As Chile prepares to strengthen its presence in the Gulf’s food and beverage market, Sharif Chacoff, Trade Commissioner of – ProChile in UAE, offers a comprehensive overview of the country’s strategy at Gulfood 2026, the world’s largest and most influential food and beverage trade exhibition, taking place from January 26 to 30, 2026, in Dubai.
With extensive experience in international trade promotion and a deep understanding of Middle Eastern markets, Chacoff plays a central role in positioning Chile as a reliable, long-term supplier of premium food products to the region. In this interview, he explains how Chile’s participation at Gulfood 2026—represented by more than 20 leading Chilean companies—reflects a clear strategy focused on diversification, value-added production, sustainability, and alignment with regional food security priorities.
Chile’s official participation, coordinated by ProChile, the country’s export promotion agency, reinforces its reputation for healthy, safe, high-quality, and sustainably produced foods, supported by its unique geography, strong institutional framework, and open-market economy. The Chilean delegation will present a diversified export portfolio ranging from fresh and dried fruits to cereals, plant-based products, processed foods, and agro-industrial solutions, all tailored to meet the evolving demands of Middle Eastern consumers and distributors.
The Middle East—and particularly the United Arab Emirates—occupies a strategic position in Chile’s international trade agenda. Asia currently represents over 31% of Chile’s food exports, while shipments to the Middle East reached approximately USD 250 million between January and November 2025, led by salmon, walnuts, and fresh fruits. Chile’s ability to export to more than 170 global markets, combined with its high standards in food safety, traceability, and sustainability, further strengthens its competitiveness in the region.
This positive outlook is reinforced by recent milestones, including the accreditation of ChileHalal, Chile’s Halal Certification Center, by the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, enabling Chilean exporters to meet halal requirements and access regional distribution channels with greater confidence. In 2024, Chile achieved a historic record of USD 21.5 billion in food exports, while the first half of 2025 registered USD 12.6 billion, confirming the continued growth and global relevance of the sector.
In the following interview, Sharif Chacoff shares insights into Chile’s objectives at Gulfood 2026, the types of partnerships Chilean companies are seeking in the Gulf, and how the country is responding to evolving market trends across the region.
What types of Chilean companies are participating in Gulfood 2026, and how does their presence reflect ProChile UAE’s strategic priorities to expand export opportunities for Chile’s food sector in the region?
Chile has maintained a consistent presence at Gulfood over the years because we understand the relevance of this trade fair for the global food sector and, particularly, for the Gulf region and our projection toward Asia. We have been present since the very beginning of this exhibition, which has helped us showcase Chile and its food offering.
This year, we are participating with more than 20 companies and a more diverse offering. In addition to fresh and dried fruits that are already well known in this market—such as raisins, walnuts, and dried plums—we will also be showcasing cereals such as oats, as well as processed foods like oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, and rice-based products. There will also be agro-industrial products such as juices and fruit pulps made from plums or raisins, in addition to honey and rice, among others.
This is a clear indication of how we are implementing our strategy to diversify destination markets through high-visibility commercial platforms like Gulfood, while also introducing a new export offering of processed foods for the Gulf. In doing so, we are strengthening business ties with the region through an internationally prestigious food offering that has positioned Chile among the world’s leading food producers.
Chile has maintained a consistent presence at Gulfood over the years because we understand the relevance of this trade fair for the global food sector and, particularly, for the Gulf region and our projection toward Asia.
What does ProChile UAE aim to achieve through Chile’s participation in Gulfood 2026, and how does this important event contribute to strengthening trade relations and business opportunities?
We primarily aim to achieve two objectives. On the one hand, our consistent presence at this trade fair reflects Chile’s commitment to maintaining and strengthening business relations with the UAE and the wider region, particularly in the food sector. On the other hand, we seek to demonstrate that our country offers a sophisticated and diverse range of food products that are internationally recognized for their high quality, food safety, and sustainable production.
This event serves as an important showcase for our country and, especially, for the participating companies, as it enables them to establish business contacts both within the local market and internationally.
What types of partnerships and business opportunities are Chilean companies seeking at Gulfood 2026, and which profiles of buyers, distributors, or strategic partners are of greatest interest to them?
While each of the more than 20 participating companies has its own priorities and target profiles, at a country level we are primarily seeking partnerships that allow us to showcase the diversity and sophistication of Chile’s food offering. This includes an industry that is innovating in sustainable practices and developing novel agri-food products, such as those with functional ingredients or free-from components, for example.
Based on your experience in the region, what trends or demands are currently shaping the food and beverage market in the Gulf, and how are Chilean exporters responding to these dynamics?
Consumers in the Middle East are increasingly well informed and place a strong emphasis on healthy food, which aligns closely with Chile’s reputation as a reliable and sustainable global food supplier. This alignment is reflected in the strong growth of Chilean food exports across GCC countries.
Between 2024 and 2025, exports to Saudi Arabia grew by 61% in agro-industry, 28% in fresh fruit, and 27% in nuts. In Bahrain, fresh fruit exports increased by 66%. In the UAE, growth during the same period reached 537% in nuts, 114% in fresh fruit, and 31% in seafood. Kuwait recorded a 37% increase in nut exports, Qatar saw growth of 228% in fresh fruit and 279% in nuts, while Oman registered a 100% increase in agro-industrial exports. These figures clearly demonstrate Chile’s capacity to act as a strategic partner for the region.
