The three-day event, which is held in collaboration with the Specialty Coffee Association, will feature coffee companies and brands from countries, including the US, Germany, Canada, Slovakia, Portugal, Ireland, Kuwait, Norway, Taiwan, Thailand, Pakistan, Iran, and Australia, among many others. There are seven national pavilions participating, which is double the number from the previous edition, with a strong presence from India, Myanmar, Rwanda, Uganda, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and El Salvador.

Khalid Al Hammadi, senior vice president of DXB LIVE, commented, “We take great pride in gathering numerous nations, businesses, brands, experts, and specialists in the coffee industry at this exhibition. We are confident that this event will serve as a significant opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their innovative products, services, and pioneering projects in this dynamic industry. Additionally, it will also provide a productive forum for interaction between exhibitors and visitors from various parts of the globe to exchange valuable insights, expertise, and innovations in the coffee sector. By bringing together industry players, pioneers, influencers, and senior employees under one roof, we are committed to developing the exhibition and strengthening its reputation. We are on constant pursuits to enhance its key role as an active and influential player in the development of the coffee sector locally, regionally, and globally.” 

The World of Coffee 2024 has signed a strategic partnership agreement with DMCC – Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, the world’s flagship free zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise – which, through its world-class facilities at DMCC Coffee Centre, provides a wide range of services for the entire coffee value chain, including temperature-controlled storage, value-add and commercial space, inbound/outbound logistics support, warehousing, roasting, packaging and distribution services. DMCC Coffee Centre will set up a dedicated Farmers Pavilion at the exhibition to provide farmers from different coffee-producing nations and regions with the opportunity to showcase and sell green coffee beans. The pavilion will serve to assist farmers in enhancing their presence in the global coffee market, in addition to allowing visitors to taste, choose and learn about coffee beans and their sources. Farmers and organisations from Rwanda, Colombia, Honduras, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Ethiopia will represent millions of farmers in the world’s coffee belt. DMCC Coffee Centre will be in charge of promoting the ‘Farmers Pavilion’ on all marketing channels through the Centre’s database. In addition, it will also host an informational campaign for visitors and exhibitors as well as invite experts and dignitaries to participate in this event. 

Saeed Al Suwaidi, director of Agri Commodities at DMCC, said, “We are confident that all of our key stakeholders across the coffee value chain will benefit from our strategic partnership with the World of Coffee. The Farmers Pavilion will further consolidate Dubai’s position as a major international hub for coffee trading and will serve as a platform to connect all relevant players in the coffee community, from farmers to traders and consumers, in line with our vision and objective to grow the local and global coffee business from Dubai. In particular, the pavilion will facilitate the exchange of skills and knowledge among individuals in the roasting field, help drive new business prospects, and improve the experience of both visitors and farmers by providing them with opportunities to sample and choose from the best kinds of green coffee beans. We believe that coffee is a universal language that connects people from around the world, and we look forward to enhancing global coffee trade by supporting the farmers’ pavilion.” 

The World of Coffee features a variety of events and activities. This includes the ‘UAE National Barista Championship’, the ‘National Latte Art Championship’, and the ‘Coffee Design Awards’ and ‘Best New Product competitions’, in addition to the main pavilions such as the Roasters Village and the Cabining Room and Brew Bar. The event will further entail a set of lectures and workshops. This will feature the presence of a group of associations specialised in the coffee industry, including the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association, the Saudi Coffee Company, the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama, and the Uganda Coffee Development Authority.  

The presence of these associations holds significance owing to their role in enhancing quality and standards in coffee production, increasing trade and consumption of coffee, as well as representing and supporting the interests and rights of farmers, roasters, manufacturers, distributors, and consumers. Additionally, it would also foster cooperation and exchange of experiences between countries and regions producing and consuming coffee, as well as enhance awareness of its culture, history, benefits, types, and methods in preparing coffee. It will further promote innovation, development, and adoption of advanced technologies within the ever-evolving coffee industry. 

Over 1,650 global, regional, and local companies and brands will be participating in this exhibition to display their range of products and services related to the coffee industry, such as green and roasted coffee beans. Participating businesses will include those who provide roasting, packaging, and processing services in addition to those that supply coffee-manufacturing equipment, water, milk, and flavourings. These participants include 60 companies and brands from the UAE, like Three Coffee, Q Coffee, and Coffee Planet. Further, a total of 17 firms participating in the event, including Colombini Srl, Mazzer Luigi Spa, and Lelit Italy, are Italian brands and enterprises that will also be participating in the exhibition. Additionally, around nine firms and brands from the United States and eight companies from China will be participating in the exhibition.

The World of Coffee 2024 exhibition invites visitors to Zabeel Halls 4, 5, and 6 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, from 21 to 23 January 2024. Those who wish to participate and visit the exhibition can register via the following link: dubai.worldofcoffee.org/visitor-registration. 

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The key agenda of the event, which will held from 21-23 January 2024, includes various programmes namely, the Roaster Village, the Cup Room, and the Brew Bar. Additionally, the exhibition will feature spaces specifically designed to draw attention to the importance of promoting sustainable practices in the industry through several discussions, specialised workshops on sustainability, best practices for utilising resources, and sustainable initiatives that demonstrate the commitment of the international coffee community to responsible production.

The exhibition will also set the stage for the launch of various new events, like the Franchise Village, a platform that will bring together leading brands seeking to expand in the region and investors interested in establishing branches of renowned coffee brands.  The platform will reinforce the position of the World of Coffee as a key event for exploring growth and collaboration opportunities.

