Organizers in Dubai are gearing up for the 2nd annual Middle East Coffee & Tea Conference, which is also the site of the official UAE Barista Championship. Having attended and presented at last year’s inaugural conference, I can say firsthand that the event is an important educational opportunity and market linkage for the fledgling specialty coffee industry in the Gulf region.

Coffee has deep roots in many cultures of the Middle East and several GCC nations are encouraging entrepreneurial diversification into food and beverage businesses to reduce their future economic reliance on petroleum. This combination bodes well for the future of specialty coffee in the region.

Be sure to register for the event online and check out the skill building workshops organized by the SCAA.