Coffee purchases in the UAE are expected to rise 80 per cent through 2014, said the organisers of an upcoming coffee and tea conference in Dubai.

The Middle East Coffee & Tea Convention will take place from November 3 to 5 at the Meydan Grandstand, focusing on coffee and tea as a commodity and a business.

The convention will be among the highlights of the food and beverage zone of World Discovery Festival, Dubai’s unique travel, leisure, lifestyle, entertainment and cultural event.

The convention will bring together suppliers, distributors, retailers and other key players, and will feature the latest coffee and tea fusions, flavorings and syrups; store equipment; packaging materials; commercial and home brewing equipment; and various related services.

Participants will benefit from the various networking opportunities to be provided by the convention, which will also feature Educational Tracks delivered by prominent industry experts as well as certified skill building workshops to be conducted by the event co-host Specialty Coffee Association of America.

Professional baristas will also be competing in the third UAE Barista Championship, the only internationally accredited barista challenge in the region and a highly-anticipated portion of the annual convention.

“Arab culture and hospitality closely relates to coffee and tea, which is why the region is one of the world’s most vibrant markets for these drinks,” said Anselm Godinho, managing director, International Conferences and Exhibitions(IC&E), organisers of the convention.

“Growing scientific evidence on the health benefits of coffee and tea are driving up already strong sales as well. Given this combination of consumer loyalty and recognition of health value, we can expect coffee and tea to remain one of the Middle East’s best-selling commodities.”

“The Middle East Coffee & Tea Convention offers a perfect platform for industry players and investors from around the world to learn more about current market trends in the Middle East and strategically position themselves in the region,” he added.

With tea consumption worth over Dh256 million ($69.7 million) and more than 4,000 coffee and tea houses catering to 65 per cent of the beverages’ consumption in the UAE, the Emirates is considered the region’s top coffee and tea markets, a statement said. – TradeArabia News Service