Among the exhibition’s features and programmes, the Buyers Program and Buyers Longue will enable meetings between buyers and farmers, traders, distributors, and roasters, as well as food and beverage managers from the tourism and hospitality sectors. It will further encourage interaction and communication among industry stakeholders and offer an ideal setting for potential partnerships and transactions.

In addition, the 2024 edition will be held in two large theatres to accommodate more participants for its series of dialogues and free workshops. One theatre will be dedicated to hosting specialised coffee association dialogues, while the other will be for unfiltered sessions, like hosting extensive dialogues with the presence of numerous global experts and specialists to discuss the latest trends, innovations, and products worldwide.

The Roasting Village, Cupping Room, and Brew Bar pavilions are also expanding to meet the growing demand for participation. The Roasters Village area is expected to be one of the most popular areas for attendees as it will exhibit coffee-making machines and water sources. The participating businesses will also make coffee and display their coffee beans. Along with specialised guests, it brings together a dozen global businesses and offers an opportunity to sample coffee that has been prepared and roasted in a variety of methods.

The ’Cupping Room’ pavilion will enable visitors to taste and compare different coffee varieties and evaluate their quality. During their one-hour sessions, each company will provide a set of coffee-tasting sessions for buyers and the public to try and compare. The Brew Bar pavilion, which is made up of two large platforms, can accommodate 12 enterprises. Businesses may utilise the platform for three hours to offer different coffee-tasting sessions and customers can wander between the businesses to sample the coffee and watch baristas creating inventive concoctions.

Innovation platform

To encourage innovation and development in the sector, the exhibition will feature the Coffee Design Award, which will highlight the latest advancements in coffee preparation, equipment, and sustainable practices. It will be awarded in various categories including design, packaging, branding, coffee cups, and coffee pots. Furthermore, the ‘Best New Product Award’ will be awarded for exceptional new coffee-related products. To participate in the awards, companies will have to submit their designs on the competition website, further enabling judges to choose winners. The exhibition offers a remarkable opportunity for participants to win the International Specialised Coffee Association’s award for the best design or best product worldwide for 2024.

Ensuring an enhanced experience for participants

Khalid Al Hammadi, senior vice president of DXB LIVE, said: “Through this edition, we aim to boost the position of World of Coffee Dubai to be the most preferred global platform for coffee industry leaders. We strongly believe the event will surpass the conventional trade show paradigm, securing its reputation as the world’s preeminent forum for enthusiasts, professionals, and experts to stay current on industry developments and explore novel strategies and ecologically sustainable practices that will further the industry’s expansion and sustainability.”

“The exhibition provides a significant opportunity to learn about the various sources of coffee beans, roasters, and coffee supply chain as well as to assess the latest advancements in the fields of packaging, distribution, and production. The events, especially the Buyers’ program, will improve participants’ experience and enable them to interact directly to grow and maintain their enterprises,” Al Hammadi added.

An ideal platform

The third edition of World of Coffee Dubai serves as an ideal platform for companies aiming to enhance their presence in the Middle East’s thriving coffee market. DXB Live organises this event to facilitate industry growth, innovation, and collaboration by bringing together distributors, farmers, producers, experts, and specialists under one roof. This fosters partnerships, showcases new products, and promotes knowledge exchange to meet the diverse needs of coffee industry players.

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Coffee Planet was recognised as a “UAE Superbrand” at the 19th Annual Superbrands Tribute at Dubai Festival City. The Superbrand title is given to brands that offer consumers significant emotional and/or physical advantages over their competitors.  

The company was also recognised by the Asian Business Review, receiving two awards in the Food and Beverage category. Team Coffee Planet won “Team of the Year – Food & Beverage” at the Middle East Management Excellence Awards in recognition of its passion for investing in people through training, development, employee engagement, and ensuring that Coffee Planet is ultimately an employer of choice. The judges acknowledged Coffee Planet’s collective focus on delivering to customers and working strategically with partners, which led to a record-breaking commercial performance in 2022 with 2023 likely to surpass those levels.

Coffee Planet also took home the “National Business Award for Food and Beverage” in recognition of its development of new products and propositions, including the revamped brand identity and packaging, Campus by Coffee Planet, and the introduction of aluminium capsules and instant coffee. Both Asian Business Review awards acknowledged the strong commercial growth of the business.  

The growth story of Coffee Planet has been wedded to a strategy of making specialty coffee inclusive whilst constantly reinventing the brand to be more people-centric and customer-focused. The winning spree was completed with CEO Jamie Brown’s recognition as a “Food Service Icon” at the Retail Middle East Magazine Food Service Icons Awards.   

Coffee Planet started a new chapter in May 2023 with a resolution to make specialty coffee accessible to all customers, channels, and markets globally. This strategy propelled the company to new heights, and it expanded its offerings locally, regionally, and globally. The SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) – accredited educational facility, Campus by Coffee Planet continues to attract aspiring and practising talents from the world of coffee to turn their passions into vocations or enhance their coffee careers with a diverse range of brewing, barista, latte art end expert training courses.  

The rewards come as the company celebrates its best year in its 18-year history. Jamie Brown said about the year’s successes, “We attribute this phenomenal year to the efforts of our wonderful team, our strategic investments in the business and people, and the unique proposition of striving to make specialty coffee accessible to all.” 

Furthermore, Coffee Planet has reinforced its leadership team with three strong additions to keep the growth momentum going into the new year. Rob Saunders, who has operated as non-executive director for several years, joins as the chief finance officer, Wesley Morrissey as sales director, and Matthew Yorke Smith, a founding member of Coffee Planet, moving into his new role as chief operating officer.

