The UAE is entering a new phase of economic diversification where the food and beverage (F&B) sector plays a critical role in driving growth, trade, and innovation. With global supply chains under stress, rising consumer expectations around sustainability, and increasing competition for foreign direct investment, there is a pressing need to align industry leaders and policymakers on strategies that ensure resilience, competitiveness, and long-term value creation.

The CEO Majlis with H.E. Abdulla bin Touq, Minister of Economy and Tourism, offers a unique high-level platform for open dialogue between government and industry. The session will enable leading CEOs to share insights, challenges, and opportunities while aligning with the Ministry’s vision for economic transformation and global competitiveness.

Format: Closed-door, invite-only session
Chair: H.E. Maria Al Qasim, Assistant
Duration: 60 minutes
Venue: VIP Closed Room
Participants: By invitation – Private sector CEOs, UAE Food Cluster Board of Directors, senior representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Tourism

Context & Rationale
The UAE Food Cluster, launched under the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, is a national platform designed to strengthen the UAE’s food ecosystem by convening industry, academia, government, and innovators. The Cluster’s strategy focuses on building competitiveness, accelerating innovation, and enabling collaboration across the entire food value chain.
The CEO Roundtable, held on the sidelines of the Future Food Summit, is an exclusive, high-level dialogue to:

• Present the UAE Food Cluster’s strategy and progress.
• Reflect on lessons from the UAE delegation’s visit to Switzerland and the Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley.
• Hear perspectives from CEOs on challenges and opportunities for the UAE’s food ecosystem.
• Strengthen industry-government collaboration and align on shared priorities moving forward.

Objectives

• Reinforce the UAE Food Cluster as the central platform for industry collaboration.
• Share progress and early achievements through the Cluster’s Board.
• Reflect on lessons learned from Switzerland through inputs from Bühler, Nestlé, and SGS.
• Capture direct input from CEOs on priorities, challenges, and opportunities.
• Build alignment between government and industry on next steps for food system transformation.
  Structure & Flow (60 minutes)

H.E. Maria Al Qasim, Assistant Undersecretary, Ministry of Economy and Tourism

• Welcome remarks.
• Overview of the UAE Food Cluster’s strategy, mandate, and approach.
• Introduction of the UAE Food Cluster Board of Directors.
• Framing of the session: inclusivity, collaboration, and the importance of CEO input.

2–3 Board Members to share:

• Progress and achievements to date.
• The Cluster’s priorities for industry engagement.
• How the Cluster is positioning the UAE as a hub for food innovation.

• Reflections from the recent UAE delegation visit to Switzerland, organized by Bühler and recap of the panel at 11:20 am
• Ian Roberts, CTO, Bühler: Key lessons from Switzerland’s ecosystem approach and collaboration models.
• Rania, VP R&D, Nestlé MENA: Nestlé’s role as cofounder of the Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley and how those lessons can support innovation in the UAE.
• Sahil Majeed, SGS: The role of standards, safety, and compliance in enabling innovation within ecosystem models.

Open dialogue with CEOs (invite-only, closed-door).
Guiding prompts:

• What are the most pressing priorities for strengthening the UAE food ecosystem
• How can the Cluster best support industry competitiveness and innovation?
• What partnerships, enablers, or policy levers would make the greatest impact?

• H.E. Maria Al Qasim to summarize key takeaways from the discussion.
• Reaffirmation of the Cluster’s commitment to industry partnership.
• Outline of how CEO inputs will be integrated into the Cluster’s work program.

Where: Le Meridien Dubai Hotel Oryx Room

Background -

In today’s interconnected food and beverage ecosystem, regulatory alignment and collaborative frameworks are no longer optional, they are critical enablers of growth, resilience, and consumer trust. The UAE and wider Gulf region have made significant strides in harmonizing standards, from food safety to labeling, and in streamlining trade procedures through mechanisms such as CEPA agreements and GCC-level alignment. Yet, challenges remain: fragmented policies, evolving global regulations, and the need for greater continuity in implementation.

This workshop, held on the sidelines of the Future Food Forum, will provide a dynamic platform to explore how harmonization within the UAE and Gulf can accelerate competitiveness, support SMEs, and foster trust in the region’s food value chain. By spotlighting regulatory success stories and continuity-building initiatives, the session will showcase pathways for deeper collaboration and actionable outcomes.

