Nivitaly at Gulfood 2026: Bridging Italian Excellence and the UAE Market
Gulfood 2026 marked a defining moment for Nivitaly.
At the core of Nivitaly’s presence at Gulfood 2026 was Italian extra virgin olive oil, presented through education-led tastings, masterclasses, and real culinary application. Our presence in Dubai was not shaped by display alone, but by a clear commitment to curation, education, and long-term value creation for the UAE food market.
Rather than approaching Gulfood as a traditional exhibition, Nivitaly positioned itself as a bridge between Italian producers and the UAE, ensuring that authenticity, origin, and technical quality were clearly understood by chefs, HoReCa buyers, distributors, and retailers.
Who We Are: Nivitaly
Nivitaly is an Italian-focused food company dedicated to introducing high-quality, authentic Italian products to the UAE and the wider Middle East. Our role goes beyond logistics or trading. We act as a strategic partner, safeguarding producer identity while supporting the needs of a demanding and competitive market.
Under the leadership of Silvia Vicari, Founder and CEO of Nivitaly, the company operates with a clear philosophy: Italian excellence is not a marketing claim. It is a measurable standard defined by origin, production methods, and sensory integrity. Nivitaly exists to ensure this standard is preserved and correctly interpreted in the UAE.
Gulfood 2026: An Experience-Led Approach
For Gulfood 2026, Nivitaly moved away from static product presentation and focused on direct experience. In the UAE market, trust is built when professionals can evaluate products through use, not claims.
Our approach was centred on:
- Technical tastings led by experts, enabling participants to identify freshness, defects, and quality markers.
- Educational masterclasses explaining agronomic and production factors that influence olive oil quality.
- Direct producer interaction, encouraging transparent dialogue between Italian producers and UAE professionals.
- Culinary application, demonstrating real performance in professional kitchens.
This framework allowed visitors to assess products based on aroma, flavour structure, stability, and versatility, criteria that matter in commercial and fine-dining environments.
Our Producers: Quality Defined by Territory
Nivitaly’s portfolio is built on specificity. Each producer represents a distinct Italian territory, production philosophy, and quality benchmark. For the UAE market, this means traceable products with clear identity and consistent performance.
MARFUGA – Umbria
Product focus: Premium Italian extra virgin olive oil for professional kitchens and fine dining.
MARFUGA is an award-winning Umbrian olive oil estate, internationally recognised for sensory excellence and consistency. The producer has been featured for years in the prestigious Flos Olei guide and is widely regarded as a benchmark for Umbrian extra virgin olive oil.
Value for the UAE market: MARFUGA oils are defined by structure, balance, and expressive bitterness and pungency, indicators of freshness and high polyphenol content. During Gulfood tastings, these qualities were clearly demonstrated. For chefs, MARFUGA functions as a finishing oil designed to add depth and definition to dishes such as grilled meats, legumes, and structured soups, rather than a generic cooking fat.
EVO333 – Colli del Trasimeno, Umbria
EVO333 represents a modern expression of olive oil production from the Colli del Trasimeno area. Its blends are designed to balance freshness with versatility, making them suitable for a wide range of culinary applications.
Value for the UAE market: Tastings highlighted EVO333’s adaptability across savoury and sweet preparations. Pairings with vegetables, desserts, fruit, and chocolate demonstrated how high-quality extra virgin olive oil can be integrated into contemporary menus. For chefs and pastry professionals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, EVO333 offers a refined option that enhances flavour without overpowering delicate compositions.
GEA1916 – Heritage and Precision
GEA1916 combines long-standing heritage with rigorous modern quality control. Its focus is on precision, stability, and repeatability, factors that are critical in professional food service.
Value for the UAE market: GEA1916 masterclasses emphasised how controlled extraction and blending result in consistent sensory profiles. For hotel groups, caterers, and multi-outlet operations, this reliability reduces operational risk and ensures uniform quality across locations.
Fortunati – Truffle-Based Excellence
Fortunati specialises in authentic truffle products that respect the natural aroma and flavour of truffles without relying on synthetic additives.
Value for the UAE market: Live cooking sessions demonstrated how Fortunati’s truffle products can elevate seafood, fresh pasta, and contemporary dishes when used with restraint. This approach allows chefs to offer genuine truffle experiences that justify premium positioning while maintaining culinary integrity.
Why Education Matters in the UAE Market
The UAE food sector is sophisticated but crowded. Many products claim premium status, often without technical justification. Nivitaly addresses this challenge through education.
Sensory Understanding Over Marketing
At Gulfood, tastings were structured to help participants recognise oxidation, fermentation, and imbalance. Understanding why an oil is bitter due to polyphenols rather than rancid due to oxidation empowers buyers to make informed decisions.
Practical Application
Live cooking sessions demonstrated how oils perform under heat, in emulsions, and in finishing applications. This practical validation is essential for professionals who need predictable results in demanding kitchen environments.
Institutional Support and Collaboration
A central element of Nivitaly’s presence at Gulfood 2026 was its close collaboration with the Camera di Commercio dell’Umbria, an institution that plays a vital role in supporting and promoting Umbrian excellence on international markets.
Nivitaly was proud to bring the presence of the Camera di Commercio dell’Umbria to Gulfood and to represent it throughout the exhibition, reinforcing a shared commitment to long-term market development rather than short-term visibility.
We were honoured to welcome Dr. Federico Sisti, Director of the Camera di Commercio dell’Umbria, whose visit underlined the strategic importance of the UAE and the Gulf region for Umbrian producers. His presence highlighted the value of institutional guidance, continuity, and trust in building sustainable international partnerships.
This collaboration reflects the heart of Nivitaly’s mission: connecting producers, institutions, and markets in a structured and responsible way, ensuring that Italian regional excellence is represented with accuracy, respect, and long-term vision.
Why Nivitaly Matters for UAE Buyers
For importers, distributors, retailers, and HoReCa professionals, working with Nivitaly offers clear advantages:
- Risk reduction through pre-vetted producers.
- Traceability and transparent sourcing.
- Consistency suited to professional operations.
- Long-term partnership rather than trend-driven sourcing.
Looking Ahead
Gulfood 2026 confirmed that the UAE market is ready for a deeper, more informed relationship with Italian food. The conversations and partnerships formed during the exhibition continue to shape Nivitaly’s future initiatives.
Nivitaly remains committed to acting as a trusted bridge between Italy and the UAE, ensuring that Italian excellence is not only introduced, but fully understood.
For more information about our producers and portfolio, visit:
