanning two mega venues – the iconic Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and the newly expanded Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City Dubai – doubling the footprint of the exhibition and enabling deeper engagement across sectors. With over 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries presenting more than 1.5 million products across 280,000 square meters of space, the atmosphere was electric with opportunity, discovery, and partnership.
A major highlight of the 2026 edition is the introduction of the Gulfood World Economy Summit, an ambitious forum designed to address food security, global supply chain resilience, and the strategic role of trade diplomacy in a rapidly changing world. Alongside, Gulfood Startups brought together over 250 food-tech innovators whose solutions are reshaping everything from sustainable farming to alternative proteins and smart packaging.
During his visit, Sheikh Mohammed underscored Dubai’s pivotal role as a global hub connecting East and West food markets. He emphasized the UAE’s commitment to embracing innovation and advanced technology, noting that these are critical to ensuring resilience and sustainability in the food sector. His message resonated across the halls: that visionary investment and collaboration will transform global challenges into shared opportunities for growth.
The Italian Pavilion stood out as a beacon of quality and creativity, celebrating Italy’s rich culinary heritage and dynamic food ecosystem. Delegations engaged in meaningful discussions, forging partnerships that will extend far beyond the event. At the center of these conversations were themes of sustainability, digital transformation, and new market entry strategies – reflecting Italy’s strategic outlook in international trade.
MamaBella brings the warm authenticity of Italian cuisine to Dubai, transforming every dish into a tale of flavors and memories. MamaBella’s Chef Alessandro Miceli and all MamaBella’s other renowned chefs are at Dubai World Cuisine to showcase their expertise.
The energy carried into the evening at Chic Nonna, where an exquisite gathering brought together industry leaders, government representatives, and friends of the Italian-UAE business community. Hosted with elegance and warmth, the dinner was an unforgettable celebration of friendship, shared vision, and the bright future ahead for food innovation and global collaboration.
