Source : WAM
The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), represented by the Sharjah Exports Development Centre (SEDC), participated in the 31st edition of Gulfood 2026, the world’s largest food and beverage sourcing exhibition, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre until January 30.
The exhibition brings together more than 8,500 exhibitors from around 195 countries, highlighting its vast scale and global reach. SCCI’s participation aligns with its strategy to enhance the competitiveness of national food and beverage companies by showcasing their export capabilities and attracting greater foreign investment into Sharjah’s food sector.
Through a dedicated pavilion featuring 10 Sharjah-based food manufacturers and traders, the Sharjah Chamber supported local companies in entering new markets, strengthening commercial partnerships, and driving business expansion.
During the event, the SCCI pavilion highlighted Sharjah’s food manufacturing strengths, presenting a diverse range of high-quality products that reflect the sector’s industrial development and competitiveness in international markets.
The participating delegation included Ali Abdullah Al Jari, Director of the Sharjah Export Development Centre; Marwan Salem Al Muhairi, Head of Exhibitions at SEDC; Sultan Al Ali, Head of Investor Services at SEDC; and Maha Mansour Al Zarouni, Senior Exhibitions Executive at SEDC.
Ali Al Jari said SCCI’s participation in Gulfood 2026 provides Sharjah-based food and beverage companies with a valuable platform to showcase their products to a global audience of decision-makers and buyers.
He explained that the exhibition enables business deals with companies from 195 countries while offering insights into emerging trends and innovations in the food and beverage industry, supporting Sharjah’s goals of expanding market reach and increasing exports.
Al Jari added that the Sharjah Exports Development Centre delivers an integrated export support ecosystem, offering services that enhance product quality and competitiveness, build comprehensive market databases, and streamline export procedures in coordination with relevant authorities.
During the exhibition, the SCCI delegation toured the event to explore collaboration opportunities with international firms and promote Sharjah’s investment landscape. They highlighted SEDC’s role in supporting food-sector exporters and outlined facilitation services and incentives available to investors establishing new projects in the emirate.
The delegation also engaged with officials from export and investment promotion agencies participating in Gulfood 2026 and joined business meetings between member companies and global exhibitors to explore trade agreements and potential investment partnerships.
The SCCI pavilion attracted strong interest from food industry stakeholders, including manufacturers, suppliers, and exporters. It hosted a series of productive one-on-one meetings between local producers and international counterparts, unlocking opportunities for new trade collaborations and expanding exports into high-potential markets.
The Sharjah Exports Development Centre leveraged the exhibition to enhance international exposure for local products, supporting SCCI’s strategy of global exhibitions and trade missions. The event also reflects SCCI’s vision to encourage technology transfer and innovation, enabling local companies to strengthen competitiveness and expand globally.
Sharjah’s food sector offers several investment advantages, including advanced infrastructure, dedicated industrial zones, customs facilitation, and tax exemptions. Combined with its strategic location linking the emirate to global markets, these factors significantly enhance growth prospects and create wide-ranging opportunities for investors.
