World of Coffee Dubai 2026 Kicks Off at DWTC

Qahwa World

The fifth edition of World of Coffee Dubai officially opened today at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), marking a major milestone for the Middle East’s specialty coffee industry. Organised by DXB LIVE, the integrated event management and experiential agency of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), in collaboration with the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), the event opened with more than 2,100 exhibiting companies and brands from 78 countries, delivering its largest and most internationally diverse edition to date.

A key milestone on day one was the signing of a five-year extension agreement between World of Coffee Dubai and the Specialty Coffee Association, extending the partnership until 2031. The agreement formalises a long-term collaboration to support specialty coffee competitions, education programmes, and professional standards at the event. The MoU was signed by Khalid Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President of DXB LIVE, and Yannis Apostolopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), reinforcing World of Coffee Dubai’s position as a stable, internationally aligned platform within the global specialty coffee calendar.

Following the opening programme, activity spread across the exhibition floor, which spans more than 20,000 square metres across Za’abeel Halls 1, 4, 5, and 6. Exhibitors from producing origins and consuming markets showcased green coffee, roasting and brewing technologies, equipment, packaging solutions, and café innovations, representing every stage of the specialty coffee value chain.

Key features activated on day one included the Roasters Village and Producers’ Village, where roasters and origin producers engaged directly with buyers, importers, and industry professionals. The Brew Bar and Cupping Rooms hosted tastings and sensory sessions throughout the day, while the SCA Community Lounge served as a central hub for networking and knowledge exchange. Live activity at the competition stages also drew strong interest from visitors.

The opening day also highlighted the depth of innovation and collaboration across the exhibition. A World of Coffee exclusive collaboration between Oatly and Yaba, a modern Iraqi restaurant based in Al Wasl, introduced a new approach to coffee beverage creation by applying culinary steeping techniques to extract flavour, alongside distinctive elements such as nut crème and saffron-infused bubbles.

Equipment innovation featured prominently, with Coffee Desk, the exclusive Middle East distributor for leading brands including Fellow, unveiling the first global showcase of Fellow’s upgraded Espresso Series 1, ahead of its commercial release later this year. The launch reflected growing demand for high-performance, accessible equipment within the specialty coffee sector.

Commercial activity commenced on day one with the Dubai Coffee Equipment Auction organized by DXB LIVE in collaboration with DMCC, a dedicated one-day auction showcasing specialised and customised coffee equipment from exhibitors at World of Coffee Dubai. Curated in collaboration with M-Cultivo, the auction featured pre-qualified equipment presented through live demonstrations and inspections on the show floor, followed by a live, lot-by-lot auction led by an auctioneer. Designed to connect equipment manufacturers with serious buyers, the auction provided a focused platform for innovation, craftsmanship, and price discovery within the regional specialty coffee market.

Reflecting on the opening day, Khalid Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President at DXB LIVE, said: “World of Coffee Dubai continues to grow in scale, diversity, and international relevance. The strong participation seen on the first day, together with the signing of a five-year partnership agreement with the Specialty Coffee Association, reflects the event’s maturity and its importance as a global platform for trade, education, and professional exchange.”

In a further milestone for the wider coffee events portfolio, Khalid Al Hammadi also signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding related to the Bahrain Coffee Festival. The agreement covers the organisation of the festival as a curated B2C and B2B experience featuring workshops, live brews, competitions, and immersive activations. The Bahrain Coffee Festival aims to engage the wider community by inviting coffee lovers, families, and the public to explore the diversity of coffee, while spotlighting both local and international brands.

During day one, DXB LIVE also announced plans to expand its coffee-focused event portfolio through the launch of dedicated coffee festivals in Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Developed as a separate DXB LIVE IP, the regional festivals will build on the growing momentum of specialty coffee across the GCC while complementing World of Coffee Dubai’s role as the flagship international trade platform.

Exhibitors highlighted the value of the event’s international reach and professional audience. Denkayehu Dessalegn Head Roaster and Quality Control at Roasters, said: “World of Coffee Dubai provides an important platform for regional specialty coffee brands looking to scale internationally. This is our first participation at the event, and it allows us to introduce what we have been developing over the past four years to a global industry audience.”

