Qatar Food Exhibition 2026: Dates & Visitor Guide

Food Qatar 2026 takes place from 12 to 14 October 2026 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), with free access currently listed for visitors and online registration open.

If you work in food and beverage, hospitality, retail, distribution or catering, this three-day trade exhibition brings suppliers, buyers and industry decision-makers together in West Bay.

Here's what to know about Food Qatar 2026, including the dates, opening hours, visitor registration, exhibitors, sectors and how to get to DECC.

Food Qatar 2026 at a glance

• Dates: 12–14 October 2026
• Days: Monday–Wednesday
• Venue: Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), West Bay
• Hours: 11am–9pm
• Access: Free access currently listed
• Registration: Online visitor registration open
• Organiser: IFP Qatar
• Best for: F&B buyers, suppliers, importers, distributors, retailers, HoReCa professionals and industry decision-makers

Food Qatar describes itself as a dedicated business platform connecting food manufacturers, producers, distributors, importers, exporters, retailers, wholesalers and hospitality buyers from Qatar and the wider region.

When is Food Qatar 2026?

Food Qatar runs for three days:

Monday, 12 October 2026

Tuesday, 13 October 2026

Wednesday, 14 October 2026

The current DECC event listing and Food Qatar's dedicated venue page both give the opening hours as:

11am–9pm daily

There are some older or inconsistent pages on the event website that still display a noon opening, but the latest dedicated venue guide and DECC calendar both state 11am, so that is the timing I would use for the article.

Where is Food Qatar held?

The exhibition takes place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) in West Bay.

DECC has around 47,700 sqm of exhibition and event space and underground parking for approximately 2,800 vehicles.

Food Qatar is also being held alongside Hospitality Qatar 2026, giving trade visitors access to a wider hospitality and F&B-focused business environment at DECC during the same dates.

Who is Food Qatar for?

This is primarily a trade and business exhibition, rather than a public food festival.

The current visitor profile is aimed at people including:

• Food manufacturers and producers
• Importers and exporters
• Distributors and wholesalers
• Supermarket and retail buyers
• Restaurant and café operators
• Hotel and hospitality buyers
• Chefs and catering professionals
• Food-service companies
• Procurement professionals
• Industry investors and decision-makers

Food Qatar currently says the event targets 15,000+ buyers, influencers and decision-makers across its trade audience.

If you're expecting food trucks and a family festival atmosphere, this isn't that type of event. It's built around sourcing, supplier meetings, product discovery and B2B networking.

What will be exhibited?

The current Food Qatar exhibitor profile covers two major areas.

Food and beverage products

Expect products including:

• Bakery goods
• Chocolates and confectionery
• Convenience foods
• Dairy products
• Snacks
• Food franchises
• Fresh, canned and dried food
• Frozen and chilled products
• Health and natural foods
• Meat and poultry
• Organic products
• Soft drinks
• Juices
• Tea and coffee

Food processing and packaging

The exhibition also covers:

• Food-processing equipment
• Packaging machinery
• Filling equipment
• Wrapping machinery
• Packaging materials
• Industrial refrigeration
• Bakery equipment
• Processing technologies
• Consumer-goods packaging

That makes Food Qatar useful not only for restaurant owners but also manufacturers, distributors and companies involved further up the food-supply chain.

How many exhibitors are taking part?

I would not publish “150 exhibitors from 11 countries” as the confirmed 2026 Food Qatar figure.

That number is associated with the 2025 Hospitality Qatar edition and has been repeated in some event coverage.

The current Food Qatar website does not yet publish a final confirmed 2026 exhibitor total.

Instead, describe the event as bringing together local and international food manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, importers and technology companies.

The current shared exhibitor directory for the co-located exhibitions includes food-sector companies such as:

• Al Sraiya Holding Group
• Al Khalaf Group – Qatar Meat
• Al Hitmi Foods & Al Sanabel Meat & Livestock Trading
• Al Thuraya Food Industries
• Perak Duck Food Industries
• Royal Pasta Factory
• Tak Makaron Co.
• The Saudi Ice Cream Factory
• Zowadeh Baladna Factory for Meat and Chicken Products

The exhibitor directory is still live and can change as the show approaches, so avoid presenting any short list as the complete final line-up.

I would remove Al Makaan, Honest Industry WLL, HELTA GIDA and the Syrian Embassy from the “confirmed exhibitors” section unless the organiser gives you a current 2026 source for them. I could not verify those names in the current live exhibitor directory.

Is Food Qatar 2026 free?

Qatar Living's current event listing shows:

Free access

for Food Qatar 2026.

The official Food Qatar website also has its visitor-registration system open.

Because this is a professional trade exhibition, visitors should complete the business-registration form before attending.

How to register

The official Food Qatar site currently directs visitors to register online.

