Abu Dhabi opens biggest-ever Global Food Week 2026

Abu Dhabi this week opened the largest-ever edition of Global Food Week 2026 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), running from October 6 to 8 under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The three-day event has attracted 2,580 exhibitors, buyers, investors and policymakers from 92 countries, with exhibition space expanded by 25 per cent to approximately 42,000 square metres.

"Together Towards Food Security for All" is the theme of the second Global Food Security Summit, one of the week's headline events bringing speakers from 30 countries to discuss resilience and preparedness across food systems.

The event, organised by ADNEC Group in strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, positions itself as an integrated platform covering the full food value chain: sourcing, agricultural production, processing, trade, investment, technology and consumer engagement. This year's edition reports an 18 per cent increase in exhibitors and brands and a 23 per cent rise in participating countries compared with the previous edition. International exhibitors and brands make up 33 per cent of participants, while national exhibitors account for 67 per cent; small and medium-sized enterprises represent around 22 per cent of all exhibitors.

• Scale and growth: 2,580 participants from 92 countries; exhibition area ~42,000 sqm (up 25%).
• Commercial outcomes: last year's edition recorded 58 agreements worth Dh6.6 billion; organisers say 2026 builds on that momentum.
• New consumer focus: the "Shop at the Exhibition" experience allows the public to buy food, beverages, honey, dates and agricultural products directly from producers.
• Guest of Honour: the Republic of India hosts a dedicated pavilion covering food, agriculture, exports, logistics, packaging, technology, finance and investment.
• Sector coverage: eight sectors represent stages of the food value chain; a new dedicated animal feed sector debuts this year.

Programming spans high-level policy and ground-level trade. The Global Food Security Summit (October 6–7) convenes government officials, policymakers, experts, researchers and private-sector leaders to explore international cooperation, integrated supply chains, smart technologies and inclusive engagement of youth, women and local producers. The AgriTech Forum returns with expanded sessions on agricultural technologies, artificial intelligence applications, advanced production models and sustainable farming practices.

Specialised initiatives and sector-focused events add depth: the inaugural Abu Dhabi Honey Forum — organised by the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority with the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations — addresses "Sustainable Beekeeping in Arid Environments: Innovative Solutions and Technologies for Climate Change Adaptation." The week also hosts the Abu Dhabi International Dates Exhibition and an "Access Abu Dhabi" showcase presenting products from more than 150 Emirati farmers, livestock breeders and beekeepers.

International organisations are active participants: the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) will lead programmes, including a WOAH workshop for Gulf Cooperation Council and African countries on safe trade and cross-border animal health cooperation. The FAO will run the Yalla FAST youth leadership programme and convene the FAO Policy Council on October 7–8 to examine agrifood-system transformation across the Near East and North Africa.

Outlook: organisers aim to translate expanded participation into commercial deals and partnerships similar to the 58 agreements worth Dh6.6 billion signed at the 2025 edition. With increased exhibition space, new consumer and sectoral offerings and India's role as Guest of Honour, Global Food Week 2026 seeks to broaden market access for local producers, foster agri‑tech investment and deepen international collaboration on food security and sustainable agriculture.