Dubai - Sharikat Mubasher: Gulfood, the world’s largest and most influential food and beverage sourcing event, launched the Gulfood Startups, a dedicated platform designed to support high-growth food-tech companies seeking to scale internationally from Dubai.

Over 250 global innovators will share breakthroughs across the food chain from origin to market, encompassing next-generation proteins, precision fermentation, Plant-Based 3.0, water-based frying technologies, predictive food intelligence powered by AI, and automated supply-chain systems, according to an official statement released today.

Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President for Events Management at Dubai World Trade Centre, stated that Gulfood Startups is embedded within Gulfood’s ecosystem, offering founders direct access to global buyers, investors, distributors, and policymakers in a single, connected environment.

For his part, Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC, said: “Through our partnership with Gulfood across Gulfood Startups and the World AgriFoodTech Startup Challenge, DMCC is connecting high-potential startups from across the global food value chain with international markets, investors, and commercial partners.”

Set to take place from 26 to 30 January in Dubai, Gulfood 2026 will feature the World Agri-FoodTech Startup Challenge, where the world’s most promising food-tech founders pitch live at the Gulfood NXT Stage. Through three days of competition, startups will vie for a $135,000 prize, judged on innovation, scalability, market relevance, and environmental and economic impact.