Objective
To convene regulators, industry leaders, and policy shapers in an interactive dialogue on:

• Success stories of regulatory harmonization in the UAE and GCC (e.g., unified standards, labeling, cross-border approvals).
• Opportunities to reduce duplication and streamline compliance for businesses.
• Building continuity and trust through consistent regulatory frameworks.
• The role of industry–government collaboration in shaping the next phase of Gulf-wide integration.

Proposed Format

• Opening Framing Talk: Setting the context—why harmonization is a strategic priority.
• Showcase of Success Stories: UAE and GCC examples that have unlocked trade, growth, and trust.
• Interactive Roundtable: Regulators, manufacturers, and trade experts co-developing pathways to accelerate harmonization.
• Continuity Roadmap: Consolidating ideas into practical recommendations for future alignment.

Expected Outcomes

• A shared understanding of best practices and regulatory success stories.
• Identification of priority areas where harmonization can reduce friction and unlock growth.
• Recommendations to ensure continuity, consistency, and trust across the food value chain.
• Strengthened collaboration between government bodies, industry leaders, and regional organizations.

Where- Oryx Room

Participants - 25 to 30 pax

Background
The UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) are not just trade deals; they are transformative instruments designed to accelerate industrial diversification, expand non-oil exports, and secure the UAE’s position as a global hub for advanced manufacturing and trade. To unlock the full value of CEPAs, it is essential to go beyond signing and into deep operationalization: ensuring provisions are understood, applied consistently, and measured against clear indicators of success.
The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MOIAT), as the custodian of national industrial strategy and regulatory alignment, plays a pivotal role in ensuring that CEPA benefits are translated into measurable outcomes for UAE manufacturers, exporters, and SMEs. This requires a systematic process to adopt CEPA-related provisions, integrate them into existing regulatory and industrial frameworks, and track their effectiveness over time

Objectives

This workshop will provide a collaborative platform to:

• Deep-dive into CEPA’s operational architecture, from rules of origin protocols to sector-specific annexes.
• Examine how CEPA provisions interact with UAE’s industrial policies (ICV, Make it in the Emirates, sustainability commitments).
• Discuss an advanced framework for monitoring effectiveness, integrating trade data, compliance metrics, and sectoral performance indicators.
• Map out a roadmap for continuous feedback and adaptation, ensuring CEPAs evolve as dynamic tools rather than static agreements.

Key Themes for Discussion

1. Leveraging CEPA to drive regional sourcing, value-addition, and clustering of industries within the UAE
2. Ensuring mutual recognition of conformity assessment bodies, certifications, and quality standards
3. Institutionalizing industry–government dialogues to capture real-time challenges in CEPA utilization
4. Creating systems for businesses to flag challenges in CEPA use and for policymakers to refine processes accordingly

Target Participants

• Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology officials
• Representatives from UAE Food & Beverage Business Group and other industry associations
• Exporters, SMEs, and manufacturers active in CEPA-partner markets

Background & Rationale

The global food sector is at a turning point, shaped by shifting consumer demands, regulatory pressures, protectionist trade policies, and demographic change. While market maturity and competition from low-cost and retail brands create challenges, they also open new opportunities for companies to differentiate themselves and deliver meaningful value to consumers. At the same time, sustainability, alternative proteins, and novel foods are moving from the margins to the mainstream—raising questions of feasibility, profitability, and long-term disruption.

Discussion Points

• How can SMEs and multinationals alike thrive under mounting regulatory and cost pressures
• What frameworks can balance sustainability goals with financial returns?
• Will consumer behavior align with sustainability aspirations in practice?
• How will alternative proteins reshape supply chains, investment, and consumer choice?
• Which predictions about the future of food are realistic—and which are hype?

Expected Outcomes

• Identification of actionable strategies for companies to remain competitive globally.
• Deeper insights into sustainability trade-offs and consumer dynamics.
• A clearer understanding of the opportunities and risks posed by alternative proteins and novel foods.
• Recommendations for policy and industry collaboration to navigate disruption.

Background - An interactive session with EGF – an opportunity to connect, share experiences, and explore how we can scale together into national champions.

• Find out more about the EGF and its investment approach
• Explore partnership and collaboration opportunities with the Fund
• Exchange ideas on innovation and cooperation in the food sector
• Discuss your growth challenges with the EGF team and solutions to address them

The UAE Food Cluster Knowledge Hub will serve as a collaborative platform—both physical and digital—uniting the public sector, private sector, and academia to strengthen the agri-food ecosystem.