 

World of Coffee Dubai 2026 continues through 20 January, with upcoming days featuring the Microlot Coffee Auction, the Exhibitors’ Coffee Auction, championship finals, workshops, and further industry announcements.

For visitor registration, media accreditation, and the full programme, please visit:
www.worldofcoffeedubai.com

 About World of Coffee Dubai

World of Coffee Dubai (WOC Dubai) is the premier coffee trade show for exhibitors and visitors looking to break into the Middle East’s burgeoning coffee industry. The event showcases popular features like the Roaster Village, engaging lectures, the Cupping Room, the SCA UAE National Championships, the Coffee Design Awards, the Best New Display Product Competition, Brew Bar, and the SCA Community Lounge, where buyers and sellers come together to reconnect and establish new business relationships. The exhibition welcomes local, regional, and global professionals in the coffee industry including producers, manufacturers, traders, farmers, international experts, distributors, small and medium companies, coffee shops, roasters, hotels, and coffee enthusiasts from around the world.

About SCA

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is the world’s largest nonprofit, membership-based trade association in the coffee industry. Representing thousands of coffee professionals globally from producers to baristas, the organization is built on foundations of openness, inclusivity, and the power of shared knowledge, fostering an international coffee community to make specialty coffee a thriving, equitable, and sustainable activity for the entire value chain. From coffee farmers to baristas and roasters, our membership spans the globe, encompassing every element of the coffee value chain. The SCA acts as a unifying force within the specialty coffee industry and works to make coffee better by raising standards worldwide through a collaborative and progressive approach.

 About DXB LIVE:

DXB LIVE is the integrated event management and experiential agency of Dubai World Trade Centre. With its creative, technical, and operational expertise, DXB LIVE delivers world-class events of all types, including exhibitions, conferences, festivals, recreational activities, national occasions, major corporate events, as well as high-end and private weddings.zThe agency provides services for more than 100 major events annually, designing and building over 500,000 square feet of exhibition stands and delivering complex live events and conference solutions. DXB LIVE also offers strategic consultancy to associations and international organizations, while organizing large-scale trade exhibitions and public events.

Rapidly expanding its footprint, DXB LIVE is strengthening its position among the world’s leading event companies through strong alliances with top international event organizations. Its combined services create exceptional experiences that connect brands with their audiences across the UAE, GCC, Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

World of Coffee Dubai 2024 Exhibition Successfully Concludes with the Reception of 13,000 Visitors

Dubai, January 23, 2024 (QW): The third edition of the “World of Coffee Dubai 2024” exhibition concluded this evening in the city of Dubai with unprecedented public enthusiasm compared to previous editions. Organized by the International Coffee Association in the UAE and managed by “DXB Life,” the event took place over three days at the Dubai World Trade Center, attracting more than 13,000 specialized visitors, a 30% increase from the previous year.

At the event’s closure, winners were announced for the “National Latte Art Championship” and the “National Barista Championship of the UAE.” These competitions featured top professionals in coffee preparation in the UAE, aiming to secure the title and qualify for the annual “World Barista Championship.”

Covering an area of 15,000 square meters, the third edition of the World of Coffee Dubai 2024 brought together farmers, traders, manufacturers, distributors, small and medium-sized companies, café owners, roasters, hotels, coffee enthusiasts, and baristas from 51 countries. The exhibition witnessed the participation of thousands of visitors and more than 1,650 specialized companies and brands in the local, regional, and global coffee industry. The fourth edition of the “World of Coffee – Dubai” exhibition is scheduled for February 10 to 12 next year.

The winners were announced, including Micaela Ranzol from Tepic Coffee securing the first position, Kamal Rasyad from Archers Coffee in the second position, and Nooran Al Banae from Coffee Architects claiming the third position. The National Latte Art Championship also saw Mondrik Albas from Gold Box Roastery in the first position, Angelo Lagata in the second position, and Gatvekly Raymond Ambuan from DRVN By Porsche in the third position.

