Gulfood maintains its title as the world's largest annual food and beverage trade fair. The 2026 edition, held January 26–30 at Dubai World Trade Centre and Expo City Dubai, was the most comprehensive in the event's history. How do you prepare for Gulfood, the most critical gateway to Middle East and African markets for Turkish food exporters?
Why is Gulfood So Important?
Gulfood brings together over 5,000 exhibitors from 190+ countries and more than 100,000 buyers. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf countries have the world's highest food import rates. For Turkey, this region is the fastest growing market for food exports. Turkish products including olive oil, canned goods, confectionery, flour and grain products see strong demand at this fair.
Participation Categories
Gulfood is organized in six main categories: Dairy, Meat & Poultry, Beverages, Pulses, Grains & Cereals, Ingredients & Fine Foods, and Retail & Hospitality. Turkish companies attract intense interest particularly in grain, flour, pasta, canned fruit-vegetables and olive oil categories.
Turkish National Participation
Turkey holds a strong national participation at Gulfood every year. The joint Turkish pavilion organized under TİM and Agricultural Credit Cooperatives coordination provides both cost advantages and visibility for companies. Within the national participation framework, a significant portion of stand rental and decoration expenses can be covered by government support.
Practical Information
Dubai Visa: Turkish citizens can enter Dubai visa-free for 30 days. Transportation: Istanbul-Dubai is approximately 4 hours. Accommodation: Book at least 2 months in advance as Dubai hotels fill up during fair week. The Red Line of the Dubai Metro stops near the fair. Currency: Dirham (AED), credit cards are accepted everywhere. Planning all of this in advance provides a major advantage for visiting Gulfood successfully.