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At the Bull & Bear, Waldorf Astoria, Jamie shared news with over 100 customers and industry leaders about the next chapter in Coffee Planet’s strategic growth plans; “Coffee Planet is determined to make Specialty Coffee accessible to all customers, channels, and markets globally and supporting the new logo is a strapline that brings this to life – “Coffee Planet, Everyone’s cup of Specialty”.   

The event was sponsored by two of Coffee Planet’s strategic partners, Victoria Arduino and Necta.  Victoria Arduino, part of the Simonelli Group, are world leading suppliers of traditional machines and grinders, and showcased their award-winning Black Eagle Maverick machine at the venue. Necta, part of the Evoca group are the leading providers of fully automated machines for any out of home environment and had their Kalea Plus in pride of place at the event. 

Attendees got to explore several specialty experiences throughout the evening which included a Coffee Planet brew bar where the relaunched 90+ limited edition coffee from the Cauca region was served. This specialty variety has been carefully roasted to a 90+ Q grade score in Dubai classified as “Outstanding” by the SCA. 

As well as launching the new brand identity, Jamie shared the following new launches. 

• A new packaging range for Retail and Food Services that features a clean and sleek design on a white background and contour lines that represent the topography of the farms where Arabica beans grow, shown in silver foil. The vibrant colours used to label the different product types, differentiate the products a different look while also maintaining consistency with the white and silver background.  
• A new aluminium capsule range which also features the staple silver foil contour lines on white, with a different colour differentiating each flavour offering. The capsules packaging also has a unique transparent window which allows customers to view the capsules without opening the box. 
• New freeze-dried instant products available for the Retail market available in 100g and 200g jars
• A new Campus that will provide a variety of coffee training courses for the market supporting Coffee Planet’s desire to bring specialty to all. Campus offers a portfolio of courses, run by leading industry experts, covering a wide range of subjects, from a basic understanding of coffee and bean origins to expert-level barista training.  
• News of a new roasting facility opening in Saudi Arabia, providing the ability to expand in the local, regional, and global market.  
• The forthcoming launch of 2 Cold Brew cans, Black and Nitro, for the Retail market. Customers will also have the ability to private label these offerings.  

All this innovation can be digested on the new Coffee Planet website which brings to life an evolving story and business that is staying strong to its roots – coffeeplanet.com.  

The specialty experiences continued throughout the evening as attendees had the opportunity to enjoy the cold brew products as well find out more about the Campus from its representatives. Finally, a display wall housed all the new packaging and products giving customers the first glimpse of the full range.     

Jamie Brown commented, “I am delighted that we were able to bring so many people to this event which I see as the first of a series where we can facilitate specialty celebrations. I would like to thank everyone for joining and trust that they have gone away as excited as we are at the many launches and exciting new chapter we have shared today.”

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For centuries, coffee was a key ingredient in the Arab World’s hospitality industry and now in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), visitors are driving a new coffee consumption trend that has given the hospitality sector a more commercial meaning.

Serving coffee in the Arab world, including in the UAE, has shifted from being a mere ceremonial act of generosity to a more meticulous latest technology-driven service with coffee consumption now dominated by modern international and regional coffee companies that have now taken over from the “sheikhs and heads of tribes, elderly Bedouin men and women and owners of coffee trading shops” as the region becomes more integrated into the modern global coffee market.

For the UAE, a confederation of seven Emirates in the Arabian Peninsula, positive growth has characterised the coffee market in recent years despite being jolted by the outbreak and subsequent spread of Covid-19 in early 2020. The pandemic did indeed put breaks on exports, imports and rising consumption levels of coffee in the UAE, thus impacting sales of products such as ground coffee, instant coffee, whole bean, coffee pod and capsules.

The UAE’s coffee market growth has been attributed to the expanding urbanisation, higher living standards and fast recovery of the country’s tourism and hospitality industies post Covid-19. There has been an increase in consumption of diverse coffee products such as hot drinks, ready-to-drink and flavoured beverages as well as export and import volumes especially during the post-Covid period according to statistics by UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

FAO estimates the UAE’s coffee consumption per capita across all the seven UAE emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah at 0.890 kg in 2019, albeit a 15.2 percent decline from 2018 figures. However, the negative consumption levels were reversed in 2020 when the annual average rose to 1.5kg for each of the 9.9 million people in the UAE. This though was less than the 5.7kg, 5.2kg, 3.9kg, 3.9kg, 3.1kg and 2.7kg consumed in other Middle East markets of Lebanon, Qatar, Cyprus, Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan respectively according to Mohamad Merhi, managing partner and co-founder of Dubai-based specialty coffee roastery Cypher Urban.

On average, UAE coffee consumers could have drunk 14.8 million kilogrammes of coffee in 2020, an amount likely to rise on the back of Emirates’ rising per capita income, increasing tourist arrivals, expansion of the hospitality sector and preference for spending on non-alcoholic beverages across the Middle East.

Dubai offers a business friendly environment

The surge in per capita coffee consumption in the UAE coincides with an increase in coffee retail business, especially in Dubai, as franchise coffee chains and domestic coffee retailers take advantage of the conducive environment to set up coffee outlets.

According to the the UAE’s Business Registration and Licensing (BRL) sector in the Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai, as of March 2022, had licensed 615 companies as coffee traders hence reinforcing the Emirate as a global trading hub for the commodity.

The coffee businesses include manufacturing, wholesale, and retail, import and re-export, as well as the retail of hot coffee in cafés and restaurants, ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee in grocery stores and retail outlets according to the report.

