Advanced manufacturing technologies, next-generation ingredients and sustainable packaging solutions took centre stage on the second day of Gulfood Manufacturing 2026, as global companies demonstrated innovations aimed at improving production efficiency, optimising resources and addressing the changing requirements of the food and beverage industry. Running until 5 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the 12th edition of the exhibition is being held under the theme ‘Powering Food Security Through Manufacturing Innovation’. The event brings together international manufacturers, technology providers, ingredient specialists and industry decision-makers to explore developments across food processing, packaging, automation and production systems.
The exhibition is particularly relevant to the UAE’s efforts to strengthen food security and expand its food and beverage sector. The country aims to increase the sector’s contribution to GDP from AED 30 billion to AED 40 billion by 2028, supported by initiatives such as the Food Innovation Accelerator, Made in UAE #WHYLOCAL, the EmpowerSME Program and the Food Investment Gateway.
Among the key technology demonstrations, Sidel is showcasing EvoBLOW Laser, described as the world’s first industrialised laser-powered heating system for PET bottle blowing. The technology is designed to improve bottle consistency, shorten start-up times and enhance performance when processing recycled PET, while enabling manufacturers to produce lighter and stronger bottles.
Dan Olivier, Vice-President of Equipment Sales for the Middle East and Africa at Sidel, said, “Producers across the region want to use less material, work with more recycled PET and keep their lines running smoothly. EvoBLOW Laser gives them far greater control over how each preform is heated, which means consistent bottles from the very first one and a line that’s up and running faster. We are looking forward to talking visitors through it at Gulfood Manufacturing and exploring what it could mean for their operations.”
The exhibition also features technology and ingredient suppliers such as Krones, SIG, GEA, Thompson Meat Machinery, Heat and Control, IFFCO Group and Symrise. Their solutions span high-capacity processing and bottling systems, energy-efficient refrigeration, advanced packaging and ingredient innovation.
For investors and manufacturers, the event provides an opportunity to evaluate technologies, meet suppliers and explore capital investment and production expansion opportunities. Johan Sequeira, International Procurement Specialist at Aspira Global, said Gulfood Manufacturing offers a platform to connect with suppliers, identify technologies for capital expenditure projects, reconnect with existing partners and assess competitive commercial opportunities.
The second day also featured the 2026 Industry Excellence Awards, which recognised achievements across 11 categories covering food safety, packaging, processing, ingredients, artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing and renewable energy. Winners included Givaudan Suisse SA for AI and Smart Manufacturing Innovation, GEA Middle East FZE for Best Food Safety Innovation, ULMA Packaging Middle East LLC for Best Packaging Innovation, Aasted ApS and Tanis for Best Processing Innovation, and PROMAR PPH Sp. z o.o. for Factory of the Future. Other award recipients included Protean Ingredients DMCC, Fanar Al Khaleej Trading, Novonesis, Hot Pack Packaging Industries, Tetra Pak Export and SIG Combibloc.
Tetra Pak received the Sustainable/Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative of the Year award. Chirag Mehrotra, Director Sustainability Customer Business Partner, Tetra Pak, said the recognition reflected the company’s efforts to reduce emissions and improve resource efficiency across its operations.
The FoodTech Summit brought together representatives from Mondelēz International, dsm-firmenich, Hunter Foods, Perfetti Van Melle, Kerry, Austrade, Talabat, Choithrams, Sharjah Coop, ITC and Ferrero Group. Discussions covered food security, investment, intelligent manufacturing, changing consumer preferences, private-label growth, packaging, ingredient innovation and supply chain reliability. A session led by Dr. Nouf Al Ali, Director of the Health Promotion Department at the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, examined how health regulations can support food innovation.
The co-located GulfHost, ISM Middle East and Private Label Middle East exhibitions further extended business opportunities across hospitality, confectionery, snacks and retail. GulfHost featured the launch of Champions Coffee by Dubai-based Brewing Gadgets, while ISM Middle East showcased new products including CRISPO S.R.L.’s Liquid-Core ‘Burst’ Chocolate Pearls and Smartfoody SIA’s upcycled grain chips. At Private Label Middle East, Nuitree Food Industries LLC signed a distribution agreement with M.H. Enterprises LLC to introduce its Seven Seeds plant-based milk to UAE retail and HoReCa markets. Together, the four exhibitions connect businesses across the food value chain, providing opportunities to discover technologies, develop partnerships and strengthen manufacturing and supply networks.
inD is a leading B2B live events group operating across South Asia, the Middle East and Africa. With a portfolio of more than 40 major B2B brands, it serves high-growth sectors including healthcare, energy, aviation, food, technology, information security, HR and education. Headquartered in Dubai, with more than 1,000 colleagues across the region, inD is a partnership between Informa Group PLC and Dubai World Trade Centre.
