The UAE has registered an 85 per cent increase in its consumption of coffee and tea in the last three years, said an expert ahead of a dedicated trade event for the industry in Dubai.

The International Coffee & Tea Festival 2013 will run from October 8 to 11 at the Meydan Grandstand and Convention Centre, providing a one-stop destination for all facets of coffee, tea, bar and café products, equipment and services in the Middle East.

Ryan Godinho, national coordinator for UAE World Coffee Events, said: “With the UAE continuing to be a major global market for coffee and tea products, it is only logical to promote this growth through the International Coffee and Tea Festival.”

“The previous edition has set new benchmarks with respect to the quality and quantity of visitors and exhibitors alike, gathering over 80 companies from all over the world and nearly 8,000 international visitors. We will build on this momentum as we aim to introduce more innovative elements to the festival and maintain the high level of dynamism and enthusiasm from key players within the regional and global industry.

“Being the only dedicated event catering to the coffee and tea industry in the Middle East, the International Coffee and Tea Festival serves as a major driving force behind the sustainable growth of the industry in the UAE and across the region.”

The trade show will feature various SCAA-Certified Trainings & Workshops, which are designed to help participants ensure the consistency of their products in terms of quality and delivery.

The Festival will also host the UAE Barista and Latte Art Championships, placing the country’s top baristas in a skill-based competition, the winner of which will become the UAE representative to the 2014 World Barista Championships.

IC&E, organiser of the International Coffee & Tea Festival, is licensed by the World Coffee Events to conduct all national level coffee championships, including the UAE Barista Championship and the UAE Latte Art Championship.

Another attraction of the show is the “Taste Tea Zone”, a segment dedicated purely to tea enthusiasts and café trend-setters who try out and get acquainted on new varieties and blends.

The International Coffee & Tea Festival will also host the “Espresso + Brew Bar”, providing an opportunity for coffee companies, roasters and equipment manufacturers to promote their products and interact with customers in a more social setting.

The International Coffee & Tea Festival annually draws in industry professionals from GCC territories, the Levant region, North and South Africa, the Caspian region and the Indian sub-continent, among others.

The UAE is projected to achieve an 80 per cent growth in coffee volume sales from the period 2009-2014, or a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 12 percent year-on-year, making the country the fastest growing market by volume for coffee in the world.

Tea, the second most popular drink in the UAE after water, likewise continues to generate huge demand resulting in a nearly 50 per cent increase in the price of tea in recent years. – TradeArabia News Service