The report showed that the total number of licences issued during 2021 increased by 148 percent compared to 2020, when 69 licences were issued, compared to 171 licenses in 2021. UAE nationals topped the list of investors in the trading of coffee at 31 percent of the total followed by other nationalities such as British, Italian, Turkish, French, Egyptian, Jordanian, and Kuwaiti.

Dubai and Deira areas accounted for the largest share of the companies engaged in coffee trading with with 368 and 243 licences respectively. At least 64 percent of the coffee businesses in Dubai, the report says, are limited liability companies with a fast-growing number of Emirati companies engaging in the coffee trading. Some have even expanded to the global coffee market from the UAE according to the report including opening outlets in several countries via the services provided by Dubai Industries and Exports, an agency of Department of Economy and Tourism.

Elsewhere, the opening of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), the UAE’s largest free-trade zone located in the Jumeirah Lake Towers district of Dubai, in 2005 was a turning point for the UAE’s coffee trading as the facility has steadily transformed itself and Dubai into an international commodity trading hub.

“The tea and coffee industries are increasingly turning to DMCC because of its world-class facilities, which include superior logistical and processing support for all stages of the value chain, cutting out intermediaries to deliver increased value for farmers, producers, and consumers alike,” said DMCC in its first half of 2022 report.

In 2021, the 7,500m² temperature controlled DMCC Coffee Centre stored and processed more than 9,000 MT of both green and roasted coffee “from a broad range of producing markets across Central and Southern America, Asia and Africa.” DMCC said it “doubled its membership count, demonstrating the significant progress made by the Coffee Centre as a high-quality logistics and distribution hub.”

And in 2020, Dubai Customs reports show trade in coffee in the first half of the year grew 5 percent to AED 253m (USD $69 million) compared with AED 240m (USD $65 million) in the prior-year period with volumes traded increasing to 14,000 tonnes.

Furthermore, the FAO indicates the UAE imported more coffee than it exported for the three years to 2020 as domestic consumption spiked driven by the growing expat population, tourist numbers and a fast-emerging Western coffee consumption culture. Coffee exports reached 4383.35 tonnes in 2020 up from 2768.94 tonnes in 2018, a 58.3 percent increase according to the UN agency. The UAE imports coffee from origin markets before adding value and re-exporting the commodity to high-consuming markets.

The highest export volumes were between 2018 and 2019 when the UAE sold an additional 1199.85 tonnes more to the international market. However, in what could be an indicator of an increasing coffee consumption trend in the UAE, FAO figures indicate the seven emirates imported more of the commodity for the three years to 2020 when an estimated 6497.08 tonnes of coffee were purchased by the Emirates.

Coffee imports rise steadily

Coffee imports, just like the exports, showed an upward trend from 5246.73 tonnes in 2018 that increased steadily by 23.8 percent at the end of 2020. The highest increase in coffee imports into the UAE was between 2019 and 2020 when an additional 1047.96 tonnes was sourced by both the public and private sector coffee buyers.

Elsewhere, Merhi said the value of coffee imports by the UAE increased steadily between 2018 to 2020 from USD $104 million to $175 million. The Emirates imported USD $111 million worth of coffee in 2019. The UAE coffee imports were equivalent to 9.1 percent, 9.2 percent and 14.3 percent of the total Middle East coffee imports totals for 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively.

However, the effects of Covid on the global coffee trade impacted 2021 coffee imports with the UAE reporting a 13 percent decline in value to USD $145 million down from $175 million in 2020. The drop in imports, does not however, reflect across the Middle East market where the value of coffee imports increased from USD $1.2 billion in 2020 to $1.4 billion in 2021.

Official projections by the UAE government show the Middle East & Africa coffee market will grow at a CAGR of 7.5 percent between 2022 and 2027 while that of the UAE would increase by 8.3 percent for the same period.

Elsewhere, the DMCC Coffee Centre has provided an enabling platform for the international coffee franchises to offer customer-driven coffee products to cater for the diverse global coffee cultures triggered by the increasing number of tourists. The FAO indicated a 58 percent increase in tourist coffee consumption in the UAE between 2016 and 2019. It said that consumption increased from 2424 tonnes in 2016 to 3850 tonnes in 2019. Visitors consumed 3466 tonnes and 3521 tonnes of coffee in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

Furthermore, the UAE’s population has been growing steadily, with the country’s labour force coming from more than 200 nationalities. The foreign population in the UAE represents 89 percent of the Emirates total estimated at 9.9 million in 2020. Due to the diverse cultures, the UAE is in the middle of a changing coffee consumption trend that is aligned more to the Western world. This change ultimately influences the UAE’s coffee trade with the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, the UAE’s coffee market and trade received a major boost from hosting the second edition of the World of Coffee Dubai, an event that was organised by integrated event management firm DXB Live in partnership with Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). World of Coffee (WOC) is touted as a suitable platform for international coffee businesses wishing to break into the Middle East’s emerging coffee industry. Both coffee producing and consuming countries exhibited at the event that was held in January.

DXB Live’s senior vice president, Khalid Al Hammadi, said the event, one of the world’s major global coffee industry events in 2023, is a major boost to the UAE’s stature as “a regional and global hub for the coffee industry.” He added that “World of Coffee Dubai 2023 also provided industry representatives with exceptional opportunities to network with their peers.”

Moreover, the UAE’s economic growth is expected to remain robust according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), supported by “a strong rebound in tourism, construction.” With the Emirates’ overall GDP growth projected to reach above 6 percent in 2022 up from 3.8 percent in 2021, the UAE coffee market is likely to growth further as the country intensifies implementation of structural reforms that are providing investment opportunity for both the public and private coffee market players.

