17 – 19 November 2025 | 10am – 5pm
Dubai World Trade Centre
17 – 19 November 2025 | 10am – 5pm | Dubai World Trade Centre
Conference Summary
2024
15+
30+
Agenda
Day 1 – Knowledge Theatre
18th November 2024
| TIME | DURATION | SESSIONS | SPEAKERS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:45 - 11:05 | 20 mins | Welcome remarks and official opening | Organisers - GL Exhibitions |
| 11:15 - 11:45 | 30 mins | Exploring the Global Halal Markets - Challenges and future prospects in the Halal Trade and Industry |
|
| 11:50 - 12:20 | 30 mins | Strategies & Insights - How Regional Retailers are Growing Fresh Produce Sales |
|
| 12:25 - 12:55 | 30 mins | Dry Fruits & Nuts, Nature’s Powerhouses - Trade Flows |
|
| 12:55 - 13:15 | 20 mins | Networking Break | |
| 13:15 - 13:40 | 25 mins | Catalysing Spains Exports in to the MENA Region |
|
| 13:40 - 14:05 | 25 mins | The Rise of Plant Based Alternatives - A Major Trend |
|
| 14:10 - 14:55 | 45 mins | Exploring the Rich Brews- Specialty Coffee and Tea Shops in the Middle East |
|
| 15:00 - 16:30 | 1 hour 30 mins | Green Pathways: Boosting Regional Organic Trade for Reducing Food Miles | |
| 16:30 - 16:35 | 5 mins | Closing Remarks | Organisers - GL Exhibitions |
Day 2 – Knowledge Theatre
19th November 2024
| TIME | DURATION | SESSIONS | SPEAKERS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:30 - 10:40 | 10 mins | Welcome remarks and official opening | Organisers - GL Exhibitions |
| 10:45 - 11:05 | 20 mins | Key Trends Shaping Beauty & Personal Care in MENA |
|
| 11:15 - 11:45 | 30 mins | VMS Market Landscape in MENA |
|
| 11:50 - 12:20 | 30 mins | Empowering Health and Wellness - Nutrition and Active lifestyle |
|
| 12:25 - 12:55 | 30 mins | Competitive Advantage in Beauty & Health Products Retail |
|
| 12:55 - 13:15 | 20 mins | Networking Break | |
| 13:15 - 13:40 | 25 mins | Navigating Dubai Municipality Consumer Product Registration Process |
|
| 13:40 - 14:05 | 25 mins | Nourishing Your Mind-Body-Spirit |
|
| 14:10 - 14:55 | 45 mins | A Holistic Approach To Mother & Baby Wellness |
|
| 15:00 - 15:40 | 40 mins | Navigating the Russian Business Market |
|
| 15:45 - 16:05 | 20 mins | International Excellence Awards - Russian Products |
|
| 16:05 - 16:10 | 5 mins | Closing Remarks | Organisers - GL Exhibitions |
Day 3 – Knowledge Theatre
20th November 2024
| TIME | DURATION | SESSIONS | SPEAKERS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:30 - 10:40 | 10 mins | Welcome remarks and official opening | Organisers - GL Exhibitions |
| 10:45 - 11:10 | 25 mins | Sustainable Digital Growth - How AI can empower businesses to save money & time by using the tools available digitally. |
|
| 11:15 - 11:45 | 30 mins | Promoting local produce: Filling the gap for food security |
|
| 11:50 - 12:20 | 30 mins | Women Farmers and Technologies in Agriculture |
|
| 12:25 - 12:55 | 30 mins | Transforming Agriculture, Empowering Food Sustainability |
|
| 12:55 - 13:15 | 20 mins | Networking Break | |
| 13:15 - 13:40 | 25 mins | Leveraging Ecuador's Natural Resources for MENA Markets |
|
| 13:40 - 14:05 | 25 mins | Move Towards a more sustainable and resilient future |
|
| 14:05 - 14:10 | 5 mins | Closing Remarks | Organisers - GL Exhibitions |
Key themes to be discussed
Food and Beverages
- Tea & Coffee
- Saffron/Dry fruits
- Vegan, plant based and free from
- Fresh produce, perishables
- Halal Economy and opportunities
Beauty, Health, and Wellness
- Beauty, cosmetics, skincare, and haircare
- Health and Medical
- Nutraceuticals, supplements & probiotics
- Mom, baby & child
Agriculture, Sustainable Farming and Technology
- FarmTech
- Agriculture and Farming
- Sustainable living & environment
Why Attend ?