The closing day featured three lectures, with topics including a presentation by Damian and Merjin from “Abrau” in the first lecture, an introduction to the new Specialty Coffee Association Skills Diploma by Ben Helt, the Accredited Training Program Manager at the Specialty Coffee Association in the second lecture, and Andreas Zinder addressing “Economics of Coffee Extraction Factories: Investment Returns for Sustainability” in the third lecture.

Khaled Al-Hammadi, the First Deputy CEO of “DXB Life,” commented, “This year’s edition of the World of Coffee exhibition in Dubai garnered widespread interest from coffee industry enthusiasts. It witnessed a remarkable presence of global companies and brands, providing an international platform to showcase coffee products and brewing equipment. We look forward to organizing the fourth edition in February next year, building on the notable success achieved in this year’s edition. Sustainability was a key focus of the exhibition, and the event provided space to promote coffee culture among consumers through educational platforms on coffee types and preparation methods.”

Mohammed bin Rashid visits World of Coffee Dubai 2024 exhibition

Dubai, 22 January 2024 (QW): His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, today visited the third edition of the World of Coffee 2024 exhibition being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre until 23 January.

During the visit, His Highness said that Dubai continues to consolidate its status as a key player in shaping the future of global trade by providing world-class infrastructure and services for bridging markets across the world. “Our city’s emergence as the heart of global trade in major commodities demonstrates our constant commitment to excellence and innovation.

As we progress in our journey to achieve the Dubai Economic Agenda D33’s goals to raise foreign trade to AED25.6 trillion and expand the emirate’s global reach to 400 additional cities over the next decade, we are not only creating greater economic prosperity but also helping forge new pathways for a more interconnected global trading landscape.

Dubai hosts numerous events that bring together various global industries to generate new opportunities, innovations and solutions to accelerate the sustainable growth of international trade,” His Highness added.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed was briefed about the World of Coffee 2024 exhibition by His Excellency Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority.

During his tour of the exhibition, which features 1,650 local and international exhibitors, His Highness was also briefed about the coffee industry’s
unique offerings showcased at the event and sustainable practices in the sector’s supply chain.

The global event, organised by DXB Live, the integrated event management and organisation services arm of the Dubai World Trade Centre, in collaboration with the Specialty Coffee Association, features a series of informative lectures presented by seasoned professionals.

The World of Coffee Dubai 2024 serves as a pivotal event in the global coffee industry. With over 1,650 companies and brands in attendance, the expo offers an ideal platform for showcasing a wide array of coffee products and services.

 

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Exhibits range from green and roasted coffee beans to a diverse selection of beverage preparation devices,roasting services providers, flavourings and packaging solutions. Additionally, the event is witnessing the participation of 60 UAE-based companies and brands.

The exhibition is also organising several exciting events, including the UAE National Barista and Latte Art Championship, the Coffee Design Awards, and the Best New Product Awards.

The World of Coffee 2024 aligns with the steady expansion of the coffee industry in the region. Market studies and analyses predict continued growth in the coffee market in the coming years. According to Data Bridge Market Research, the value of the coffee and Espresso drinks market in the MENA region is expected to reach around US$1.33 billion by 2030, increasing from approximately US$1.085 billion in 2022, with an anticipated Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.6%.

 

World of Coffee Dubai 2024 highlights promising prospects for development and expansion of coffee industry in UAE

DXB Live, the integrated event management and experiential agency of the Dubai World Trade Centre, continues the preparations for the 3rd edition of the World of Coffee exhibition, which will be held from 21st to 23rd January 2024.

With expectations that the coffee market in the UAE will grow at an annual rate of 8.4 per cent between 2023 and 2029, and by about 7.5 per cent annually in the Middle East and Africa between 2022 and 2027, the exhibition is witnessing a wide regional and global interest from industry leaders, experts and specialists.

As per a report by Statista, coffee markets in Dubai and the region are experiencing substantial growth, with individual coffee consumption in the UAE expected to reach 1.36 kg in 2023 and the coffee market in Dubai expected to generate sales of over AED 1 billion this year. These figures reflect the industry’s attractiveness and growing demand for coffee products, as Dubai provides an ideal environment for the growth of the coffee market, owing to the presence of global coffee shop brands and the emirate’s role as a regional coffee trade hub, with export revenues exceeding AED 3.5 billion over the last decade.