The UAE tea market remains strong

The UAE is also emerging as a key trading hub for the global tea market with the country increasing both its exports and re-exports to consuming markets especially in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

An emerging health-conscious population, especially after the Covid outbreak and a preference for beverages that have immunity-boosting qualities, is driving the growing UAE tea trade with the International Trade Centre estimating the value of the country’s total exports and re-exports in 2020 at USD $316 million and $39 million respectively. Currently, the UAE is the world’s largest re-exporter of tea with a major share in the global market, according to government reports.

The UAE has leveraged on this growing tea trade to set up the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) Tea Centre within the Jebel Ali Free Zone where subscribed members have the option to 100 percent own the tea trade operations with little or no personal and corporate tax or restrictions especially in when it comes to capital repatriation. At the Centre, traders have opportunity to package their tea, sourced from various producing countries, for re-export. In 2022, the Centre produced 8,200 tonnes of packaged tea, including 400 million tea bags, the equivalent of 27 percent growth compared to 2021.

More tea trade opportunities are likely to emerge during this year’s Global Dubai Tea Forum, the first one after a five-year hiatus. The event, slated for 25 – 27 April, under the theme ‘Unpacking the Future of Tea: From consumer trends to new market opportunities’, will bring together global tea producers, suppliers, buyers, governments, and other industry stakeholders “to discuss and explore the key consumer trends, market forces, and significant opportunities that will drive tea’s global growth.”

Since its inception, the Tea Centre has transacted around 425,000 metric tonnes of tea from 12 different origins servicing about 50 brands, per the DMCC.

Key tea buyers from Dubai such as India and Sri Lanka have set up shop at the DMCC Tea Centre to enhance access to the market with possibility of expanding to the rest of the Middle East markets where tea re-exportation is popular.

Kenya, India, Sri Lanka are top suppliers of tea to the UAE in 2020 per the ITC. Kenya’s and Sri Lanka’s value of tea exports to the UAE increased in 2020. While India’s declined. Overall, the UAE’s tea re-exports of flavoured and non-flavoured tea declined by 50 percent to USD $39.8 million according to ITC statistics that have been derived from the United Nations Comtrade database aggregates.

Similarly, imports dipped by nearly 8 percent during the same period, a trend observed since 2017. The value of tea imports dropped to USD $187 million in 2021 versus $194 million the previous year.

The ITC reports that Russia, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Ukraine are the UAE’s biggest tea re-export markets as the Middle East country rides on its flexible trade norms, favourable taxation policies and strategic geographical location to strengthen its position itself as a global tea-trade hub.

For some of the UAE’s export and re-export markets, the ITC’s statistics shows an interesting trend between 2018 and 2020 such as the emergence of Saudi Arabia as the preferred tea export destination dethroning Russia from among the top five. The value of the UAE’s tea exports to Russia in 2018 was estimated at US $49.71 million, higher than that of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman estimated at $48.52 million, $6.59 million, $3.96 million, and $2.34 million respectively. However, in 2020, Saudi Arabia emerged as the top export destination with tea valued at $86.48 million, more than 1000 percent increase.

Tea exports to Kuwait and Oman in 2020 grew by more than 1000 percent and 800 percent to USD $44 million and $22.56 million, respectively. Conversely, tea imports from the UAE that year by Russia and Iraq declined by 41 percent and 55.89 percent, respectively.

Consumption

Tea remains a popular beverage in the Middle East with market research firm Frost & Sullivan saying demand for tea as a hot beverage “is increasing in the GCC and is strongly backed by product innovations incorporated into the product and marketed in the region.”

The report further notes that increased interest in health and wellness is driving the demand for infused tea in the GCC market. Additionally, Frost & Sullivan find that the post-Covid period has seen an increase in demand for infused herbal tea, especially with ingredients such as peppermint, ashwagandha, ginger, and probiotics. The popularity of the teas is driven largely by the products’ overall functional property-enhancing qualities more specifically those associated with boosting of consumers’ body immunity. The UAE, like in many GCC markets, is experiencing a trend where consumers prefer green tea partly because of they have found new flavours in the product.

With the UAE’s focus on long-term growth for its coffee and tea markets backed by a deliberate move by public and private sector to integrate innovation into these commodities’ supply chains, chances of this Middle East country emerging as one of the top global markets in tea and coffee, are extremely high.

• Shem Oirere is a freelance business journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya. He has spent more than 25 years covering various sectors of Africa’s economy including the region’s agribusiness. He holds BA in International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of South Africa and earned a higher degree in journalism from the London School of Journalism and is also a member of the Association of Business Executives (ABE).

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Coffee Planet aims to reduce its impact on the environment by repurposing and composting coffee waste by diverting the waste from landfills where organic waste generates methane gases, to feeding soils and contributing locally.  The repurposing process begins with Coffee Planet collecting discarded coffee grounds, which are then transported to a Control Station. The grounds are then weighed, purified, and taken to the composting station to create nutritive by-products that enrich local soil, local farms and local jobs.

Coffee Planet is working with The Waste Lab to create a circular economy by promoting zero waste solutions that are sustainable and transparent. Collections are purposefully routed to minimise carbon footprint and keep emissions low. This program not only benefits the environment but also contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals of the UAE.

The combined efforts of Coffee Planet and The Waste Lab are part of a zero waste philosophy to battle a global problem of Greenhouse Gases emitted from food waste.  A further objective of promoting the segregation and repurposing of food waste in the UAE, where 3.37 million tonnes of food go to landfill every year. Not only is waste eliminated rather than managed via landfill, but it is through initiatives like these that the excess produced by Coffee Planet is redirected to better use.