The Organic and Natural Conference brings together retailers, distributors, HORECA experts, wholesalers, re-exporters, from the following industries:
- Food & Beverage
- Tea & Coffee
- Honey
- Vegan, plant based and free from
- Fresh produce
- Superfoods
- Dairy
- Beauty, cosmetics, skincare, and haircare
- Nutraceuticals, supplements & probiotics
- Mom, baby & child
- Sustainable living & environment
- Organic & sustainable farming
Who Should Attend?
Attend the Organic and Natural Conference 2024 to:
- Discover the latest Organic and Natural trends in the Middle East and what the future holds for the sector
- Hear from C-suite leaders from across the region speak about retail, distribution, and re-export strategies
- Connect with exporters who’re keen on expanding into the Middle East to source unique products
- Get an exclusive opportunity to network with organic and natural industry professionals across the globe to be a part of the organic community
Stay ahead of the market by predicting and debating upcoming product trends, innovation and unique insights into the future of the organic and natural industry
2022 PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Organic and Natural - Where are we headed for 2023?
11:00 AM – 11:40 AM
In the past 4 years, there has been a 60% increase in shelf space in the MENA region. In 2022, the organic and natural F&B market is said to be worth $18.42 billion. Similarly, with natural and organic beauty, the per capita spend on beauty is more than 240$ in the region, a lot more than the global average and the market is currently valued at $5billion. As we fast approach a post-pandemic world, organic and natural is no longer a niche, it’s on its journey to become mainstream.
MENA’s major outlook on organic and natural – breaking down opportunities worth $20 billion
Major organic and natural product suppliers in the Middle East have registered a 300-400% rise in the demand for their products, majorly driven by conscious consumers who are regarding it as preventive medicine. Consumers today are more conscious today than they’ve ever been about what’s on their plate and what they apply on their bodies.
Are we witnessing an organic and natural revolution in the post pandemic world?
- Appraising the demand for vegan, plant based and free from products along with a closer look on beverages, honey, and superfoods
- Catering to MENAs need for clean beauty, cruelty free and vegan cosmetics for a conscious yet beauty
- Nutraceuticals, supplements, and probiotics for a health-conscious Middle East population
- Sustainable living and environment products for the Middle East to achieve its sustainability targets and eco-friendly environmental practices
Elena Panichi
EU Organic farming - Opportunities for consumers and business
11:50 AM – 12:50 PM
Discover how your business can benefit of the opportunities arising from the EU organic farming. The European Union (EU) is stepping up efforts to introduce food and hospitality professionals in Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) to the unique benefits of quality European food and drink – this time with a special focus on organic.
A true expert in her field, don’t miss this opportunity to hear first-hand from Elena Panichi to gain valuable insights into the organic farming processes that consumers increasingly care about, and what these mean in terms of product quality and real-world business opportunities.
Elena Panichi
Head of Unit, Organics, European Commission,
Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development
Vegans, flexitarians, the meat-free revolution and what not...
01:30 PM – 02:10 PM
The Middle East, primarily the UAE and Saudi Arabia have been leading the vegan and free from revolution. From ice-cream to confectionary, bakery, pastry, and snacking, vegan and meat free is impacting them all. However, in the Middle East, growing consumer demand is primarily motivated by health concerns which include preventing and reducing obesity. Between the years 2022-2027, MENA’s vegan market is said to grow at an astounding 6.01% (CAGR). Is veganism evolving from a mere fad a few years ago to a way of life in the new normal?
Vegan and plant-based products expand its stomach share amongst MENA’s health conscious
Middle East has been synonymous with meat eating. In a post-pandemic era, the focus is on consuming healthy food and maintaining high levels of immunity. Infact, both UAE and Saudi Arabia, 2 of the biggest GCC economies, are the highest per capita consumers of meat but it has duly been noticed that there is a growing yet unfulfilled demand for vegan products.
