Dubai, UAE – Gulfood 2026 — Chile’s participation at Gulfood 2026, the world’s leading food and beverage exhibition, continues to draw strong international interest, reaffirming the country’s position as a reliable global supplier of high-quality, innovative, and sustainable food products. During the first three days of the event, the Chile Pavilion has attracted significant attention from buyers, distributors, and industry professionals from around the world, who have visited the stand to explore new business opportunities and connect directly with Chilean exporters.
Companies showcasing their products at the Chile Pavilion have reported strong engagement, with a steady flow of international visitors representing markets across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Meetings held during the exhibition have reflected a growing interest in Chilean food solutions that respond to global consumption trends, particularly in health, sustainability, and product versatility.
Dry fruits emerge as one of the main protagonists of Chile’s presence at Gulfood 2026. Products such as raisins, dried cranberries, walnuts, and other dehydrated fruits generate strong demand, driven by their quality, traceability, and suitability for both retail and industrial applications. International buyers highlighted Chile’s consistency in supply, food safety standards, and ability to meet the requirements of premium and value-added markets.
“We have seen a strong response from importers and distributors, which underscores Chile’s reputation for combining quality, innovation, and sustainability across its food exports”, said Sharif Chacoff, Chile’s trade commissioner in the UAE and director of the local office of ProChile, the country’s government office which articulates the pavilion at Gulfood and organizes b2b missions and events all year.
“Chile’s food exports to the UAE grew by over 42% in 2025 compared to the year before, driven particularly by walnuts, which jumped over 550% year-on-year. This is because Chilean companies have a commitment to the highest quality, responsible production practices, technological development, and long-term partnerships with international clients”.
In addition to dry fruits, the Chile Pavilion showcases a broad and diversified product portfolio. This includse agro-industrial products such as oats, whose global demand continues to rise in line with the increasing focus on healthier and balanced diets, as well as plant-based milks, natural juices, and a wide range of dehydrated products. This reinforces Chile’s capacity to adapt to evolving consumer preferences and new food trends.
Chile’s successful participation at Gulfood 2026 has been further strengthened by promotional activities and tastings held at the pavilion, which created an interactive platform for networking and product discovery. These initiatives allowed visitors to experience firsthand the value and versatility of Chilean products, fostering meaningful commercial conversations.
Overall, Gulfood 2026 seeks to mark a key milestone for Chile’s food export strategy in the Middle East and beyond. The results achieved at the Chile Pavilion during the first three days reflect not only the competitiveness of Chilean companies, but also the country’s long-term vision to position itself as a global partner for high-quality, healthy, and innovative food solutions.