Coffee Planet plays a significant role in changing the coffee industry by creating a blueprint for other businesses to scale up steps towards a circular economy. This includes sustainable initiatives that promote circularity throughout the company’s value chain in support of the company’s long-term sustainability goals.

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The 90+ Panama – Paché variety hails from the Ruiz Farm. The family run farm has been producing coffee in Panama with passion and respect for nearly a hundred years. The Ruiz Farm exclusively grows the Paché varietal, a compact coffee plant originally discovered in Guatemala. This Panama Paché, according to Coffee Planet, will captivate with its elegant notes and complexity and delivers an exquisite yet well-balanced coffee. The cup profile is robust and full bodied, with hints of dates, raisins, plums, cocoa, tea rose, hazel nuts, strawberry, orange and honey sweetness.

The 90+ Colombia Finca Las Margaritas is one of the most renowned coffees from the continent. Hailing from the Las Margaritas Farm, the harvest is incredibly small, making this coffee a classic case of quality over quantity, says Coffee Planet. It’s a long process of 20 to 34 hours of complex fermentation to illicit the most exciting flavours out of these special beans. The cup profile is medium to full bodied and includes notes of yogurt, vanilla, plums, raisins, strawberry, hazelnut, peach and molasses sweetness.

The 90+ range is available until quantities last via: coffeeplanet.com/collections/coffee-planet-90

Prices:

The 90+ Panama Paché: AED 120.50

The 90+ Colombia Finca Las Margaritas: AED 235.50

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A region steeped in coffee history; the Middle East has been identified as one of the fastest-growing coffee markets globally – promising further growth over the next decade – making it one of the largest emerging specialty coffee markets in the world.

As one of the prominent leaders of specialty coffee in the region, Coffee Planet will have a strong presence at World of Coffee with two stands and a spot in the famous Roasters Village.

Coffee Planet’s bar allows attendees to sample both Coffee Planet’s specialty coffee range and exacting brewing methods. Next to the bar, another stand will showcase their extensive range of core products, new product developments, new equipment launches and host an array of interviews with leading industry experts. As an exclusive to World of Coffee, Coffee Planet will launch its brand-new 90+ range of coffee across the stands and in the Roasters Village.

Coffee Planet comments: “As the authority on specialty coffee since 2005, we could not let the WOC come to Dubai, our home, without being part of it. World of Coffee gives us access to an amazing array of coffee experts from across the world, allowing us to meet our long-term partners at a great event and show off what we do to those who may not have met us before, giving them a taste of what we produce.

“We are excited to be sharing some new specialty coffee products and equipment to those attending as well as hosting interviews with stars of the coffee world.”

Find out more about World of Coffee at: dubai.worldofcoffee.org

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The event in the UAE will run in addition to the SCA’s World of Coffee Warsaw that is scheduled to take place in Poland 23-25 June 2022.

First announced in May 2018, World of Coffee Dubai is a collaboration between the Specialty Coffee Association, DXB LIVE, and the volunteer leaders of the SCA UAE Chapter. In a call with the media on 3 November, Vicente Partida, community experience officer, SCA, explained that World of Coffee Dubai is a licensed event — the SCA is not running or hosting the show, rather, the trade show is being entirely organised locally by DXB Live and the SCA UAE Chapter, and supported by the SCA. World of Coffee Dubai is technically a show within a show as it is a small event within the 2020 World Expo, a world’s fair that was postponed in 2020 and is now taking place from October 2021 through March 2022 in Dubai.

World of Coffee (WOC) Dubai builds on the legacy of the SCA’s WOC trade show that has been travelling to a different European city since 2006. Designed to connect coffee producers, manufacturers, retailers, traders, and the broader industry, WOC Dubai is tailored for the UAE’s coffee businesses and those who wish to break into the Middle East’s emerging coffee industry. According to Euromonitor International, the Middle East and North Africa have been the fastest-growing coffee markets globally since 2015 and promise further growth over the next decade. The Middle East and Africa represent a combined coffee market of over USD $16 billion, making it one of the biggest emerging specialty coffee markets globally.

Registration is now open for World of Coffee Dubai. Visitors who wish to attend WOC Dubai must purchase a ticket to the 2020 World Expo. Features of World of Coffee Dubai include:

• A show floor focused entirely on exhibitors and delegates from the specialty coffee and tea industry
• The Roasters Village
• Brew & Espresso Bar
• Cupping Corner
• Coffee Design Awards
• Best New Product Competition and Display
• SCA Lectures and Training
• SCA Lounge and Store

For more information on World of Coffee Dubai, visit: World of Coffee Dubai.

To book a booth at World of Coffee Dubai, contact Neha Mistry, Senior Live Events Manager at DXB LIVE, via the contact form on the event website.

The following are confirmed dates for Specialty Coffee Association trade shows in 2022:

• World of Coffee in Dubai, UAE: 12-14 January 2022
• Specialty Coffee Expo in Boston, Massachusetts, USA: 7-10 April 2022
• World of Coffee in Warsaw, Poland: 23-25 June 2022

For more information on SCA trade shows, visit: sca.coffee.

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Dash Hospitality is a new entity grown from a family construction business with Hayder Al Nashie, CEO at the helm and Christian Jones as general manager. Across several GCC countries the family business has become known to the biggest F&B operators as a leading construction and fitout contractor building some of the most prestigious and well renowned restaurants, coffee shops and central kitchens amongst many other sectors. The combined hospitality experience of the team prompted a foray into F&B activity. This venture is the first of many, with Coffee Planet and Dash Hospitality aiming to create a longstanding relationship.