Understanding MENA’s growing appetite for vegan and free from products
- Tracking and understanding the shift consumers have been making from meat based-products to plant-based products and the need for more vegan products that aim to enhance health and wellbeing
- Enhancing shelf life of vegan and plant-based products to encourage adoption, consumption, would also help supermarkets and modern trade outlets to stock more options
- Discussing new upcoming trends and the future of the vegan, plant-based products in the Middle East
ProGsterol : New Dietary Ingredient Synthetic Peptides, Deglusterol, Controls Healthy Blood Sugar
02:20 PM – 02:50 PM
Diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide, thanks to our fast-paced lives, poor dietary intake and unhealthy lifestyles. However, in the Middle East it’s reaching the tipping point. Diabetes is very close to being considered an epidemic. In 2021, 73 million adults in the Middle East were living with diabetes, by 2030, that figure is said to rise to 95 million. Caregen a leading global company with world class technology in the field of biomimetic peptide synthesis is here to solve Middle East’s diabetic woes through it’s newly formulated natural dietary ingredient, ProGestrol.
ProGsterol: New Dietary Ingredient Synthetic Peptides, Deglusterol, Controls Healthy Blood Sugar it helps maintain healthy blood sugar, big concerns of pre-diabetic and Type II diabetic patients.
As it does not cause hypoglycemia, ProGsterol can be taken anytime by anyone whoever concerns blood sugar. Thanks to “Fast Acting” and “24 Hours Lasting Effect”, ProGsterol will be good resolution for diabetes and Type II pre-diabetes!
- Increasing insulin receptor sensitivity and decreasing insulin resistance
- It up-regulates insulin sensitivity signal for glucose uptake, and down-regulates insulin resistance signal which is induced by the inflammations of accumulated free fatty acid in diabetes
- Introduction of Deglusterol, is world’s first New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) as synthetic peptides which is approved by US FDA.
Dr. Yong Ji Chung
CEO, Caregen Co. Ltd
Post Doc. Northwestern
Ph.D. Animal Science, Cornell
M.S. Biochemistry, University
B.S. Genetic Engineering,
The changing cosmetic landscape – Clean beauty makes major inroads across the Arab world
03:10 PM – 03:50 PM
MENA’s clean beauty market is said to be worth a whopping $2.6 billion by 2025. Well-being today extends to beyond what we eat or consume, millennials today are increasingly conscious on what they apply their skins and bodies. Conscious consumers are increasingly opting for toxin free makeup and cosmetic products that contain ingredients that are natural, sustainable and sourced ethically.
MENA is redefining its beauty goals – is simpler, cleaner better?
What started as a cult, later turned into a movement has now become an obvious lifestyle choice. Holistic choices and solutions have now turned mainstream. People are now spending more time curating natural skincare, and makeup routines that reduce excessive consumption of products that contain chemicals and toxins. There’s also a renewed focus on sustainability.
What’s the deal between millennials and cosmetics/personal care?
- The rise of greenwashing and the importance of transparency & simplicity when it comes to ingredients within cosmetics, skincare, and haircare products
- The growing influence of slow beauty, minimalist products, and the need for companies to associate themselves with social causes and impact
- Introduction of raw beauty ingredients such as nuts, oils, liquorice etc that are functional and contain active properties
Fresh Produce – Fresh, organic, and ripe, that’s how MENA likes it
04:15 PM – 04:50 PM
When it comes to consumer demand in a post pandemic world, the demand for fresh produce is now more than ever. People are increasingly opting for healthier options that contain no pesticides, harmful chemicals and non- GMO. Infact a whopping 58% of respondents from a Euromonitor health and wellness survey said that the top reason they consume organic food is that there are no GMOs or pesticides. Food service companies too on the other hand are increasingly noticing a demand for organic produce, as sectors like HoReCa continue to cater to a conscious clientele.
Fresh, fresher, and freshest – Organic fresh produce arrives at Middle East’s doorstep
As the Middle East develops an appetite for organic produce, dining tables increasingly feature salads, freshly squeezed juices, and other dishes that are made using fresh produce. Leafy greens, cucumbers, bananas, berries, avocados, chillies are just some of the many fresh produce items that are in hot demand. However, challenges do exist when it comes to logistics and pricing.
Will organic be the norm soon?
- Importance of certification, correct labelling along with stringent laws to ensure better education and spreading of the word
- Focusing on quality, consistency, and the right pricing to capture a major share of the fresh produce market
- E-commerce and its impact on the fresh produce landscape, how is it changing the way people shop for their groceries
