Already making waves as an emerging gastronomic destination, Dubai today further strengthened its gourmet credentials with the launch of the Dubai Food Festival.
Launched by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing the new festival brings together some of the Emirate’s most popular business and consumer food events for business and consumers — including Gulfood and Taste of Dubai — with the inaugural editions of the Dubai Food Carnival and The Big Grill. Running over 23 days, including four weekends from 21 February to 15 March 2014, Dubai Food Festival will also feature a wide range of food-related activities, tastings, offers and events, showcasing the Emirate’s diverse food offering, from Michelin starred chefs to street food, drawn from the cuisines of more than 200 nationalities.
His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing said: “Dubai’s status as a culinary destination is one that has risen considerably in recent years and the creation of a city-wide food festival will contribute to enhancing this further. The Festival works on a number of levels. It creates a real reason to visit and to extend a stay in the Emirate for the growing number of global travellers seeking out food experiences. It is a platform on which to showcase our leisure and business events sectors, as well as the world-class restaurants and chefs in our city. It allows us to further extend our lead as the region’s leading family tourism destination and it provides a chance for us to share Emirati culture, cuisine and hospitality with the world.”
Dubai Food Festival will launch with the inaugural Dubai Food Carnival, a celebration of all things food, fun and entertainment, on 21 and 22 February at Dubai Festival City. The hugely-anticipated gastronomy social event, which is being organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), will feature celebrity chefs conducting educational culinary masterclasses and workshops, dozens of international food pavilions, mouth-watering food tastings and a multi-cultural feast of music, comedy and family-themed competitions playing out to tens of thousands of visitors on a blockbuster 360° stage.
The festival continues with Gulfood 2014 — the world’s largest annual food and hospitality trade show. Running over five days from
The last day of Gulfood also coincides with day one of a new event for Dubai, The Big Grill. Taking place on the 27th and 28th February at Emirates Golf Club, The Big Grill 2014 is a celebration of meat and music; a unique event dedicated to anything grilled. Top grill masters, from the high street to the high-end, will serve their delicacies in a vibrant festive and family friendly atmosphere, while a King of the Grill competition aims to seek out and showcase Dubai’s own BBQ masters. Attendees can also expect a fun and lively entertainment lineup featuring international artists, live music, and local DJs.
Throughout the Food Festival a range of gourmet experiences and culinary delights will take place at participating restaurants and venues across Dubai before the festival finale, Taste of Dubai. Held at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre from
