Italy to showcase industrial strength at Gulfood Manufacturing 2025 as demand for ‘Made in Italy’ surge

UAE – Italy is set to showcase its industrial and technological strength at Gulfood Manufacturing 2025, taking place from November 4–6 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, as the country cements its leadership in supplying high-performance packaging and food processing machinery to the Gulf region.

According to the latest trade data, Italian machinery exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reached €161 million (US$172 million) by July 2025, reflecting the Gulf’s surging demand for Made in Italy innovation, precision, and reliability.

Italy now leads the UAE market in both machinery sectors.  Packaging machinery exports totalled €53.7 million (US$57.4 million), marking a 58.3% year-on-year increase and capturing a 34.7% market share. Meanwhile, exports of food and beverage processing machinery climbed 87.5% to €107.3 million (US$114.5 million), giving Italy a 35.4% share of the UAE’s import market.

This strong performance highlights Italy’s growing role as a strategic industrial partner in the UAE’s manufacturing transformation and efforts to enhance food security, technological capacity, and supply chain resilience.

252 Italian exhibitors to lead at Gulfood Manufacturing

At this year’s event, 252 Italian companies will participate, positioning Italy among the largest and most influential international delegations.

The Italian Trade Agency (ITA), in collaboration with UCIMA (Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association) and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, will spearhead the Italian presence through a dedicated Italian Lounge.

The Lounge will act as a dynamic business hub, connecting regional manufacturers, distributors, and investors with Italy’s top machinery and technology suppliers. It will feature next-generation solutions that enhance production efficiency, sustainability, and digital transformation across food and beverage manufacturing systems.

“Italy’s participation at Gulfood Manufacturing marks more than a trade milestone; it embodies the deep industrial partnership between our nations. Italian technology perfectly aligns with the UAE’s pursuit of innovation, sustainability, and high-performance manufacturing,” said Lorenzo Fanara, Ambassador of Italy to the UAE.

Italian engineering driving the UAE’s food sector growth

The UAE’s food manufacturing sector, valued at US$ 23.21 billion in 2025 and projected to more than double to US$ 52.76 billion in the coming years, continues to drive demand for advanced machinery and automation.

Italian engineering, long synonymous with precision, performance, and design excellence, is powering this growth through sustainable, efficient, and digitally integrated solutions tailored to regional industry needs.

“The Gulf is undergoing a manufacturing transformation, with Italian engineering at its core. Our food processing and packaging machinery exports to the UAE have grown strongly this year, reflecting the market’s trust in Italian quality, precision, and sustainability,” said Valerio Soldani, Trade Commissioner, Italian Trade Agency, Dubai.

According to him, as the hospitality and food sectors continue to expand, Italian innovation will remain a defining force in enhancing production efficiency and competitiveness across the Gulf, strengthening a long-term industrial partnership.

The surge in Italian exports to the UAE mirrors a broader regional shift toward technology-driven, high-value manufacturing that supports the Gulf’s ambitions for local production, resilient supply chains, and food self-sufficiency.

Italian manufacturers continue to set the benchmark for automation, design, and digitalization, offering solutions that deliver enduring industrial value.

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