In February 2026, The Asahi Shimbun organized and supported the participation of multiple Japanese companies and government-related organizations at Gulfood 2026, one of the world’s largest and most influential food industry exhibitions held annually in Dubai. The joint pavilion — formed by a consortium of government-affiliated bodies and private-sector companies — showcased a broad range of premium Japanese food products.
Over the five-day exhibition, more than 1,000 visitors stopped by the booth, including buyers, distributors, chefs, and media representatives from across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Through tastings, demonstrations, and business discussions, participating companies deepened their understanding of market demands and established new commercial leads. These engagements laid the essential groundwork for expanding the presence of Japanese products in the Middle Eastern market.
Gulfood is one of the world’s largest and most competitive food exhibitions, attracting tens of thousands of industry professionals from over 180 countries. To ensure the Japanese joint pavilion stood out among numerous global exhibitors, the project required a clear strategy for brand visibility and storytelling.
While Japanese participation at Gulfood has been increasing, awareness of Japan’s diverse food product categories beyond well-known staples remains limited. The initiative therefore aimed to effectively communicate the value, safety, quality, and uniqueness of Japanese offerings through unified messaging across multiple organizations.
Representing a multi-organization delegation—including government-related entities and private companies—required careful coordination in booth design, visitor flow, product selection, and communication strategy. Aligning diverse objectives into a cohesive pavilion concept was a core challenge.
With the exhibition attracting trade visitors from the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, and Europe, participating companies aimed to expand networks, explore new distribution partnerships, and gather market intelligence relevant to their global business strategies.