Dubai International Chamber of Commerce, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, today held a business information session on the sidelines of Gulfood 2026, the world’s largest exhibition and conference for the food and beverage sector. Gulfood 2026 will be held from January 26th to 30th at Expo City Dubai, Dubai World Trade Center and Dubai Exhibition Centre.
The Chamber’s information session brought together 410 representatives from international food and beverage companies to explore the latest market data and key trends shaping the UAE’s food sector. The event featured presentations highlighting Dubai’s competitiveness as a world-leading hub for trade and manufacturing of food and beverage products.
Khalid Al-Jarwan, Executive Vice President, Commercial and Corporate Services, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “Dubai’s food and beverage sector is experiencing strong growth driven by economic resilience, population growth and a thriving tourism industry. Gulfood is committed to building a global partnership. We are committed to supporting the food and beverage sector, connecting global companies with local opportunities, and ensuring a dynamic environment that allows companies to expand regionally and internationally.”
The chamber’s presentation cited Dubai Customs data showing that Dubai’s food and beverage product imports achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% between 2014 and 2024. During the same period, the emirate’s exports recorded a CAGR of 4.4%, while re-exports achieved a compound annual growth rate of 5.4%.
The briefing also shared insights based on Euromonitor data, showing that retail sales of fresh and processed food in the UAE reached USD 17.3 billion in 2025. Consumer spending on food purchases via e-commerce platforms totals USD 1.2 billion and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.5% until 2029.
The chamber’s presentation pointed out that Dubai attracted a total of USD 576 million in greenfield investments across the food and beverage sector between 2021 and 2025, according to data from fDi Intelligence. From 2021 to 2025, the country’s restaurant tech sector attracted a total of USD 898.8 million in investments.
The briefing highlighted that retail sales of fresh produce in the UAE are expected to increase from USD 9.75 billion in 2025, reaching a CAGR of 4.7% by 2030. Meat is expected to account for the largest share of sales in this category in 2025, with retail sales of USD 3.1 billion, registering a CAGR of 5.1% through 2030. Vegetables are in second place, with sales expected to reach US$2.7 billion by 2030. In 2025, the CAGR for the same period is expected to be 4.8%.
The presentation predicted that retail sales of processed foods in the UAE will grow from USD 7.68 billion in 2025, achieving a CAGR of 5.4% by 2030. Staple foods accounted for the largest share of processed food sales, which is expected to reach USD 2.7 billion in 2025 and achieve a CAGR of 6% from 2025 to 2030. Dairy products are in second place with sales in USD. It is expected to reach 2.3 billion people by 2025, with a CAGR of 4.7% over the same period.
The Dubai International Chamber presentation also highlighted that retail sales of soft drinks in the UAE are expected to register a CAGR of 6.1% between 2025 and 2030, reaching a market value of USD 4.5 billion. Ready-to-drink tea and coffee have been identified as the fastest growing segment, with tea expected to achieve a CAGR of 9% and coffee 8.3% between 2025 and 2030.
