Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, inaugurated the third edition of World of Coffee Dubai 2024, organised by DXB Live and the Specialty Coffee Association.
The exhibition features over 1,650 local, regional, and global brands and companies, marking a 50 per cent increase in space, and has garnered significant global interest, with 51 countries participating in its activities. The exhibition will run until January 23, 2024.
Bin Touq, accompanied by Timur Abdiljalil, Consul General of Kyrgyz Republic in Dubai and the Northern Emirates and Khalid Al Hammadi, Senior Vice President of DXB Live along with Yannis Apostolopoulos, Chief Executive Officer, The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), toured the pavilions and praised the number of visitors and the wide participation of brands and exhibitors from across the globe.
He commended the event organisation’s efficiency and praised the hard work of the teams involved.
During his visit, Bin Touq also toured the Roasters Village, Cupping Room, and Brew Bar pavilions, inspecting the arrangements for the upcoming 2024 UAE National Barista Latte Art Championships. The competition presents participants with the chance to qualify for the esteemed World Barista Championship. In addition, Bin Touq observed the preparations for both the Coffee Design Awards and the Best New Product Awards.
The 2024 edition of World of Coffee focuses on sustainability in the coffee industry, emphasising the need for responsible practices to ensure a continuous coffee supply. The Expo showcases regional market growth and addresses the increasing demand for specialty coffee. It features lectures and workshops on the sustainable coffee movement, promoting eco-friendly agricultural practices and aiming to preserve biodiversity and improve coffee quality.
According to Data Bridge Market Research, the value of the coffee and Espresso drinks market in the MENA region is expected to reach around $1.33 billion by 2030, increasing from approximately $1.085 billion in 2022, with an anticipated Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.6 per cent over the specified timeframe.