The registration process asks for professional and contact information so the organiser can identify the visitor's business profile.

Registering also gives access to the event's Match Gate platform.

Match Gate is a free B2B networking tool that allows exhibitors, buyers, distributors, retailers, suppliers and HoReCa professionals to:

• Build a business profile
• Find relevant companies
• Connect before the exhibition
• Schedule one-to-one meetings

Once registered, visitors receive the information needed to access the platform.

Can you register at the entrance?

I would not promise this in the article.

The current official Food Qatar FAQ tells visitors to register online through the event website for fast-track entry, but does not clearly confirm on-site walk-in registration for this edition.

The safest advice is:

Register online before going.

Getting to DECC by Metro

One of the easiest ways to reach Food Qatar is by Doha Metro.

Take the Red Line to DECC Metro Station, which serves the West Bay exhibition centre area.

This is particularly useful later in the afternoon when West Bay road traffic can become heavier.

Driving and parking at DECC

DECC has an underground parking facility with capacity for around 2,800 vehicles.

The current parking charges are:

• First four hours: QAR 3 per hour
• Each additional hour after four hours: QAR 5
• Maximum per day: QAR 70
• Lost ticket: QAR 70

The parking system operates 24/7, while car-park operators are available from 7am until 1am the following day.

For example, if you park for four hours, the normal parking charge would be QAR 12, rather than QAR 3–5 total.

Taxi and ride-hailing

Karwa taxis and ride-hailing services can also drop visitors directly at DECC.

For anyone visiting after work, Metro or taxi may be easier than driving into West Bay during the evening peak.

Why should F&B businesses attend?

Food Qatar is most useful if you're actively looking for:

• New suppliers
• Imported food brands
• Distribution opportunities
• Private-label products
• Packaging suppliers
• Processing equipment
• Refrigeration solutions
• Ingredients
• Restaurant or café suppliers
• HoReCa partnerships

Businesses can also use the Match Gate service to arrange meetings before arriving instead of relying entirely on walking around the exhibition floor.

Food Qatar and Hospitality Qatar

Food Qatar takes place alongside Hospitality Qatar 2026 at DECC from 12 to 14 October.

The two events overlap significantly in audience but have different focuses.

Food Qatar

Focuses primarily on:

Food and beverages, ingredients, processing, packaging, manufacturing and supply.

Hospitality Qatar

Focuses more broadly on:

Hotels, restaurants, hospitality operations, HoReCa equipment, interiors, facilities, tourism and related services.

For restaurant, hotel, café and catering professionals, visiting both makes sense because many suppliers operate across the two sectors.

Tips before you go

• Register online before attending.
• Use the B2B Match Gate if you're attending to source suppliers.
• Plan around 11am–9pm opening hours.
• Use the Metro if you want to avoid West Bay traffic.
• Allow several hours if you're visiting both Food Qatar and Hospitality Qatar.
• Bring business cards or digital contact details.
• Check the live exhibitor directory shortly before attending, as new companies may still be added.

FAQs

When is Food Qatar 2026?

Food Qatar takes place from 12 to 14 October 2026 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.

What time does Food Qatar open?

The current DECC listing and Food Qatar venue guide state:

11am–9pm daily

from 12 to 14 October.

Is Food Qatar free?

Qatar Living's current event listing shows free access, while the official Food Qatar site has online visitor registration open.

Is Food Qatar open to the general public?

Food Qatar is designed primarily as a trade exhibition for food, beverage, retail, distribution and hospitality professionals.

The organiser's visitor information specifically targets qualified trade buyers and industry decision-makers.

How do I register?

Register through the official Food Qatar online visitor-registration form.

The organiser recommends online registration for fast-track entry.

Can I register when I arrive?

The current official Food Qatar information does not clearly confirm walk-in registration for the 2026 edition.

To avoid problems at the entrance, register online before attending.

How many exhibitors are taking part?

A final official 2026 Food Qatar exhibitor total has not yet been published.

Do not use 150 exhibitors from 11 countries as the 2026 Food Qatar count — that figure relates to the previous Hospitality Qatar edition.

What kinds of exhibitors will be there?

Food Qatar covers food and beverage products, processing equipment, packaging technologies, bakery equipment, refrigeration, organic products, meat and poultry, dairy, coffee, tea, juices and other food-industry categories.

How much does DECC parking cost?

The current DECC rates are:

QAR 3/hour for the first four hours, then QAR 5/hour, with a QAR 70 daily maximum. A lost ticket costs QAR 70.

Which Metro station should I use?

Use DECC Station on the Doha Metro Red Line for the exhibition centre.

Planning your next move in the sector? Browse the latest hospitality and catering jobs in Qatar or explore food and beverage listings on Qatar Living.

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