The new Circle mall is perfectly positioned for residents of JVC and the surrounding areas to enjoy, with Coffee Planet at the epicentre of the new development. Coffee Planet is now giving consumers a chance to experience its specialty Arabica coffee curated for them by a skilled barista in the 1,500 sqft Coffee Planet, Circle Mall. The café has a light, earthy décor with an industrial touch and a varied selection of specialty Arabica coffee on the menu. With falling greenery and a chilled atmosphere, Coffee Planet says its new Circle Mall is the perfect location for residents in the surrounding areas to enjoy a relaxed coffee, a pit-stop in between shopping or freelancers needing to escape the home office for a coffee that hits the spot.

Coffee Planet aims to provide the highest quality specialty coffee with green beans sourced from over 23 countries. The beans are carefully roasted and ground for that perfect sip every time. Coffee Planet Circle Mall is just the first opening in a line-up of exciting announcements to follow, according to the company.

“We are extremely excited to be partnering with Coffee Planet to help bring their established retail, foodservice and office business to life on the High Street. We believe that Coffee Planets 16 year coffee expertise, coupled with our management teams combined 50 years of F&B experience equates to a winning formula that will deliver great coffee of the highest quality, great looking stores and excellent service to our UAE customers,”said Hayder Nashie, CEO of Dash Hospitality Group.

“For Coffee Planet, this is a momentous occasion with the opening of our first location. The company has been sourcing and supplying coffee across the Middle East for many years and now it is our time to put down roots with the help of DASH Hospitality. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with DASH Hospitality as we grow our business together,” commented Robert Jones, CEO Coffee Planet.

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After 15 years of successfully developing the brand in the Middle East being a partner to premium hotels and serving the tea connoisseurs through e-boutique, the Dubai outlet is London-based Newby Teas first tea boutique in the region. The 300-square-foot boutique has been designed with a contemporary feel showcasing luxury and minimalism at the same time. The gold fixture on the ceiling is an artistic representation of the ripples caused by brewing a cup of tea.

Along with the classic selection of teas, Newby’s new boutique also offers some of the rarest and finest tea blends of the world. With an opulent experiential area, guests can visit to taste and explore the teas of their choice. Visitors can also relax as well as indulge in tea history and unwind in the lounge area of the boutique.

The Dubai boutique also offers an exquisite selection of Newby Teas’ luxury gifting items, inspired by ancient tea culture, and brought to life by a master jeweller. For example, the Pagoda and the Epitome caddies celebrate the history of tea and its royal, revered status presenting only a limited edition of one of each exclusive diamond studied caddies crafted with gold, enamel and venetian glass.

“We are looking forward to welcoming our clientele to our new home and showcasing some of the rarest and the finest tea blends,” said founder and chairman of Newby Teas, Nirmal Sethia. “We have constantly been on a mission to bring back the glory of the ancient tea culture and this definitely a step towards it.”

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The certified ‘Mother Earth-friendly’ capsules are made from vegetable-based materials which break down easily whilst preserving the integrity of the coffee. For every purchase of the ‘eco pods’, Coffee Planet will also plant a tree through the Eden Reforestation Project. 

The capsules come in four unique blends: full-bodied Italian Dark Roast, French Medium Roast, and Single Origins from Brazil and Peru. All are Nespresso machine compatible. Leaving no sustainable stone unturned, the Organic Peruvian Roast is the only UTZ certified roast in the region, which guarantees responsibly sourced beans from the coffee farmers to the environment. 

The coffee pods are available online via the Coffee Planet website, Amazon, Noon and supermarkets across the UAE including Carrefour, Spinneys, Waitrose and Choithrams.

Prices are as follows:

10 Compostable Coffee Capsules: 21.25 AED

25 Compostable Coffee Capsules: 49.75 AED

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Cajary Majlis will make use of the DMCC Coffee Centre, a 15,000 sq/m temperature-controlled facility, to bring coffee from Mutombo’s home country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and across Africa, to Dubai and beyond. In the fall of 2020, Cajary Majlis launched and distributed a limited-quantity #55 Champion’s Edition Barrel Aged Coffee, with beans sourced from the DRC to consumers in the US.

Speaking on the occasion, Dikembe Mutombo, chairman, Cajary Majlis, said, “We are thrilled to become a member of a world-class coffee trading hub that provides us direct access to trade opportunities in Dubai, across the UAE, and also the world’s key commodities markets. Dubai lies at the centre of global business and trade, and we are excited to join a vibrant community where Cajary Majlis can grow and thrive.”

“We plan to take full advantage of DMCC’s established trade connections, innovative infrastructure and world-class services to support the DRC’s agriculture and commodities community, introducing the world to the best that the Congo has to offer, including Congolese coffee,” he added.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chairman and chief executive officer, DMCC, said: “It is an honour for us to welcome Dikembe and the rest of the Cajary Majlis team to our world-leading business district as they link coffee producing nations in Africa to the emirate and beyond. DMCC places great emphasis on driving trade through Dubai in a sustainable and responsible way so that we, and our 18,000 member companies, have a positive impact on the commodity-producing communities across the globe. This view is shared by Cajary Majlis, making them a perfect fit for our free zone and for the DMCC Coffee Centre.”

“Cajary Majlis’ decision to set up at the DMCC Coffee Centre demonstrates its international appeal and reflects the growth that the Centre has seen since its opening. We look forward to carrying on this growth journey alongside Dikembe and his team,” he added.

Mutombo, who is also CEO of the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, has leveraged his celebrity status as an NBA player to become a well-known spokesperson for the underserved communities throughout the DRC and Africa. Mutombo’s DMCC licence number will be 55, his jersey number throughout his career at teams including the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets.

