The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) has announced its support for 10 Emirati food and manufacturing ventures at the 31st edition of Gulfood, running from January 26 to 30, 2026. This year’s event, the largest in the exhibition’s history, will span both the Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai, providing a significant platform for local businesses to showcase their innovations.
A Strategic Push For Global Market Access
KFED’s participation underscores a broader strategy to bolster the international presence of national enterprises. By facilitating access to global trade platforms like Gulfood, the Fund aims to support the expansion of Emirati startups and SMEs beyond local and regional markets. This initiative is designed to connect local entrepreneurs with international stakeholders, commercial networks, and new export opportunities, contributing to the UAE’s economic diversification goals.
Empowering High-Potential National Companies
The engagement at Gulfood is a critical component of KFED’s mission to enable sustainable growth for high-potential, export-oriented Emirati companies.
Her Excellency Mouza Obaid Al Nasri, CEO of Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, commented, “KFED’s participation in Gulfood 2026 reflects a deliberate strategic direction to position Emirati ventures as competitive contributors to regional and global trade. By supporting the participation of 10 national food and manufacturing businesses, we are enabling them to engage directly with international buyers, distributers, and investors, unlock new export opportunities, and integrate into global value chains.”
She added, “This participation goes beyond showcasing products; it represents a focused effort to strengthen the trade readiness of Emirati SMEs, enhance their market access, and support their transition from local success to sustainable international growth.”
Spotlight On Emirati Innovation
The diverse lineup of KFED-backed ventures represents a cross-section of the UAE’s burgeoning F&B sector. The supported companies include:
Frio Beverages Trading, specializing in clean-label sparkling drinks; Sinless General Trading, focusing on gluten-free food products; Blend Herbs & Spices, offering natural spice blends inspired by Emirati flavours; Aurum Apis Trading, a provider of premium natural honey; and Rashtions Sweets Trading, which specializes in date cultivation and date-based confectionery.
Also participating are Al International Al Ata Trading, a provider of catering and food packaging services; Ork Trading, a specialist in health products and ready-to-eat meals; Mars Food Industries, a baby food manufacturer; Rukn Al Khair Foodstuff, which creates collagen-rich gelatin products; and Osol Al Itqan General Trading, operating in the dietary supplements and consumer goods segment.
About Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development
The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development is an independent, non-profit organization affiliated with the Abu Dhabi Government. Established in 2007, its mission is to nurture a culture of entrepreneurship, promote innovation, and offer comprehensive support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the UAE by fostering a balanced and effective ecosystem.
Source: Zawya