The World of Coffee Dubai 2024 represents a turning point for the sector in the UAE, which has surpassed the tangible effects of this growth in the coffee market and has reached neighbouring Arab markets, attracting more specialised international brands, in light of the attention given to coffee culture and the variety of offerings provided by Dubai, which is famous for providing innovative experiences in this industry.

Khalid Al Hammadi, Senior Vice President at DXB LIVE, emphasised that Dubai’s economic status and distinctive infrastructure have positioned the emirate as a leading destination for organising and hosting prominent events at regional and worldwide levels. Al Hammadi said: “Through the World of Coffee Dubai exhibition, we hope to contribute to Dubai’s efforts in achieving its strategic goals by developing and diversifying various economic sectors. Additionally, we aim to facilitate building and strengthening relations between participants and companies within the coffee market of UAE and the region.”

“The participation of major brands, companies, and specialists underlines the exhibition’s importance and the international community’s trust in it, and the major role of Dubai in enhancing the regional and international trade movement.” Al Hammadi added.

Technology

Omran Al Hammadi, CEO of Que Trading Group, said: “We are excited to participate for the third time in the World of Coffee Dubai 2024. The exhibition provides us with the remarkable opportunity to explore new avenues, strengthen their presence, and contribute to the growth of this booming industry. During the exhibition, visitors will have the opportunity to discover our most recent products, which include modern and high-quality coffee makers and a wide range of advanced tools and accessories.”

“At our booth, we will conduct in-depth evaluations of the Coffee Tech Engineering Roaster Machines. Additionally, our expert team will showcase the industry’s leading commercial coffee machines, such as the Rocket Sotto Banco, Rocket R9V, and Rocket Appartamento TCA, which integrate cutting-edge technology of the highest quality. By participating in this exhibition, we further reaffirm our dedication to offering coffee aficionados the greatest products. We also look forward to developing fruitful connections and solid collaborations through this significant regional event.” Omran added.

Status

Dubai has a unique status because it is home to several international coffee shops and companies. The World of Coffee Dubai gives companies and cafés the opportunity to provide new and unique experiences for coffee lovers who want to stay up with Dubai’s fast-paced lifestyle. According to Statista predictions for 2022, 82 per cent of worldwide coffee revenues are created by consumption in cafes and restaurants, while 18 per cent of revenues are generated by domestic consumption, which is anticipated to fall by two degrees by 2025.

The current lifestyle trend has been propelling the coffee industry forward, with increased consumption and the development of places that provide it. This tremendous success has compelled major Emirati coffee businesses to expand locally, regionally, and globally to express the Emirati hospitality culture to the globe and strengthen its position as a leading global coffee hub.

Opportunities

Vinícius Estrela, Executive-Director at Brazilian Speciality Coffee ‘BSCA’, said: “We are thrilled to participate in the World of Coffee for the third consecutive year. Our commitment to participating in this event stems from our conviction that the exhibition is particularly significant as it sheds light on the most prominent trends within the coffee industry. Given that the MENA region is one of the biggest markets for Brazilian products in general and coffee in particular, the exhibition serves as a prominent venue for examining innovative prospects to enhance cooperation between the sector’s major players as well as the opportunities provided by local coffee markets.”

“At BSCA, we are excited about this participation, in line with our commitment to fostering collaborations between Brazilian and international coffee markets. We seek to share our knowledge of utilising technology to enhance coffee production, promote sustainable and environment friendly industrial and commercial methodologies in the coffee sector, and highlight Brazil’s remarkable legacy in coffee production.” Estrela added.

Diversity

The exhibition represents the UAE’s significant demographic and cultural diversity, which are essential aspects of the country’s coffee market that has witnessed a high demand for varieties of coffee. Meeting all these demands necessitate the availability of a diverse range of coffee varieties and preparation styles, allowing global companies to participate in broader opportunities to strengthen their presence locally and regionally.