The event will take place under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority. The exhibition aims to increase the regional understanding and levels of best practice, and promote the importance of human capital development, quality control, marketing and technology to both a public and private sector audience.

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Chief Commercial Officer at Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the fourth edition of SIAL Middle East Exhibition. As the region’s fastest growing professional business platform for the food, drink and hospitality industries, we are actively promoting a debate on best practice within the industry.

“ADNEC seeks to attract events and exhibitions that have impact, both on the local economy and on the industry in which they operate and we view SIAL as one such event. SIAL’s growth as a platform underscores Abu Dhabi’s development as  leading business tourism destination and highlighting ADNEC’s unique offering from state of art facilities, to world-class services and the ability to host big international events."

This year, 65 per cent of products the products on show are with more than 1,000 food and equipment manufacturers and suppliers along with a record 21 international pavilions from five continents participating. The event also will welcome more than 15,000 trade visitors from across the region.

SIAL Middle East 2013 will also include innovative contests specialising in mixing drinks supervised by Al Ain Fresh, a subsidiary of Food Company.  The exhibition this year also hosts a contest “La Cuisine by SIAL “ - a distinguished competition for chefs organised by the Association of Chefs Emirates in collaboration with the World Federation of Chefs Societies.