Gulf Bar Show secures new dates in May
The Gulf Bar Show in Dubai has confirmed the show will now take place on 4-5 May and praised the “resilience” of the hospitality industry following the war in Iran.
The second iteration of The Gulf Bar Show, which launched in 2025 as the first dedicated bar and beverage trade show in the Middle East and North Africa, was scheduled to take place from 30-31 March 2026.
However, following the US and Israel’s attack on Iran, the show’s organisers have moved the dates to May – and have assured visitors that the city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is “very safe”.
Speaking to The Spirits Business, show co-founder Hugo Goncalves said: “Despite the situation [in Iran], Dubai still feels extremely safe. Business is going on as usual, but there are travel restrictions, limitations on flights and disruptions with deliveries.
“The plan is still the same; we have pretty much reconfirmed the same programme and speakers [as planned for March]. Our partner brands have all moved their programme as well to 4-5 May, and the event will run as planned.
“We were very lucky as the venue is usually booked out years in advance.”
The Gulf Bar Show 2026 will take place at the Madinat Jumeirah Conference & Events Centre.
The two-day event will feature talks, tastings and takeovers, with an exhibition space spanning 8,000 square metres – twice as big as last year’s show. More than 175 exhibitors have been confirmed.
‘This is a safe environment’
Goncalves stressed the city was safe to attend: “One hundred percent, this is a safe environment for the show to continue.
“Right now, Dubai is operating as usual. Hotels are open. There is no ‘work-from-home’ mandate unless specific companies have internal policies. Flights have resumed, and it’s now at about 25%-30% capacity, and travel availability will continue increasing into the country.”
Goncalves said the ultimate ambition for the Gulf Bar Show remained the same: to create an opportunity to showcase products, allow hospitality professionals to discover new beverages and brands, and offer an educational element.
He added: “This is not just a trade show; it’s a conference bringing in some of the most prominent speakers and educators in the beverage world to showcase their know-how, and to pass that knowledge to a younger generation.
“One of our pillars is community. When we decided to create the show, we wanted to bring hospitality together in the UAE. We definitely feel that because of these developments [in Iran], we’ve seen the community come together to support the industry, support Dubai and the UAE. The stage of the Gulf Bar Show will help showcase what we are about, bringing together the resilience we have in the UAE.”
Goncalves praised the region’s hospitality sector for its camaraderie and flexibility. While he noted more tourist-facing venues have “suffered a little bit” with fewer visitors and footfall, “others that are more community-led have increased sales and are doing very, very well”.
Goncalves said the Gulf Bar Show team would continue to communicate with exhibitors and visitors, and provide updates on travel and logistics as soon as information is available to the show organisers.
“We do believe, hopefully, logistics will go back to normal,” he added.
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