His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday paid a visit to the Gulfood 2012, the world's prime annual food and hospitality trade event, running currently at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC).

Accompanied by Director-General of the Dubai government's media Office Ahmed Abdullah Al Sheikh and a number of other officials, Sheikh Mohammed went around various pavilions and stalls at the venue, where 3,800 companies from over 88 countries began brisk trading from the moment the show opened on Sunday.

He was greeted with warm welcome by the exhibitors.

More than 1,080 new exhibitors also take part in Gulfood this year. Leading global brands exhibiting at this year's event include Barry Callebaut, Bon Cafe, Britvic, DelMonte, Dilmah, Electrolux, Foster Clark, General Mills, Hershey's, Knorr, Lipton, Masafi, Nestle, Sadia, Snyders, Unilever and Valrhona.

Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of the exhibition briefed Sheikh Mohammed on the current edition of the region's largest event in the food industry.

The phenomenal response the event has received from both exhibitors and visitors confirms the success of Gulfood in consistently delivering contracts and customers across the entire spectrum of the industry.