Dubai, UAE: Gulfood Manufacturing 2025 concluded its most transformative edition yet, breaking previous records with double-digit expansion since 2024. As the world’s top destination for Greenfield foreign direct investment and a central hub for a 43.65% CAGR surge in AI adoption, Dubai sits at the intersection of global momentum.
With the global food processing market forecast to reach $318.29 billion by 2034, Gulfood Manufacturing stands as the definitive meeting point for the industry’s most advanced AI-driven manufacturing and breakthrough food technologies.
Record-Breaking Scale and Global Reach
This year’s edition welcomed over 2,500 exhibitors from 79 countries across 21 dynamic halls, marking the largest footprint in the event’s history. Global exhibitors including ADM, APICAL, Bühler, Ingredion, and Tetra Pak converged at the event. Notably, leading names sold machinery directly on the show floor, signed partnerships, and compressed months of business into three days.The scale of the event reflected Dubai’s ascent as a world-class hub for industrial progress. The event drew the broadest international participation in its history, with Japan, Korea, and Russia joining the exhibitor roster for the first time.
Commenting on their debut, Ryo Takeshita, Sales Manager at ASTRA Inc. from Japan, said, “The response has been fantastic, we’ve already sold several units and are impressed by the passion and drive of the visitors. The energy here is exciting and it’s clear that this is a market we want to grow with.”
Givuadan further highlighted global innovation by unveiling Myromi, a handheld aroma delivery device that utilises AI to allow customers to refine aromas instantly. Dr. Imad Farhat, Regional Commercial Head at Givaudan, stated that the event remains a “flagship event… a vital platform to connect with our customers, showcase innovation, and co-create the future of food.”
Landmark Deals and Strategic Collaborations
The 2025 edition witnessed historic business deals and transformative partnership announcements. This underscores the event’s role as the definitive meeting ground for global industry growth with actionable innovation and tangible business outcomes. Abdelghany Eladib, President & General Manager at SIG, happily announced the successful sale of 9 filling lines at the event, reflecting strong demand for their sustainable solutions.
Among the most notable announcements, Al Thika Packaging was officially acquired by Zakka Multitech. This landmark move strengthens regional production and automation capabilities in packaging machines and materials.
Industry-leading exhibitors also reinforced the event’s unmatched role in accelerating the future of intelligent, sustainable production: Tetra Pak selected the event to globally launch their Tetra Pak® Factory OS™; Adroit Engineering Services partnered with Hitachi; Novonesis announced a major collaboration to ‘scale deliciousness’ with Noma, widely known as one of the world’s finest restaurants.
Alalamiah Machines, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading manufacturers, signed a notable machinery deal, and several other industry leaders achieved “more leads in one day than we had planned across all three days.”
