SIAL Middle East, a top food, beverage and hospitality event, and the Abu Dhabi Date Palm Exhibition (ADDPE)  concluded recently in Abu Dhabi, UAE, recording trade deals valued over Dh7.2 billion ($1.96 billion) during the three day event.

The event drew 23,000 industry experts and unique visitors with a growth rate of 13 per cent from last year, from more than 50 countries, reported state news agency Wam.

The exhibition was the biggest edition since its launch in 2010 and the event was organised by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (Adnec) in cooperation with French "Comexposium" Group, one of the largest international exhibition and conference organisers, and in strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) under the theme "Defining Innovation in the Food, Beverage & Hospitality Industry".

The total area of the exhibition increased to 22,000 sq m, a growth rate of 22 per cent compared with the area allocated for the previous edition, which amounted to 18,000 sq m.

The number of new exhibitors doubled to reach 16, in comparison to 8 last year. Number of participating countries has increased by 20 per cent. Event Features increased by 67 per cent to reach 15 features.

This year, SIAL ME witnessed an increase of 10 per cent in the number of UAE exhibition companies that has reached to 76 exhibitors. Additionally, the total space of UAE pavilions increased to 3,373 sq m, which represent growth of 54 per cent compared to last edition.

Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, director general of ADAFSA, said: "We are pleased with the high turnout witnessed by the exhibition in its tenth anniversary edition, and its success in attracting elite food companies, major food suppliers and investors from all over the world.

“This will contribute by strengthening our efforts to consolidate the food security system and will open up new and innovative food industries by providing the supply chain for this system with more opportunities and capabilities that ensure their sustainability and growth, to meet the growing demand for food in the region and the world and to keep pace with the great prosperity and booming industry that we are witnessing in the UAE, in the field of agriculture and food production."

SIAL Middle East 2019 featured a series of interactive sessions and competitions that attracted the participation and interest of leading local, regional and global experts. The attendees to the exhibition also gained insight into the latest food and beverage trends along with key topics related to food production and innovation plus the future of food.

This year also saw the first Gahwa Championships which were organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, with the aim of reviving the heritage and traditions of Arabic coffee as an important aspect of the region’s culture. The Championships comprised five categories, all of which assessed participants' knowledge and proficiency in terms of coffee heritage, selection and roasting of coffee beans, and processing and presentation of coffee to guests. Winners were announced at the end of an honouring ceremony.

Winner of the Sane’ Al Gahwa Light Roast category and for the Medium/Dark Roast category, triumphed over the competition, with both receiving the top prize of Dh125,000. The runner-up for Sane’ Al Gahwa Light Roast and for Medium/Dark Roast, both received Dh40,000.

The Gahwa Roaster Award also had both Light Roast and Medium/Dark Roast categories. Winner of the Gahwa Roaster Award - Light Roast and for the Gahwa Roaster Award - Medium/Dark Roast, received a prize of Dh25,000. In the fifth and final category, a prize of Dh20,000 was bestowed upon winner of the Gahwa Beverage Concept Award.

The 5th ADDPE ran alongside SIAL ME again this year and provided the biggest international platform for exhibitors to showcase their products and boost their presence in the global market. This year, the exhibition featured more than 87 exhibitors specialising in date palm fruit products from 12 countries and an impressive trade buyers from the Middle East region.