Coffee connoisseurs from around the world descended on Dubai for one of the world's largest coffee gatherings, bringing their unique flavors and coffee-making philosophies while forging new connections at the three-day event which wrapped up on Tuesday.
The fifth edition of the 'World of Coffee Dubai', a leading specialty coffee exhibition in the Middle East, this year attracted some 17,000 professional visitors and over 450 global exhibitors from more than 130 countries and regions to the United Arab Emirates' city.
The expo highlighted the deep cultural and economic ties that coffee fosters worldwide, giving visitors the chance to explore the full supply chain behind the ever-growing coffee industry, from cultivation and roasting to brewing and consumption.
Industry insiders and enthusiasts are particularly pleased to uncover the journey of coffee across borders, as they discover where their favorite tasty coffee beans originate from and come together to share a cup.
"I always drink coffee at home with my meal, but I don't know the origin. And in this case, in the festival, you can talk about the origins, all the varieties," said Celina Perez, founder of the Bahrain Coffee Festival, an annual event held in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
"In Colombia, we wake up with coffee and we go to sleep with coffee. So, [it goes] from the mountains to the lab, to the roastery, and then to you as a customer," said Miguel Santana, a Colombian exhibitor.
"In the last three years, a lot of internationals and expats [have been] coming from all around the world. The only note that they keep talking about is our coffee. We don't have bars, we don't drink. So, coffee is the only thing that gathers us," said Sara Alhadyan, an exhibitor from Saudi Arabia.
The event's significance extends beyond cultural exchanges. The Dubai Coffee Auction by the Dubai Multi Commodities Center ran for the duration of the show, serving as a global marketplace for rare and premium coffee batches.
Given the record-breaking success of last year's auction, this year's expanded offering was set to feature coffee sourced from farms in countries such as Panama, Colombia and Ethiopia.
"Dubai helped me a lot with the marketing and the publicity. It was such a helpful hint that they give me," said Ana Garcia, an exhibitor from Panama.
The Dubai event also united a complete industry chain ranging from coffee farmers and roasters to baristas and connoisseurs through professional competitions and industry forums.
"The most valuable thing that we found here is connections. So, once you grow your connections, you grow your knowledge. So, yeah, it's a really good opportunity," said Alhadyan.
Other exhibitors again reaffirmed the important economic appeal of the coffee sector, which is driving a major consumption boom worldwide.
"It's all about coffee and green plantings, mainly coffee. Everybody comes from every part of the world to that part of Colombia, just for coffee specifically," said Santana.
For many passionate producers, coffee is not just a beverage but a field for continuous experimentation and innovation.
"One of our dreams is to bring coffee to all the people who cannot travel so much. But our main motivation, as a coffee farm, it is for sure the people. I think there is no better honor and blessing to see people drinking our coffee and smiling," said Garcia.
"I love coffee because for me coffee is science, it represents science. And the fact that I can modify it and make my own recipe and alter the variables for me, that's incredible. You put in the work and you are curious enough to do the experiments and keep trying, then anyone can get to that point," said Jose Luttrell, another exhibitor from Panama.
Leading Middle East coffee event in Dubai brews up global connections
Leaders of European Union (EU) countries will hold an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday to discuss U.S. threats related to Greenland, European Commission Spokesman Olof Gill said on Monday.
The summit will assess possible retaliatory measures in response to threatened tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on countries that oppose his plan to "acquire" Greenland.
Gill said the EU continues to engage "at all levels" with Washington over its new tariff threats and is taking "every possible step" to protect the bloc's economic interests. He added that the use of the anti-coercion instrument is not ruled out.
He stressed that the priority is engagement rather than escalation with the United States. However, "should the threatened tariffs be imposed, the European Union has tools at its disposal and is prepared to respond," he added.
Meanwhile, European leaders continued to condemn the U.S. tariff threats.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday stressed the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity regarding the Greenland issue, adding that "we want to hold our ground as a country and as a continent."
Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, Merz said Denmark and the people of Greenland can "count on our solidarity." While Germany is ready to support talks with Washington, the basis of these talks must always be the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, he stressed.
Tariff threats would weaken transatlantic relations, Merz said, warning against a risk of escalation.
He said while U.S. consumers would ultimately pay the price of such duties, they would also damage the European and German economies.
On the same day, multiple German industrial associations criticized the renewed U.S. tariff threats as damaging not only to European industries but also to the American economy. They urged the EU to respond decisively, including through counter-tariffs.
Following talks with German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, French Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure on Monday emphasized that while dialogue with Washington should continue, it is essential to set clear red lines. He called U.S. attempts to pressure allies through blackmail and economic coercion "unacceptable".
Trump on late Monday threatened to impose a 200-percent tariff on French wines and champagnes.
In responding to a reporter's question about French President Emmanuel Macron declining to join the "Board of Peace" initiative he proposed to rebuild Gaza, Trump said: "I'll put a 200 percent tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he'll join, but he doesn't have to join."
Media reports cited anonymous sources close to Macron as saying that France intends to reject Trump's invitation, as the board's charter appears to go beyond its role of overseeing the rebuilding of war-torn Gaza.
Swedish Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson said on Monday that the United States' tariff measures linked to Greenland are "absurd," stressing that Europe should not bow to pressure and must respond firmly.
Speaking to Swedish television, Svantesson said Trump's threat to impose tariffs in an attempt to force Greenland "into U.S. hands" marked "a new low" in global trade policy.
Svantesson called for a tough and coordinated European response, saying the countries concerned broadly agree they should be "tough and harsh" in pushing back.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that Greenland's future rests with the people of Greenland and Denmark, and the U.S. use of tariffs against allies is "completely wrong."
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store confirmed in a statement on Monday that he received a text message on Sunday afternoon from Trump.
In the statement, Store reiterated Norway's position on Greenland, saying Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and that Norway "fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter."
Store said the text message from Trump was sent in response to a short message he had sent earlier the same day on behalf of himself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
According to Store, in their message to Trump, they voiced opposition to the announced tariff increases, pointed to the need to de-escalate, and proposed a telephone conversation between Trump, Stubb and Store on the same day.
Trump announced on Saturday that the United States would impose a 10-percent tariff from Feb. 1 on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Finland over Greenland, and raise the levy to 25 percent from the beginning of June unless a deal is reached for the United States to "purchase" the territory.
Greenland, the world's largest island, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defense and foreign policy. The United States maintains a military base on the island. Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to "obtain" Greenland.
EU to hold emergency summit on Thursday over Trump's Greenland threats
