Tea at Gulfood Dubai 2026: Presence, Partnerships and Two Venues

Gulfood Dubai 2026 marks a milestone edition for the world’s largest food and beverage trade exhibition, reaching a new record number of exhibitors and debuting a dual-location format. This year’s show welcomed over 19,400 exhibitors from 118 countries, split between the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC)—a structural change designed to accommodate the event’s continued growth.

T Hospitality visited Gulfood 2026 to meet with tea industry players, assess their presence at the show, and capture emerging trends shaping the global and regional tea business.

A Concentrated Tea Presence in the Beverages Section

Tea companies were primarily located within the Beverages section at the Dubai World Trade Centre, where the majority of tea-focused exhibitors were concentrated. The section featured a strong representation from India and Sri Lanka, reaffirming their central role in global tea sourcing and exports.

Among the participating brands there were producers spanning a wide positioning spectrum—from Bogawantalawa, known for its climate-positive credentials, to Mackwoods Tea, holder of a British Royal Warrant. This range reflected the diversity of tea propositions currently targeting international buyers, from sustainability-led estates to heritage-driven premium brands.

Collaboration, Private Labels and Product Formats

One of the recurring themes observed across the exhibition floor was collaboration. Several companies highlighted ongoing or planned private label partnerships and joint ventures, underlining the importance of flexibility and customization for distributors and hospitality operators in the region.

Alongside suppliers offering unpacked teas designed specifically for private label development, there was a noticeable increase in ready-to-use premixes. These included classic karak chai, spiced chai variations, and matcha-based mixes, often tailored for operational efficiency in cafés and foodservice environments.

Most exhibitors presented formats designed for the HORECA sector, particularly for high-volume beverage preparation. However, only a limited number showcased dedicated product lines for hotel rooms or luxury afternoon tea service, suggesting that this niche—while growing—remains less developed than mainstream foodservice applications.

Beyond product formats and sourcing origins, Gulfood 2026 also highlighted a consolidation of home-grown tea brands that have evolved from retail-focused concepts into fully fledged suppliers for both HORECA and retail channels. Brands such as Filli, originally established as a tea shop chain, are increasingly positioning themselves as regional beverage suppliers with scalable formats tailored to cafés, hotels and foodservice operators.

At the same time, the show reflected a growing presence of international tea suppliers establishing offices in Dubai, reinforcing the city’s role as a strategic hub for serving the GCC and wider regional markets. This dual dynamic—local brands scaling up and international players localizing their operations—signals a maturing tea ecosystem in the region, where proximity to the market is becoming as important as origin and heritage.

A Split Venue, Mixed Sentiment

Gulfood’s scale and international reach remain unmatched. While several tea operators reported lower overall footfall compared to previous editions, many also acknowledged that the quality of contacts remained strong. The division of the show across two venues may have diluted visitor numbers, but it also helped attract more targeted, high-quality buyers to each location—suggesting a shift from volume-driven engagement to more focused, business-oriented interactions.

Looking Ahead

The presence of tea products at Gulfood 2026 reflected an industry that is both consolidating its core offerings and experimenting with new formats to meet evolving hospitality needs. As operational efficiency, customization, and regional taste adaptation continue to shape purchasing decisions, tea suppliers are clearly positioning themselves not only as product providers, but as long-term partners for the foodservice and hospitality sectors.

For tea companies willing to navigate a more complex exhibition landscape, Gulfood remains a critical gateway to the Gulf market—albeit one that now requires a more strategic approach to engagement and visibility.