World of Coffee Dubai, the specialty coffee trade show, will return to Dubai World Trade Centre from 26 to 28 January 2027, according to organisers. The event is scheduled as the sixth edition and will be held under the theme “The Center of Specialty.”
The show is organised by DXB LIVE, the integrated event management agency of Dubai World Trade Centre, in partnership with the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). Organisers said the 2027 programme is designed to bring together growers, roasters, equipment manufacturers, importers and distributors, café owners and baristas on one show floor.
Organisers said the event format focuses on what they describe as the full chain from origin to cup. They outlined several areas including a Producer Village and Cupping Room for tasting and comparing coffees; a Roaster Village and Brew Bar for brewing and roasting demonstrations; and the SCA UAE National Championships featuring baristas and roasters. The release also lists the Coffee Design Award and Best New Product Award, plus the Unfiltered Stage for discussions on coffee science, technology, sustainability, sourcing and market change, alongside SCA training and workshops.
Growing participation and new exhibitors
According to the announcement, Saudi companies have doubled their floor space compared with the 2026 edition, and African participation has also doubled. The release states that producing countries expected to be represented include Ethiopia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Panama and Peru.
The organisers also said new exhibitors for 2027 include CMA, described as an Italian manufacturer of traditional and super-automatic espresso machines. The company is said to operate from a 40,000-square-metre high-tech facility in Susegana, Treviso. Other exhibitors named for 2027 in the release include Probat, Simonelli Group, Saudi roastery Dapilio, Gold Food, Alfanoos and Wendougee.
Industry outlook cited
The release links the show to regional market momentum, citing analysis by Mordor Intelligence that projects specialty coffee across the Middle East and Africa, including Turkey and South Africa, will grow by 9.05% per year through 2031. It also cites a forecast by the United States Department of Agriculture that Ethiopia is expected to record a record 2026/27 harvest of 12.1 million bags.
Organisers pointed to participation figures from the 2026 edition, saying it recorded more than 20,000 trade visits and over 2,100 brands from 80 countries, including nine national pavilions. The release also states that 50% of the exhibition space for 2027 was booked by the close of the 2026 edition.
Industry executives comment
In the release, Yannis Apostolopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of the SCA, said World of Coffee Dubai reflects the region’s growing influence and that continuing the partnership with DXB LIVE is intended to support the long-term growth of specialty coffee in the region.
Khalid Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President of DXB LIVE, said Dubai’s role in trade routes makes it a fit location for specialty coffee industry networking, adding that the 2027 edition is intended to connect people across the coffee chain over three days.
Khalid Al Mulla, Chief Executive Officer of the SCA UAE Chapter, said specialty coffee in the region has developed its own character and that the event is where regional talent across the value chain will be highlighted.
Organisers said the show will also include the SCA Community Lounge and the Café Network to support connections beyond the event dates.
