World of Coffee Dubai 2026 Closes Fifth Edition with Record-Breaking 20,000 Visits, Championship Winners and Auction Results

21 January 2026

World of Coffee Dubai 2026 concluded yesterday at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), with the announcement of championship winners, auction outcomes, and industry awards marking a strong close to the fifth edition. The event recorded a 20% increase in visitor numbers, exceeding 20,000 visits over three days, reflecting continued growth in international participation and reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global hub for the specialty coffee industry.

Organised by DXB LIVE, the integrated event management and experiential agency of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), in collaboration with the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), World of Coffee Dubai 2026 brought together more than 2,100 exhibiting companies and brands from 78 countries, serving as a point of convergence for producers, roasters, manufacturers, buyers, and decision makers from across the specialty coffee value chain.

With the 2026 edition now complete, organisers confirmed strong early demand for the next event, with 50% of the exhibition space for World of Coffee Dubai 2027 already booked. The sixth edition will take place from 26-28 January 2027 at Dubai World Trade Centre. Championship winners announced across national and international competitions.

The final day marked the conclusion of four championship competitions, including three UAE national titles and the World Cezve/Ibrik Championship, recognising technical excellence, consistency, and performance under internationally recognised standards.

In the UAE National Barista Championship, Adam Ruben (Benchmark Coffee) was crowned National Champion, with Nooran Albannay (Coffee Architecture) securing second place and Serkan Sagsoz (Julith Coffee) placing third, following assessments across espresso, milk-based beverages, and signature drinks.

The UAE National Latte Art Championship recognised excellence in creativity, control, and technical precision, with Jhomar Morales (Benchmark) taking first place, followed by Mark Lyster Gimeno (Heaf) and Win Min Htike (Jebena Specialty Coffee) in second and third positions respectively.

The UAE National Roasting Championship concluded with Nizam Pasha Lolowang (Espressi) awarded first place, with Ajeyudu Pathuri (Brewing Gadgets) securing second place and Raha Shahsavar (Crack Coffee Roastery)placing third, recognising excellence in roast development, flavour profiling, and consistency.

At the international level, the World Cezve/Ibrik Championship crowned Jane Espante (United Arab Emirates) as the 2026 champion, followed by Angel Kotsifakis (Greece) in second place and Waël Hachem (France) in third. The championship celebrates one of the world’s oldest coffee brewing traditions through contemporary specialty coffee standards.

Innovation and creativity were celebrated through the event’s awards programme. The Best New Product Award was presented to Sage for The Oracle Dual Boiler, recognising innovation in coffee equipment and brewing technology. The Coffee Design Award was awarded to Coffee Market Innovations (CMI), celebrating excellence in stand design, creativity, and brand presentation on the exhibition floor.

Key commercial results were confirmed through the Dubai Coffee Auction programme, with the Dubai Coffee Equipment Auction on Day One and the Exhibitors’ Coffee Auction on Day Three, organised by DXB LIVE with DMCC, delivering major milestones including a Bolivian coffee reaching USD 386 per kilogram (the origin’s second highest price on record), the first ever continental U.S. coffee offered at auction setting a new price benchmark, and a record diversity of 13 origins represented in a single auction, reinforcing World of Coffee Dubai’s role as a transparent, trade driven marketplace for global buyers and producers.

Reflecting on the close of the event, Khalid Al Hammadi, Senior Vice President, DXB LIVE, said: “World of Coffee Dubai has firmly established itself as a platform where the specialty coffee industry comes together to recognise excellence, exchange knowledge, and conduct meaningful business. The strong visitor growth and early demand for 2027 reflect Dubai’s role as a connector between markets, talent, and opportunity.”

As World of Coffee Dubai 2026 concludes, the fifth edition stands as its largest and most internationally diverse to date, underscoring Dubai’s growing influence as a global hub for specialty coffee trade, professional excellence, and innovation.

World of Coffee Dubai will return from 26–28 January 2027. For more information, please visit: www.worldofcoffeedubai.com