The 8th edition of SIAL Middle East has seen a growth of 28 percent year-on-year in visitor numbers, with the event organisers revealing that exhibitors have netted deals worth AED3.3 billion.

Joanne Cook, Managing Director of SIAL Middle East, said, "With 20,000 registered visitors coming through our doors in the first two days of the exhibition, we take this as an encouraging sign that local and international government bodies, companies and investors have increased interests in the future of food, beverage and hospitality in the UAE."

At the Middle East Food Forum, the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, ADFCA, delivered a key session on the importance of their role as the auditing body for the safety, security and quality of food at outlets taking part in their Weqaya programme.

Thamer Al Qasimi, Chairman of the SIAL Middle East Organising Committee, said, "The ADFCA supervises food establishments to ensure compliance with health requirements and safe food practices, ensuring public access to safe food and avoiding food-borne diseases."

In line with the initiative launched by ADFCA during the exhibition and under the framework of the "Year of Giving," Jenaan Investment provided close to one million palm trees to the Emirates Red Crescent and signed an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre, which will see the agricultural investment company set up the infrastructure for raising, rearing and packaging organic free-range chickens within the UAE.