This is the trade shows of all trade shows. For example, the Irish Ploughing Championships has about 1,200 exhibitors; this has 5,000.

A city more known for luxury shopping, ultra-modern architecture and the tallest building in the world, Dubai has opened its doors to welcome over 90,000 food buyers from all over the globe.

While Abu Dahbi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai truly is the trading city of the Middle East. It is somewhat surprising that the world’s largest food trade show is in Dubai. Afterall the UAE only has a population of about nine million people.

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The UAE is unique. Not only is there no income tax, it must import between 80-90% of its food, and about 90% of its population are expats. Of these about half come from India, Pakistan and the Philippines.

While economic growth has slowed in Dubai over the past 12 months, it is still projected to grow about 3% this year alone. Oil accounts for only about 3% of total GDP as Dubai has diversified itself away from oil to more tourism and trade.

A premium market with huge growth

So why is this an important region for Irish food producers? In simple terms, it is a premium market, with huge growth. This is where the value is added.

Ferraris here are as common as Fiats back home.

Last year, Irish food and drink exports to the Middle East were valued at €385m, up by 40% since 2012, with the Gulf States (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain) accounting for 70%, or €280m, of total exports.

Bord Bia office

Bord Bia has been present in the region since 2010, where their marketing fellowship graduates worked on behalf of Irish food companies to develop new business. Four years later, seeing the huge opportunity and growth in the region, Bord Bia opened a full time office in Dubai.

Bord Bia's regional manager in Dubai Michael Hussey told the Irish Farmers Journal this Sunday at Gulfood that the population of the region currently stands at 43.5m people, which is 50% more than 10 years ago.

He says it is continuing to grow and that by 2020, there will be 7m more. He said that the focus at Gulfood this week will be to position Ireland as a sustainable supply solution to current and potential customers.

Dairy and dairy ingredients represent the vast majority of Ireland’s food exports to the Middle East. However, a quick walk around the Irish stand today showed the diversity of food products on offer, which included high-end beef, premium farmhouse cheeses and fresh organic eggs. Ornua’s Kerrygold butter and cheese is in the premium retailers in the city and has seen huge growth in the past number of years.

Read www.farmersjournal.ie and the next issue of the Irish Farmers Journal this coming week for more on the Irish presence at Gulfood.

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