Dubai grinds out gains as coffee auctions brew $70,000 at World of Coffee 2026

World of Coffee Dubai 2026 has concluded at the Dubai World Trade Centre, recording its largest and most internationally diverse edition to date, as record-setting specialty coffee auctions and strong global participation reinforced Dubai’s growing influence in the sector.

The fifth edition of the exhibition attracted more than 20,000 visits from specialty coffee professionals across over 80 countries, alongside more than 2,100 exhibiting companies and brands, underscoring continued growth in international engagement and trade activity.

As part of the event, DMCC concluded the second edition of the Dubai Coffee Auction, with specialty coffee lots generating a total value of $70,000.

The auction brought together producers from 13 producing origins, the widest range ever featured in a single coffee auction, including coffees presented through DMCC’s Producer Discovery initiative.

Beans to billions

Held during World of Coffee Dubai 2026, the auction attracted 1,364 bids from buyers across the global specialty coffee market.

In a global first, the auction marked the first international auction sale of a coffee from the continental United States, setting a new benchmark price for a continental US origin.

Standout pricing was also achieved across established specialty origins, with a Bolivian coffee lot reaching $386 per kilogram, the second-highest price ever recorded for a Bolivian coffee at auction.

Ahmad Hamza, Chief Free Zone Affairs Officer, DMCC, said: “With the global coffee market now valued at more than $130bn, and specialty coffee accounting for a steadily growing share of consumption, credible price discovery has become essential for the sector’s long-term sustainability.

“The results of the Dubai Coffee Auction 2026 – which featured the largest number of international origins ever represented in a single auction – clearly demonstrate the depth of global demand for high-quality, traceable coffees when producers are given direct access to international buyers.

“Through this platform, DMCC is translating Dubai’s infrastructure into transparent pricing, genuine competition and tangible value creation at origin, reinforcing the emirate’s role as a global hub for specialty coffee trade.”

The Dubai Coffee Auction forms part of a three-auction programme held across the event, including the Dubai Coffee Equipment Auction on Day One, the Microlot Coffee Auction on Day Two, and the Exhibitors’ Coffee Auction on Day Three.

David Paparrelli, CEO, M-Cultivo, said: “The results achieved across the auctions highlight the strength of the specialty coffee market and the role auctions play in rewarding quality at origin. Strong international bidding, particularly for coffees from Panama, demonstrates how transparent auction platforms can create confidence for buyers while delivering fair market value for producers.”

World of Coffee Dubai 2026

World of Coffee Dubai 2026 also hosted four championship competitions, including three UAE national titles and the World Cezve/Ibrik Championship, celebrating technical excellence and performance under internationally recognised standards.

At the international level, Jane Espante (United Arab Emirates) was crowned World Cezve/Ibrik Champion 2026, followed by Angel Kotsifakis (Greece) and Waël Hachem (France).

The event also marked the signing of a five-year partnership agreement between World of Coffee Dubai and the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), extending collaboration through 2031, alongside a three-year agreement to organise the Bahrain Coffee Festival between DXB LIVE, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, and Exhibition World Bahrain.

As the event concluded, DXB LIVE, organiser of World of Coffee Dubai, confirmed that 50 per cent of exhibition space for the 2027 edition has already been booked, reflecting strong commercial momentum.

The next edition will take place from 26–28 January 2027 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Khalid Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President of DXB LIVE, said: “World of Coffee Dubai has firmly established itself as a platform where the specialty coffee industry comes together to celebrate excellence, exchange knowledge, and conduct meaningful business.

“The remarkable growth in visitor numbers, along with the strong early demand for exhibition space for the 2027 edition, reflects the role of both Dubai and the event as a hub connecting markets, talent, and opportunities.”