For its sixth edition, World of Coffee Dubai will return to Dubai World Trade Center from 26-28 January 2027. The show is organised by DXB LIVE, the integrated event management agency of Dubai World Trade Center, in partnership with the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). Under the theme “The Center of Specialty,” the 2027 edition will bring every profile in the specialty coffee chain together on one show floor: growers, roasters, equipment manufacturers, importers and distributors, café owners, baristas and more.

Each of these profiles plays a distinct role in the journey from origin to cup. Growers determine the quality of every lot at origin; roasters shape how it tastes; equipment manufacturers engineer the tools that bring out its character; importers and distributors move it across borders; café owners build businesses around it; and baristas perfect the pour and place it in the customer’s hands. “The Center of Specialty” is a commercial proposition built on that interdependence. With every link in the chain in one place, business that would otherwise require months of travel between origins and markets can be done in three days.

Dubai’s location makes this connectivity possible. Major origins such as Ethiopia and Kenya are within easy reach of the city, as are the fast-growing specialty markets of the GCC and South Asia. That places Dubai at the point where the bean’s journey meets the buyer’s.

World of Coffee Dubai is also where the market’s growing demand meets the supply to match it. Specialty is the fastest-growing segment of the region’s coffee market: Mordor Intelligence projects that specialty coffee across the Middle East and Africa, including Turkey and South Africa, will grow by 9.05% a year through 2031, outpacing conventional coffee. Supply at origin is strengthening in step. The United States Department of Agriculture forecasts a record 2026/27 harvest of 12.1 million bags in Ethiopia, one of specialty coffee’s most celebrated origins and one of the closest to Dubai.

Exhibitor commitments for 2027 point to growing confidence in the show. Saudi companies have increased their floor space by 100% compared with the 2026 edition, while African participation has also increased by 100%, widening the range of producers and coffee varieties available to buyers on the show floor. Producing countries including Ethiopia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Panama and Peru will be represented.

New exhibitors joining the show in 2027 include CMA, the Italian manufacturer of traditional and super-automatic espresso machines, operating from a 40,000-square-metre high-tech facility in Susegana, Treviso. Other exhibitors confirmed for 2027 include Probat, Simonelli Group, Saudi roastery Dapilio, Gold Food, Alfanoos and Wendougee.

The 2026 edition set the benchmark for 2027, recording more than 20,000 trade visits and over 2,100 brands from 80 countries, with nine national pavilions, and 70% of participants reported generating qualified leads.

The show floor is structured around the coffee’s journey from origin to cup:

• Origin:In the Producer Village and Cupping Room, visitors can taste and compare coffees from producing countries around the world.
• Craft:The Roaster Village and Brew Bar show how roasting and brewing bring out each coffee’s character. The SCA UAE National Championships put the region’s leading baristas and roasters on stage.
• Innovation:The Coffee Design Award and Best New Product Award recognise the tools and products shaping the sector.
• Knowledge:The Unfiltered Stage hosts discussions on coffee science, technology, sustainability, sourcing and market change, alongside SCA training and workshops.

World of Coffee Dubai’s impact extends beyond the three days of the show; the SCA Community Lounge provides a meeting point for the global coffee community, while the Café Network connects UAE café operators with roasters, suppliers and international peers throughout the year.

Yannis Apostolopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of the Specialty Coffee Association, said: “World of Coffee Dubai reflects the region’s growing influence, driven by a dynamic coffee culture, evolving consumer expectations, and stronger connections with coffee-producing countries. As the sector continues to evolve, bringing together industry professionals on the show floor creates opportunities to exchange knowledge and build stronger networks across the value chain. Our continued partnership with DXB LIVE is central to building on this momentum and supporting the long-term growth of specialty coffee in this region.”

Khalid Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President of DXB LIVE, said: “Dubai has always been where trade routes meet, and specialty coffee is no exception. ‘The Center of Specialty’ is a commercial promise as much as a theme: across three days, on one floor, you can meet every person in the chain you need to do business with. The 2027 edition reflects the ambition of an industry that continues to expand rapidly.”

Khalid Al Mulla, Chief Executive Officer of the SCA UAE Chapter, said: “Specialty coffee in this region now has its own character, with stronger skills, more informed consumers and a community committed to quality. World of Coffee Dubai is where that talent meets the wider industry. In 2027, the region’s top talent, across every link in the specialty chain, will be front and center.”

Exhibitors can now book space for World of Coffee Dubai 2027. Early bird visitor tickets are available at https://dubai.worldofcoffee.org/home