GulfHost in Dubai was today postponed until 3-5 November due to the coronavirus.
The show had been due to take place in early April and while the UAE remains completely safe for travel, organisers said a high majority of key participants significant to the event’s programme face being unable to travel due to restrictions in their home countries.
UK catering association FEA, which organises the UK delegation to GulfHost, confirmed that bookings for the UK Pavilion will be automatically transferred to the November show and all stand sizes and positions should remain the same.
FEA has paid the invoice for the UK Pavilion space to the DWTC, therefore monies cannot be returned.
“For those who had applied for TAP Grants, we will petition the Department for International Trade to move the funding to the November dates as it is the same financial year,” said FEA chief executive Keith Warren.
Warren said participating catering equipment manufacturers would be kept updated on developments as it receives information from the Dubai World Trade Centre, which runs the show.
In a statement on its website confirming the postponement, Dubai World Trade Center said: “Our decision comes after much deliberation in consultation with the event’s main participants and industry stakeholders, who have strongly endorsed our prioritisation of the collective interests of both the global exhibitors and the key buyers from the region.”