A recent example of Chilean companies’ ability to adapt to global market dynamics is the accreditation of the Chilean Halal Certification Center by the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology. This milestone means Chile now has an officially recognized body capable of certifying that Chilean products comply with Halal standards.
“Chile has successfully positioned its food offering in the Gulf countries and, in just the past year, shipments grew by 38%, exceeding USD 166 million.”
How does the accreditation of the Chilean Halal Certification Center (ChileHalal) by the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology strengthen Chilean food exports to the UAE, and what practical advantages does this certification offer to Chilean companies?
In practical terms, this means that Chilean companies seeking to export Halal products can certify that their production processes comply with these standards, as there is now a Chile-based organization accredited by the Emirati authorities to support this certification.
This milestone, achieved in 2024, has significant potential to strengthen Chilean exports to the UAE market, as it allows us to reach the Islamic population and consumers who follow these dietary practices. At the same time, we are also targeting market access to Saudi Arabia, where we expect to obtain Halal accreditation for Chilean products in the near future, enabling us to continue advancing the diversification strategy we have set for ourselves.
In practical terms, this means that Chilean companies seeking to export Halal products can certify that their production processes comply with these standards, as there is now a Chile-based organization accredited by the Emirati authorities to support this certification.
(C) latingulf.ae 2026
From the Editor:
Visitors, importers and business partners are invited to visit the Chile Pavilion at Gulfood 2026, where delegation members will be available for business meetings, product tastings and strategic discussions throughout the event.
At Gulfood 2026, more than 20 Chilean companies will present their products and capabilities, representing the diversity and quality of Chile’s agro-food ecosystem, including:
- Anjari: Golden Raisins, Dark Raisins, Inshell Walnuts
- Agromar: Bulk Raisins (Jumbo/Medium – Flame, Golden, Crimson, Thompson), Inshell Walnuts
- Alicahue: Inshell Walnuts (Chandler, Serr), Shelled Walnuts (Hand & Machine Cracked)
- Agrícola Ballerina (Ballerina Farms): Shelled Almonds (Non Pareil, Independence, Carmel, Solano), Inshell & Shelled Walnuts (Chandler, Howard, Serr)
- Baika Fruit: Walnuts, Almonds, Prunes, Dried Sweet Cherries, Fruit & Nut Snacks (Bulk & Retail, Private Label)
- Calbu: Inshell Walnuts, Shelled Walnuts (Hand & Machine Cracked)
- Comercializadora Nueces del Sur (NDS / Southern Walnuts): Inshell Walnuts, Walnut Kernels, Inshell Hazelnuts, Hazelnut Kernels, Raw Almonds
- Growex: Inshell Walnuts, Shelled Walnuts (Manual & Machine), Hazelnuts
- Frutexsa: Walnuts (Inshell & Shelled), Prunes (Pitted & Unpitted), Raisins (Various Varieties), Almonds
- Fruteec Chile: Dried Prunes (Conventional, Tenderized, Pitted & Unpitted), Prune Juice Concentrate, Raisins (Jumbo & Medium)
- Goodvalley: Prunes, Dried Cherries, Walnuts, Almonds, Raisins (Bulk & Retail, Private Label)
- Hacienda Chorombo: Walnuts (Chandler), Fresh Lemons, Olive Oil
- Quelen Fruit: Inshell Walnuts, Shelled Walnuts (Machine Cracked), Prunes
- Melifen: Inshell Walnuts, Shelled Walnuts (Hand & Machine Cracked), Almonds, Hazelnuts, Prunes
- Land Growers Chile: Tenderized Prunes, Raisins (Black, Flame, Thompson, Crimson, Golden), Inshell Walnuts, Shelled Walnuts, Shelled Almonds
- Nama Exportaciones: Lupins, Honey, Rice
- Peuma Dry Fruits: Inshell Walnuts, Shelled Walnuts (Extra Light Kernels, Quarters & Pieces)
- Prunesco: Organic Prunes, Tenderized Prunes, Prune Puree, Prune Concentrated Juice
- Silvestres: Prunes (Pitted, Unpitted, Natural), Raisins (Thompson, Flame, Crimson, Black, Superior, Golden), Walnuts
- Syngular: Processed Oats, Groats (KDHO), Rolled Oats, Steel-Cut Oats, Oat Flour
- Superfruit: Dried Prunes, Dried Cherries, Walnuts, Walnut Kernels
- Vilay: Plant-Based Beverages (Almond, Oat, Rice, Coconut), Plant-Based Creams, Dulce Sin Leche, Refreshing Drinks
- Terra Liber: Raisins, Golden Raisins, Inshell Walnuts, Shelled Walnuts, Prunes (Pitted & Unpitted), Almonds, Cranberries, Hazelnuts, Figs
HALL 14 SOUTH WORLD FOOD- BOOTH GF26 & HALL 8 NORTH PULSES & GRAINS- BOOTH N7-D1