Robert C Bush Jr, president & CEO, Cajary Majlis, said: “Our mission is to responsibly source and deliver agricultural products from undervalued communities to fast growing markets across various regions. Having a positive impact on the communities across our supply chain is central to our philosophy, so we are proud to be joining DMCC, a free zone that takes ESG and CSR seriously. Together, we will seek greater transparency, accountability, and integration between coffee producers and consumers.”

On 3 February, Bin Sulayem and coffee industry experts will join Mutombo and Angela Yee, founder of Coffee Uplifts People and co-host of the US nationally syndicated radio show, The Breakfast Club, for a virtual media invite only event: “The Real Price of Coffee in Your Cup”. Industry participants will shed light on the dynamic intricacies of the African coffee industry, from “crop to cup”, as well as the challenges and opportunities for many African coffee farmers, importers and distributors, and retailers.

The DMCC Coffee Centre continues to attract international businesses by connecting the fast-growing consumer markets in the Middle East and Europe to some of the world’s major coffee producing nations. The Coffee Centre supports the entire coffee industry from crop to cup by offering cost-efficient logistical support as well as warehousing, roasting and packaging services. In July 2020, DMCC announced plans to expand the Coffee and Tea Centres to triple output, increase services and boost capacity.

More information on Cajary Majlis can be found online at www.cajarymajlis.com.

Mutombo’s coffee can be purchased at www.mutombocoffee.com.

Visit dmcc.ae/coffee to learn more about the DMCC Coffee Centre.

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Organised by the Singapore Coffee Association (SCA) in partnership with Food&HotelAsia (FHA), the virtual auction saw bidders from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, UAE and USA vying for 49 lots of specialty coffee. The auction was closely watched on socials, garnering up to 5,200 views.

Santa Elena Estate’s Geisha beans received the second highest bid of US$56 from CoHee Limited, Hong Kong. Finally, Yellow Catucaí from Guariroba Farm, Brazil was sold at US$25 to a bidder from Japan. Other lots that received intense interest from bidders included:

• CAT-129 variety from Ngoli Estate, Zambia (highest jump from US$7 to close bid at US$16);
• F1 Centroamericano, Hy-04 Natural varieties from La Margarita, Costa Rica;
• Caturra / Catuai varieties from Finca Santa Teresa, Panama;
• Arabica Catuai variety from Finca La Valentina, Panama;

Intense discussion on climate change and coffee production

The webinar “Effects of Climate Change on Coffee Production in ASEAN”, held on the same day prior to the auction, saw 133 attendees from 22 countries and regions and over 2,400 social views. Discussion centred on the impact of climate change on coffee farming in the region and how farmers can mitigate the damage caused to the industry in Southeast Asia. Industry professionals from Starbucks, a coffee industry expert based in Vietnam, and BSR deep dived into the issue and shared their views on how farmers and businesses can help reduce climate impact. From understanding business risks to analysing the different factors such as energy use and mono crop culture that affect coffee farming communities around the world, the experts agreed that the impact of climate change can be resolved through openness and collaboration among all the stakeholders.

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Last month, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of UAE, and ruler of Dubai, visited the DMCC Tea Centre and DMCC Coffee Centre.

The expansion announcement was made during a tour of both facilities by a senior Dubai FDI delegation, headed by His Excellency Fahad Al Gergawi, chief executive officer, Dubai FDI, and Mr Khalid Al Boom, deputy chief executive officer, Dubai FDI. Also in attendance was Ahmad Al Haddad, chief operating officer, Parks & Zones – DP World, UAE Region.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chairman and chief executive officer, DMCC, said: “Under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, DMCC is fast becoming the global hub for the tea and coffee industry. Our ambitious plans to triple our capacity in the near future are strategically anchored in Dubai’s drive and ability to facilitate world trade. Situated at the crossroads of the world, Dubai is perfectly placed to grow its market share for commodity trading, and the import and export of coffee, tea and a whole range of other commodities. To support this ambition, DMCC has developed a solid eco-system of infrastructure and best-in-class services that together, will encourage more businesses to base their operations at DMCC.”

“Together with Dubai FDI, our efforts are focused on promoting the commercial appeal of Dubai to leading global businesses and SMEs from around the world. By driving commodity trade through Dubai, DMCC is also positively impacting vital sectors of the city’s economy including logistics, cargo volumes and aviation. As a result, we are supporting the government’s economic diversification plans while simultaneously contributing 10% to Dubai’s GDP,” he added.

The DMCC Tea Centre was opened in 2005 to boost global tea trade through the emirate, and has facilitated the trade of over 320 million kilos since inception. Building on the success of the operation, the DMCC Coffee Centre launched in 2019 – the first-of-its-kind facility in the Middle East – with the view to transform Dubai into a new global hub for the coffee trade.

The DMCC Coffee Centre supports the coffee industry from crop to cup and caters to farmers, exporters, traders, roasters and retailers alike. According to the company, the centre offers world-class infrastructure and services for green bean storage, processing, roasting, packing and delivery of coffee to precise specifications. With a view towards training and supporting baristas and local coffee shops, the Centre’s Premier Training Campus, which is Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) certified, offers professional courses in areas such as grading, green and sensory analysis, barista and brewing and sample/commercial roasting techniques.

Despite an overall softer business climate, it was revealed that 805 new companies joined DMCC in the first half of 2020, with a noticeable uptick in the months of May and June. DMCC also recently announced the extension of its Business Support Package, its largest ever commercial incentive, until 31 August 2020. This followed the positive market reaction from the Dubai business community to the original package launched in April 2020.

For more information, visit: www.dmcc.ae.

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