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Organized by Dubai Municipality,

The 19th edition of the Dubai International Food Safety Conference opens with broad global participation

• Marwan bin Ghalita: “Dubai reinforces its leadership as a global hub for anticipating the future of food safety and ensuring the sustainability of supply chains.”
• More than 3,500 participants and 225 speakers and experts from 70 countries discussing global food safety challenges and sustainable practices.
• Rich programme examining the future of food safety, innovation, and emerging technologies.
• Launch of the “Food Safety Storytellers – Creators” initiative to train more than 500 professionals and content creators over three years.
• Introduction of the “AI Food Intelligence Guide”, the first of its kind to support AI-based risk prediction and proactive food safety monitoring.
• Launch of “DM Checked”, a unified digital platform for food inspection and monitoring.
• Recognition of nine food establishments within Dubai Municipality’s Food Systems Excellence Programme for achieving the highest standards of compliance.

The nineteenth edition of the Dubai International Food Safety Conference, the largest regional platform for global food safety experts, has opened today, organised by Dubai Municipality under the theme “Technology and Innovation in Food Safety.” The conference brings together more than 3,500 participants and 225 international speakers and specialists from 70 countries at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 17 to 19 November.

Organised in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Association for Food Protection, and the National Environmental Health Association, this year’s edition examines the future of food safety, the latest innovations and technologies in the food sector, and ways to leverage emerging technologies to enhance food safety systems, reduce food waste, and support sustainable global food practices.

A global platform for collaboration

His Excellency Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, affirmed that the Dubai International Food Safety Conference has, over nineteen years, become a global meeting point for experts, specialists, and leading food organisations from around the world. He noted that the conference continues to serve as a hub for discussions on the future of food safety and the transformative role of artificial intelligence technologies in ensuring human health, in line with Dubai’s long-term vision for a sustainable global food ecosystem.

He said: “Dubai is not only an economic, financial, and tourism hub; it is a global influencer driving change on critical international issues. Today, Dubai strengthens its position as a leading centre for anticipating the future of food, championing innovative technology-driven solutions to address emerging challenges and ensure a safe, resilient, and sustainable food future that aligns with global Sustainable Development Goals.”

He added: “Through this conference, Dubai Municipality reaffirms its commitment to supporting global efforts to ensure food safety and supply chain sustainability. We are building a global network of collaboration that enhances the UAE’s and Dubai’s position in the Global Food Security Index, in line with the National Food Security Strategy 2051, and reinforces our mission to achieve a safe and sustainable food environment.”

The Food and Agriculture Organization reaffirmed its commitment to advancing science-based food safety and strengthening food control systems. Ahmad Mukhtar, FAO Regional Representative for the UAE, said: “The FAO is proud to continue its close collaboration with Dubai Municipality through the Dubai International Food Safety Conference, which serves as a pivotal platform for strengthening food control capacities, fostering innovation, protecting consumers, and enhancing food safety. As we witness rapid advancements in technology and artificial intelligence — from cutting-edge detection tools to intelligent, risk-based monitoring systems — our joint efforts remain essential to building sustainable, resilient, and adaptive agrifood systems capable of addressing future challenges.”

Initiatives strengthening Dubai’s leadership

As part of the conference activities, Dubai Municipality launched several programmes and initiatives aimed at strengthening the food safety system in the Emirate and ensuring its sustainability to support the highest standards of public health and quality of life. These efforts further reinforce Dubai’s position as a global hub for shaping the future of the food safety sector.

In partnership with the Artificial Intelligence Journalism for Research and Forecasting Foundation, Dubai Municipality unveiled the “Food Safety Storytellers – Creators” initiative, the world’s first programme connecting professionals and content creators in the field of safe and sustainable food. The initiative aims to train more than 500 professionals and content creators over three years, equipping them to produce innovative and credible scientific content and empowering them as ambassadors of food safety. The programme supports farmers, students, and government entities, reflecting Dubai’s ongoing efforts to strengthen sustainable ecosystems that prioritise human health and wellbeing.

Dubai Municipality also launched the “AI Food Intelligence Guide”, the first of its kind, establishing unified procedures for developing AI-based food safety solutions to predict food-related risks, enhance transparency, and strengthen proactive monitoring and risk management. The guide outlines frameworks for ethical governance, data management, and Agile-based project implementation.

Additionally, Dubai Municipality introduced “DM Checked”, a unified digital platform for food inspection and nutrition monitoring that ensures transparency across all stages of inspection. The system streamlines procedures, improves accuracy, enhances food quality, and facilitates verification of establishments’ compliance with food safety and nutrition standards, supporting Dubai’s digital transformation and vision for a smart, food-secure city.

Recognising food system excellence

During the opening day, Dubai Municipality honoured the winners of the second edition of the “DM Food Elite” Programme, which celebrates outstanding food establishments that apply the highest standards of safety, nutrition, sustainability, innovation, and digital transformation.

The winners across the three categories included:

• Independent restaurants: Social House – Dubai Mall; Bota – Dubai Production City; Bosporus Restaurant – Dubai Hills Mall.
• Hotel restaurants: Turquoise Restaurant – Rixos Premium Dubai; Medley Restaurant – Pullman City Centre Deira; Swissotel Al Murooj – Dubai.
• Quick service and cafeteria category: Al Baik – Al Rashidiya; Joe and the Juice – Mall of the Emirates; Shake Shack – Dubai Mall.

This year’s programme features a rich agenda of discussions and technical workshops covering essential topics such as AI-powered food inspection, microbiological and chemical risk assessment, advanced laboratory testing, food safety training, and nutrition awareness.

The Dubai International Food Safety Conference underscores Dubai’s position as a global influencer in shaping sustainable practices to enhance food safety worldwide. It reflects the city’s commitment to fostering collaboration, supporting innovation in digital transformation, and maintaining resilient and sustainable food supply chains.