Gulfood strengthens Dubai's position among the world's most important food and culinary tourism capitals

The 28th edition of Gulfood, which kicked off in Dubai and runs until February 24, is a major event in the food and food scene in Dubai, the region and even globally, reinforcing Dubai's position as one of the world's leading food and culinary tourism capitals, bringing together more than 5000,120 companies from 1500 countries, including <>,<> companies joining the event for the first time, the most prominent industry leaders, famous chefs, and the most prominent players in the food and beverage sector from around the world in Dubai to shape the future of the rapidly evolving sector. In the Year of Sustainability, the event will focus specifically on sustainability initiatives and unveil several projects aimed at promoting trends towards sustainability.

Sustainability Initiatives

Sustainability issues appear among many themes on the exhibition's agenda, with Gulfood Green, a new global sustainability initiative designed to stimulate conversations across the food and beverage industry, ensuring a shift towards sustainable food systems and setting unprecedented standards for similar efforts in the future, a specialized conference that discusses many related topics such as efforts to stop food waste, and the exhibition for the first time highlights the world's leading chefs focused on biodiversity. In the restaurant sector. In this context, the exhibition is launching the "Gulfood Global Forest" event, which is in line with global afforestation campaigns and natural solutions offered as part of its commitment to supporting sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.

Gulfood, the largest event of its kind in the world, will announce the launch of two new global events, Gulfood Green and Gulfood Agrotech, from 24 to 26 September 2024, highlighting smart agriculture, innovative technologies and practices in the food industry, transportation, logistics and distribution services with a focus on their impact on developing countries. The event will provide an annual opportunity to address social, economic and environmental challenges to improve food security through cooperation between countries and the exchange of innovations in the food industry.

Helal Saeed Almarri, Chairman of DWTC Authority, said: "In line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to place the environment and enhance its sustainability among 5 government priorities during 2023, we are proud to launch several sustainability initiatives at Gulfood 2023. In the UAE Year of Sustainability, these initiatives will help promote responsible and sustainable practices within the F&B industry in Dubai and beyond. These initiatives will help maintain Dubai's global leadership in food and beverage, while supporting the city's broader sustainability goals, from reducing food waste and promoting healthy eating to sourcing sustainable ingredients and reducing carbon emissions."

Helal Saeed Almarri added: "We believe that sustainability is not just a commitment, but a responsibility, and we are committed to working closely with our partners and stakeholders to create a more sustainable future for our city and planet. We look forward to continuing to drive innovation, excellence and sustainability across the F&B industry, welcoming visitors from around the world to experience the best our city has to offer."

Gulfood Plus

The twenty-eighth edition of the exhibition is expected to be the largest of its kind with an increase in exhibition space by at least 30% of the total area compared to previous years, and part of the record expansion in exhibition size in 2023 is attributed to the launch of Gulfood Plus, a new specially designed hall for the event, which allows first-time participants to showcase their innovative products across an additional 10,<> square meters.

This year's edition also sees the launch of the Gulfood Green Awards, which are accepting nominations in five categories including the Green Food Service Industry Award, the Waste Management Award, the Green Food Innovation Award, the Sustainability Expert of the Year and the Sustainability Company of the Year. The Gulfood Green Awards celebrate excellence in sustainability and encourage the adoption of eco-friendly best practices across the food and beverage industry.

Various Restaurants

Having succeeded in establishing itself as a leading tourist destination and one of the world's most distinctive tourist attractions, Dubai continues to establish itself on the global tourism map, achieving international fame as one of the most prominent food tourism capitals in the world, with a wide range of restaurants ranging from international to local, to offer foodies a unique experience through dishes and dishes selected from different regions around the world, in a vibrant atmosphere, as well as the presence of the most famous chefs. Awarded the highest levels of global recognition, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy a range of dishes and cuisines inspired by the diverse mix of cultures of more than 200 nationalities based in Dubai to work and live.

The licenses have varied from major restaurants to entrepreneurs who are an important part of this growing sector, especially in light of Dubai's strong encouragement of entrepreneurship and the facilities it offers to motivate young people to start their own businesses.

The steady increase in licenses registered in Dubai within the restaurant and food sector indicates the high attractiveness that Dubai enjoys from other cities in the world, as the number of new licenses granted to restaurants from 2017 to 2022 reached more than 10,250 licenses, while 2498,2021 licenses were issued in 13, while the number of effective licenses so far is about <>,<>.

Ranging from international to local, fine dining destinations and distinctive cafes, the international food and beverage scene in Dubai is a leading destination in providing the best dining experiences provided by a selection of famous chefs, as well as the most prominent international restaurant chains, which are very popular from various segments of society and suit different groups and tastes.

Michelin Stars Dubai

Dubai became the first city in the Middle East to feature Michelin-listed restaurants, which include the world's finest restaurants and chefs, after 69 of Dubai's diverse restaurants entered the famous French guide to culinary arts. The Michelin Guide Dubai is the first ever edition in the UAE, celebrating Dubai's premium cuisine map, as full of quality and variety as it is tasteless. The move is a testament to Dubai's position as one of the world's most iconic culinary experience destinations, in line with its position as the world's best destination to live, work and visit. Dubai has always attracted gourmets from all over the world – as well as world-renowned chefs who have earned Michelin stars for their restaurants and brands globally.

Growth factors

His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: "Dubai seeks to achieve the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to be the best city to live, work and visit in the world. There is no doubt that the strong development movement witnessed by Dubai and the accompanying population growth and the development of its attractiveness as a tourist destination for visitors from all over the world, accompanied by a remarkable development in the number and quality of restaurants and food and beverage outlets that serve the most famous and delicious dishes and recipes from all countries and meet the tastes of different nationalities, which qualifies it as the capital of food tourism, which is one of the fastest growing forms of tourism around the world."