By fostering cooperation across these key pillars, the Hub will bridge communication gaps, align priorities, and drive systemic transformation in how food is studied, produced, processed, and distributed.

• Acts as the intelligence and innovation backbone for the cluster, ensuring evidence-based decision-making.
• Aligns academic research and talent pipelines with real industry needs and UAE’s national food security priorities.
• Supports the progression strategy of the Food Cluster by driving skills, research, innovation, and collaboration.
  The Knowledge Hub will:
• Connect: Create structured, ongoing collaboration between academia and industry.
• Catalyze: Accelerate innovation, R&D, and technology adoption.
• Develop: Build the workforce of the future through skills, micro-credentials, and internships.
• Integrate: Feed into UAE’s national strategies for food security and innovation leadership.
• Amplify: Serve as a public-facing showcase for UAE food cluster achievements.

Where: Oryx Room

Background:

The UAE and India share a deep and long-standing economic relationship, strengthened further by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). With bilateral trade crossing record highs and ambitious targets set for the coming decade, there is now a pressing need to translate trade policy into actionable business opportunities.
India is the UAE’s largest trading partner, while the UAE is India’s second-largest export destination. Beyond energy, new synergies are emerging in food & agriculture, digital economy, logistics, renewable energy, and financial services. This sideline session will serve as a platform to align stakeholders from both nations—government, industry leaders, and SMEs—on how to deepen cooperation and unlock the full potential of the UAE–India trade corridor.

Objectives

• Explore trade and investment opportunities under the UAE–India CEPA framework.
• Identify priority sectors where collaboration can drive mutual growth (F&B, agritech, logistics, fintech, renewable energy).
• Facilitate SME-to-SME partnerships and enable Indian and UAE firms to scale globally.
• Discuss the role of policy, financing, and technology in strengthening trade linkages.
• Position the UAE–India corridor as a model for South-South cooperation.

Discussion Themes

1. CEPA in Action – Success stories, lessons learned, and what more is needed to maximize its benefits.

2. Food & Agriculture Collaboration – Positioning India as a reliable supplier and the UAE as a regional distribution hub.

3. Technology & Digital Trade – How fintech, digital platforms, and innovation ecosystems can power bilateral growth.

4. SME Empowerment – Enabling SMEs from both nations to leverage CEPA through financing, incubation, and partnerships.

5. Future of UAE–India Trade – Beyond goods: services, sustainability, renewable energy, and joint investments in third markets (Africa, ASEAN).

Expected Outcomes

• A clear roadmap for deepening bilateral trade beyond oil and traditional sectors.
• Commitments from industry leaders to explore joint ventures and market expansion.
• Policy recommendations to improve the ease of doing business across borders.
• Strengthened networks between UAE and Indian SMEs.
• Alignment on next steps for institutionalizing the UAE–India Trade Alliance.

Where: Oryx Room

Objective

To present MOHAP’s holistic approach to lifelong wellness, emphasizing preventive healthcare, nutrition, and healthy lifestyles as essential pillars for building a healthier and more resilient society. The UAE’s Lifelong Wellness Strategy is designed to foster an environment where individuals can make healthier choices throughout every stage of life—from early childhood to old age. With lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular illnesses becoming increasingly prevalent, it is vital to prioritize preventive measures, awareness, and early interventions. The strategy highlights the importance of nutrition, physical activity, and integrated wellness policies, while also encouraging
cross-sector collaboration to maximize impact.

Proposed Session Focus

• Present an overview of the Lifelong Wellness Strategy: vision, objectives, and key pillars.
• Highlight the role of nutrition, physical activity, and preventive care in lowering the burden of chronic diseases.
• Discuss MOHAP’s initiatives to strengthen early intervention, awareness campaigns, and access to preventive health services.
• Explore opportunities for public-private collaboration and partnerships with academia to amplify wellness programs and innovations.
• Share future initiatives and pathways aimed at enhancing community health, resilience, and quality of life in line with UAE’s broader health and well-being objectives.

Desired Outcome
The session aims to:

• Inspire stakeholders across sectors to align with MOHAP’s lifelong wellness vision.
• Encourage stronger collaboration between MOHAP, private sector partners, and academia.
• Identify actionable pathways to advance preventive healthcare, improve nutrition, and foster healthier communities across the UAE.

Format - Sideline meeting panel presentation (30–40 minutes), followed by an interactive Q&A with participants.

It will be an invite only sideline panel.