DET leads Dubai’s participation at SIAL Paris 2026 to drive global growth of F&B manufacturers

Dubai: The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) spearheaded the city’s presence at SIAL Paris 2026, showcasing Dubai-based food and beverage (F&B) manufacturers on a major international platform to support their global expansion. Held from 17 to 21 October, the exhibition enabled manufacturers to connect with international buyers, importers and distributors as part of wider efforts to expand Dubai’s export base and strengthen the emirate’s position as a global hub for F&B manufacturing and trade. The 30 manufacturers joining DET represented a broad range of F&B categories, including confectionery, beverages, tea and coffee, dairy products, ready-to-eat foods and snacks, sauces and condiments, bakery products, dates and dried fruits, and healthy and functional foods. The showcase gave buyers a clear view of the diversity, quality and export potential of Dubai-manufactured products, while reflecting the growing sophistication of the emirate’s food production sector. Organised by DET, the Dubai Pavilion also featured Dubai Industrial City and DP World’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), highlighting how Dubai’s industrial infrastructure, logistics capabilities and trade services support manufacturers from production through to international distribution. Their participation underscored the integrated ecosystem available to companies operating from Dubai, including access to Jebel Ali Port, advanced warehousing, free zone services and established routes to regional and global markets. Over the course of the event, the Dubai Pavilion hosted more than 600 business meetings with international buyers and distributors from key markets, including France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a competitive hub for food and beverage exports. The city’s participation in events such as SIAL supports the ambitions of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy and substantially increase manufacturing value added. By creating direct engagement between Dubai-based manufacturers and international buyers, the participation advanced DET’s efforts to strengthen export readiness, open new market opportunities and support the international growth of locally manufactured products. His Excellency Hadi Badri, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), the economic development arm of DET, said: “Dubai’s engagement with platforms such as SIAL Paris 2026 reflects our commitment to supporting manufacturers in translating local capability into global opportunity. Food and beverage manufacturing is a vital contributor to the city’s continued economic diversification, industrial value creation and export growth. As we work towards achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, we are bringing together infrastructure, logistics, market access and public-private collaboration to enable companies to innovate, increase productivity and compete with confidence in a changing global trade environment. Our focus remains on continuing to work with our partners and engage with businesses to widen market access, attract investment and support manufacturers as they scale from Dubai to the world.” Showcasing Dubai-made products Throughout the exhibition, participating companies engaged with buyers, distributors and industry stakeholders from Europe and other international markets, exploring potential routes to retail, hospitality, wholesale and specialised food channels. These interactions supported market intelligence, product visibility and commercial discussions that can help manufacturers assess demand and prepare for future expansion. Dubai Industrial City’s participation highlighted the role of industrial infrastructure in supporting food manufacturing and business expansion. A dedicated Jafza zone within the Dubai Pavilion showcased F&B brands operating from the free zone and underlined the role of Jebel Ali’s integrated port, logistics and distribution network in connecting Dubai-based manufacturers with customers across international markets. Abdulla Al Hashmi, Global COO – Parks & Economic Zones, DP World, said: “Dubai is a major hub for international food trade, connecting producers, manufacturers and distributors with markets around the world. Jafza’s F&B exports and re-exports are worth AED5.5 billion, representing approximately 35% of Dubai’s total. With more than 856 F&B companies operating in Jafza, around 10% of which are involved in manufacturing, processing, packaging and other value-added activities, Jafza provides the scale, capabilities and connectivity businesses need to compete internationally. At SIAL Paris, we showcased how this ecosystem can help European food businesses reach new markets, strengthen supply chains and grow internationally.” Saud Abu Alshawareb, Executive Vice President – Industrial, TECOM Group, speaking on behalf of Dubai Industrial City, said: “A cohesive manufacturin