Kazim explained that Dubai's position as the capital of food tourism is reinforced by the steady increase in the number of visitors that Dubai receives annually, with the number of tourists coming to Dubai in 2022 recording 14.36 million visitors, an increase of 97 per cent year-on-year compared to 7.28 million visitors in 2021.

The CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing believes that there are many factors that support Dubai's directions to be the real capital of food tourism in the world, including the great cultural diversity that characterizes Dubai's global community, which includes nearly 200 nationalities, as well as the supportive climate for investment and the great facilities Dubai provides to investors and businesses of all sizes, especially entrepreneurs and small investors who find in the restaurant sector an attractive environment due to its opportunities thanks to the rapid development. And the strength that Dubai is witnessing in light of the ambitious development strategies and plans it implements within various sectors.

Food Safety

With the increasing demand for food, it is essential to ensure food safety and hygiene standards to protect the health of residents and visitors. To this end, Dubai Municipality has taken a proactive approach to enforce best practices in the field of food hygiene through periodic inspections in cooperation with the competent authorities.

According to Dawood Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality, "Ensuring food safety is a critical matter that has a direct impact on the health of individuals, so one of our top priorities is to ensure that all food establishments comply with international standards and practices for food and beverage safety."

Al Hajeri added: "The Food Safety Department at Dubai Municipality is committed to enhancing confidence in this regard by designing integrated systems that are in line with local and international best practices for food safety. Dubai Municipality is keen to use unified procedures to control imported food and food establishments in Dubai, to ensure the safety of imported food products, activities and food products, as well as to take measures to investigate and monitor foodborne diseases and monitor them and raise awareness about food safety. We aim to promote food safety awareness and ensure the highest standards of food hygiene in the emirate. "

The statements of the Director General of Dubai Municipality highlight the importance that Dubai Municipality attaches to food safety, which is a key element of Dubai's commitment to providing a healthy environment that meets all international standards and practices.

Dubai Municipality's inspections are rigorous and cover a range of areas and sectors, including food handling, storage, preparation and serving, with Municipality inspectors ensuring that all food handlers are adequately trained and have the skills to handle food safely. Inspectors also check that food is stored at the right temperature, and that utensils are properly cleaned and maintained, to ensure that the working environment is free of epidemics and other potential sources of contamination.

In addition to regular inspections, Dubai Municipality also provides a range of services and training programmes to help food establishments maintain high levels of food safety. These programs include training, awareness, guidance, as well as a digital platform that food professionals can use to manage daily food safety checks, monitor suppliers, evaluate their performance reports, and receive guidance on how to improve their food safety practices.

Al Hajeri added: "We believe in our role in providing community awareness to ensure the highest levels of health and safety. These inspection campaigns provide basic information on food safety, including safe shopping, appropriate ways to store and prepare food, food ordering services through smart applications and others. A list of requirements for food delivery services and training of food establishment personnel are also issued to ensure that food safety and public health standards are applied during the food delivery process."

"Outreach efforts also extend to school students through educational workshops and films, as well as sending messages about proper nutrition and recreational activities for children to enhance students' awareness of these vital issues. The shared responsibility to ensure food safety for all will continue with efforts through the Foodwatch portal and other means to achieve effective communication and participation. Ensuring food safety is not only a legitimate requirement but a moral obligation to society."

Unique Experiences

Dubai is keen to provide unique and integrated experiences for visitors from all over the world, in addition to the various entertainment activities and events that the city hosts throughout the year, with its huge tourism potential, food options are essential in the tourist's journey, as visitors to the city are keen to taste some dishes from international restaurants run by world-renowned chefs.

As a global destination, Dubai has been able during the past period to attract the most famous brands in the food sector, to become among the important elements to attract tourists to it, and provided this type of projects with all the factors of success, as the location of restaurants is chosen according to a thorough study, ensuring its continuity and expansion in the future, and while the city witnesses every year the establishment of more development and development projects, restaurants and cafes also take their share of that growth.

International Events & Festivals

In addition to the Dubai Food Festival, which is organized every year, this sector occupies a wide area in the festivals organized by Dubai throughout the year, such as the Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai Summer Surprises, Eid in Dubai, and Ramadan in Dubai, in addition to the various activities organized by shopping malls. Which highlights the interest in the food sector.

The Dubai Food Festival has succeeded in highlighting Dubai as one of the most important cities where delicious food from around the world can be enjoyed, through exceptional experiences for food lovers and a variety of options including street food, special family meals, luxurious dinners and others, while the event enjoys a large turnout of food lovers, as this unique festival has become one of the most important events that people await annually, whether residents of the emirate or visitors from different parts of the country, as well as tourists coming to it. From the outside.

The festival is not limited to food, but is a comprehensive family event with a diverse calendar of cultural events and activities, in parallel with a showcase of Dubai's most prominent culinary arts and creations, with exclusive gastronomic experiences and views by the world's most famous chefs.

Global Chains

Due to Dubai's unique position on the global travel map, and the steady increase in the number of residents and visitors of various nationalities, Dubai has become home to some of the world's most famous chefs and a key stop in the journey of many international restaurants, such as Nobu Dubai, a restaurant belonging to the Nobu restaurant chain and hotels, which was founded by the world-renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and Lapetite Maison, which opened its first branch in Nice, southern France in 1988, in addition to many more. Other restaurants include Roca, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's Hall Kitchen and Nusret Restaurant.

In addition, 16 restaurants in Dubai are among the 'Top 50 Restaurants in the MENA Region', such as Lowe, Reef Japanese Koshiaki and Indoccini, in addition to the most prominent restaurants that opened during 2021/2022 such as 11 Woodfire and Tamuka Dubai.