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Dubai gears up for largest edition of Gulfood; commute, parking explained
For the first time this year, part of the event will take place at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City, while the other portion will unfold at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)
- PUBLISHED: Mon 26 Jan 2026, 9:37 AM
- By:
- Nasreen Abdulla
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Dubai is gearing up to host the largest edition of Gulfood across two locations. For the first time this year, part of the food and beverage sourcing event will take place at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City, while the other portion will unfold at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
Scheduled to take place over five days on January 26-30, the event will bring more than 1.5 million products on the floor with over 8,500 exhibitors participating from 195 countries.
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For the first time this year, Gulfood will be offering discovery tours connecting investors and buyers. Meanwhile the Innovation Awards and World Agri Food-tech Startup Challenge will see some of the most unique products and services battle it out for top honours.
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Here is everything you need to know about the exhibition and how to attend:
How to get there
Visitors to both venues are encouraged to use the Dubai Metro. Free shuttle buses will run between both locations, and a transportation hub will have taxis.
Where to park
At DWTC, there will be five paid multi-level car parks for those preferring to travel by car. Some of these parking structures are charging Dh100 for the first hour and Dh50 for every remaining hour. There will be limited streetside parking also available on either side of the Sheikh Zayed Road and Mustaqbal Street. As the centre is in a designated events area, the rate will be Dh25 per hour.
At DEC, there will be free parking for visitors.
What to expect
This year, as the exhibition is being held in two different locations, the roads around DWTC is expected to be less congested. However, ongoing roadworks around DWTC and Dubai International Financial Center could slow traffic down.
Additional security measures will be in place at both locations and visitors can expect bag checks and screenings
Organisers have advised visitors to print out their badges at home to reduce the crowding at the venues. Attendees have also been encouraged to download the app to easily access the exhibition centres.
Events at each location
At DWTC, the exhibitors will be suppliers of various categories including beverages, meat, seafood and dairy. Several of the world’s most influential food and beverage brands will be on site discussing breakthrough product strategies and next-gen brand experiences.
The Future Food 500, NXT stage and startup investor lounges will be located at DWTC. The Dubai World Cuisine programme will line up some of UAE’s best chefs to demonstrate their signature dishes. The 2026 edition will feature seven Michelin-star chefs, 80 masterclasses, workshops and live demonstrations.
At DEC, the World Food exhibition will provide the largest global hub for country pavilions and multi-commodity suppliers. Gulfood Fresh will offer bold approaches to keep produce fresh and vibrant from farm to table. For the first time, a dedicated Grocery Trade sector will bring together importers, exporters, wholesalers, and distributors. The Gulfood World Economy summit will also take place here.
