Food & FMCG

As grocery retail and wholesale channels across the Middle East expand at record pace, Gulfood 2026 will introduce Gulfood Grocery Trade, a dedicated platform aimed at supporting the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), private label and grocery sectors that underpin the region’s food economy.

Scheduled to take place from January 26 to 30, 2026, at the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai, the new platform is designed to respond to rising grocery demand, rapid modern retail expansion and increasingly import-led supply chains across high-growth regional markets. The initiative underscores the growing strategic importance of grocery trade in ensuring product availability, price stability and supply chain resilience across the GCC and wider Middle East.

Positioned as a high-impact commercial marketplace, Gulfood Grocery Trade will bring together manufacturers, brand owners, traders, distributors and buying groups seeking scale, partnerships and volume-driven growth. The Middle East continues to rank among the world’s fastest-evolving retail landscapes, driven by population growth, urbanisation and sustained investment in modern retail formats.

Grocery and FMCG segments remain central to this momentum. The UAE alone generates an estimated $40 billion in grocery retail sales, with annual growth of around 6.5 per cent, while the region’s online grocery market is forecast to reach $327 billion by 2033, reshaping how products are sourced, distributed and sold.

Regional manufacturers and trade bodies on the exhibition floor

Gulfood Grocery Trade will showcase a wide cross-section of regional manufacturers, processors and trade organisations, reflecting the diversity of the grocery ecosystem. Confirmed exhibitors include Agro Blend, Ajman Chamber, Al Naqeeb, Anabtawi, Biotech, Dairy World, Dubai Industrial City, QNT, Set Al Kel and the Umm Al Quwain Chamber, highlighting capabilities across packaged foods, dairy, nutrition, ingredients and value-added grocery products.

Key international sourcing markets represented

Strong international participation will further reinforce the platform’s position as a global sourcing hub. Exhibitors and national pavilions are expected from key grocery supply markets including China, Malaysia, Senegal, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Türkiye and Vietnam, all of which play an expanding role in supplying grocery products to Middle Eastern retail and wholesale channels.

With its focused approach, Gulfood Grocery Trade aims to connect global supply with regional demand, supporting the next phase of growth for grocery, retail and FMCG distribution across the Middle East.

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