Gulfood 2027

Gulfood by the numbers

Every figure links to where it came from. Attendance for an event that has not happened is a projection, and each row says so rather than presenting it as a count.

• Dates15 to 19 Mar

  Official Gulfood site. Five days across Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai Exhibition Centre. Gulfood

• Exhibitors8,500+

  Figure carried on the official site, reflecting the 2026 edition. Among the largest exhibitor counts of any trade show in this directory. Gulfood

• Countries195

  Official site, 2026 edition. Effectively a full global sourcing floor rather than a regional show. Gulfood

• Sectors12

  The floor is divided into twelve product sectors across more than 1.5 million products, per the official site. Gulfood

What is Gulfood?

Gulfood is the food and beverage sourcing show, run by Dubai World Trade Centre across five days each March. The 2027 dates are 15 to 19 March, spread over both Dubai World Trade Centre and the newer Dubai Exhibition Centre. With more than 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries it is a buying floor rather than a conference: importers, distributors and retail buyers walking sectors to place orders. If you are looking for panel content and networking drinks, this is the wrong show.

Who goes to Gulfood?

Food and beverage manufacturers exhibiting, and importers, distributors, retail and hospitality buyers sourcing. It is heavily trade-oriented and skews toward Middle East, African and South Asian distribution. National pavilions are a defining feature: whole countries take floor space to place their producers in front of Gulf buyers.

Gulfood side events

Gulfood runs its own conference and awards programme alongside the floor, and Dubai fills that week with distributor receptions and national-pavilion hospitality that are not on the public schedule. Because the show spans two venues, several of the satellite events are effectively tied to whichever site you are working. Aspire does not run any of them.

Gulfood tickets and costs

Visitor registration runs through the official 2027 registration page. Entry cost was not published when this page was last checked, so no figure is quoted here. Gulfood is a trade show and admission is generally restricted to trade visitors with credentials rather than open to the public. Five days is long, the two venues are not adjacent, and March in Dubai is the pleasant end of the year, which is precisely why the calendar is crowded that month.

Getting to Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Exhibition Centre

Dubai World Trade Centre has its own metro station on the Red Line. The Dubai Exhibition Centre sits at Expo City near the far end of the Red Line extension, roughly 40 minutes away. Dubai International airport is about 15 minutes from DWTC; Al Maktoum is closer to the Expo City site.

Where to stay for Gulfood

Near Dubai World Trade Centre or along the Red Line, which is the only reliable way to move between the two venues during the show. Hotel rates in Dubai climb sharply in March across the whole city, and Gulfood is one of several large events competing for the same rooms. Book long before the show.

What to know before booking Gulfood

The two-venue split is the thing that catches people out. Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City are a significant distance apart, and treating them as one site will cost you a morning. Plan which sectors you need and which venue holds them before you arrive. Gulfood alternates its cadence around other major food shows, so check the year rather than assuming an annual March slot.

Gulfood: common questions