DWTC Hospitality, the award-winning catering division of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC), bringing together two of the region’s most prominent players in event catering and hospitality. The collaboration aims to transform the catering and hospitality sector across the UAE and wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region by combining their expertise and capabilities.
“This strategic partnership marks a pivotal milestone for DWTC Hospitality,” said Mahir Julfar, Executive Vice President at Dubai World Trade Centre. “DWTC has long been the destination of choice for some of the region’s most prestigious international exhibitions and mega events. By combining our deep-rooted expertise in venue management, hospitality services and events delivery with Emirates Flight Catering’s world-class production capabilities, we are redefining what large-scale event catering can achieve across the region. Together, we are building a partnership that delivers seamless hospitality experiences for millions of guests, while setting new standards for innovation, quality, and service excellence.”
“DWTC remains committed to strengthening our global position through partnerships that not only elevate event experiences but also enhance Dubai’s broader economic and tourism ambitions”, added Julfar.
Shahreyar Nawabi, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Flight Catering, said, “Emirates Flight Catering joining up with DWTC Hospitality brings together two industry leaders with complementary strengths to create a catering and hospitality solution that truly delivers excellence, consistently across any scale or format, to create something truly unprecedented. It also means access to world-class culinary expertise backed by the operational scale and reliability needed to elevate the event experience in Dubai and across the region.
The timing couldn’t be better. With Dubai and the UAE’s event calendar becoming increasingly sophisticated and international in scope, this partnership positions both EKFC and DWTC at the forefront of the industry ecosystem that supports the UAE’s continued growth as a global destination while setting new benchmarks for what exceptional catering and hospitality looks like.”
The partnership will take effect immediately, starting with high-profile collaborations at the upcoming Dubai Airshow, where both organisations will serve clients such as Dubai Civil Aviation’s Royal Pavilion, among other prestigious participants.
Looking ahead, the partnership will support a wide portfolio of major events across the UAE, including the Dubai International Boat Show, Dubai World Cup, WHX, and GITEX Global. By combining EKFC’s globally recognised production capabilities with DWTC Hospitality’s expertise, the partnership is designed to meet the demands of Dubai’s largest cultural, sporting, business, and corporate events, providing integrated hospitality solutions aligned with the emirate’s fast-growing events sector.
At DWTC venues – the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) and Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) – the collaboration will also introduce innovative formats such as food trucks and semi-permanent outlets, offering flexible, efficient, and high-quality F&B options at scale. Pilot initiatives will additionally feature curated retail-ready products, underscoring the partners’ joint commitment to quality, cultural relevance, and culinary innovation across events of every scale.
(Inputs from WAM)
