Gulfood 2024 – Where the Real Business of Food Happens

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – The 28th Gulfood Show, the world's largest food, beverage, and hospitality exhibition began Monday, bringing together traders and foodservice professionals from all over the world.  A record 5,500 exhibitors from 190 countries are participating this year, and around 95,000 visitors attend Gulfood with its eight sectors including grains, pulses, beverages, dairy, and world food.

USA Rice is exhibiting for the twentieth time at the show and members from American Commodity Company, Archer Daniels Midland, Farmers Rice Cooperative, Riceland Foods, Sun Valley Rice, Sunwest Foods, and Western Foods traveled here to participate.  

“Gulfood has become the most important global food show to attend and rice is a major staple used in local dishes all over the region every day so our presence here is important to show our commitment to these markets as a quality supplier," said Mark Holt, vice president at Western Foods and chair of the USA Rice Europe, Middle East, and Africa Promotion and Trade Policy Subcommittees.  “Throughout the past week, we have had the opportunity to connect and reconnect with potential and existing customers from around the globe."

USA Rice also held a reception here earlier this week to share information on the current U.S. rice supply situation and outlook for the new crop year.

The Middle East Area is an important export destination for several U.S. rice types including medium grain varieties mostly to Jordan and the West Bank, as well as different forms of long grain to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes six Arab countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

USA Rice staff will share the collected trade leads with membership next week.