The Dubai Future Week is set to host the “Taste of the Future” challenge, organised in collaboration with Kerry Group, as part of the week of events organised by the Dubai Future Foundation. The event will take place from November 18 to 21, 2026, at the Emirates Towers and the Museum of the Future.
Challenge Overview
This exciting challenge was announced on the occasion of the opening of Kerry’s new regional innovation centre in Expo City Dubai. The competition will bring together teams comprising esteemed chefs, content creators, and Kerry experts. Their mission is to reimagine a selection of Emirati dishes, making them healthier by reducing salt, sugar, and fat content while preserving their distinctive flavours.
Each participating team will feature a chef leading the recipe development, a content creator sharing the story of their experience, and a Kerry expert providing the necessary scientific and technical knowledge. Over ten days, from November 9 to 19, these teams will refine their recipes in Kerry’s innovation laboratories. They will also utilise exclusive AI tools from Kerry, including Kalaido for product innovation and Nexus for recipe development and formulation.
Finals and Public Participation
On Friday, November 20, during the Dubai Future Week, a short film showcasing the experiences of the participating teams will be presented. The dishes will be judged by a panel of experts from the business and food sectors. Attendees will also have the opportunity to taste the dishes and vote for their favourite.
Statements from Officials
“This collaboration reflects the strength and depth of the economic ties between Ireland and the UAE, showcasing Irish businesses’ confidence in the UAE as a key growth partner,” remarked His Excellency Virgil Mathen, Ambassador of Ireland to the UAE.
Abdulaziz Al Jaziri, Deputy CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, stated, “Dubai Future Week aims to provide an opportunity for everyone to participate in exploring new ideas and contributing to shaping the future of various sectors, with a primary focus on humanity’s future and studying the impact of transformations across economic, social, and governmental sectors to harness future opportunities for community service.”
Marjan Fereidooni, Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of Education and Culture at Expo City Dubai, expressed, “We firmly believe that innovation is the driving force behind sustainable progress. We are pleased to welcome Kerry to our business community and look forward to seeing the groundbreaking innovations that will arise from this collaboration.”
Edmund Scanlon, CEO of Kerry Group, emphasised, “There is an increasing need to improve nutrition to support health and longevity, but better nutrition must also taste good. The Taste of the Future challenge marries local culinary expertise with Kerry’s scientific knowledge to explore new possibilities for making favourite foods healthier while retaining their characteristic appeal.”
Innovation at Kerry’s Centre
Peter Dillon, Kerry’s Head of the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa region, added, “Our customers in the region are eager for products tailored to local tastes and need them very quickly. The Kerry Innovation Centre at Expo City provides the perfect platform for achieving this. Through our global AI platforms and scientists working alongside local chefs, we can taste, test, and develop new ideas right here in Dubai.”
Global Ideas, Local Products
The Kerry Innovation Centre at Expo City Dubai harnesses the group’s AI tools and the expertise of over 1,300 scientists across 60 technology and innovation centres worldwide. Kerry opened its first development centre in Dubai in 2013, focusing on transforming global ideas into local products by marrying global trends with consumer insights and locally sourced ingredients.
Furthermore, Kerry collaborates with food and beverage companies in the region to translate ideas into products suited to local tastes, significantly shortening the product development cycle from months to days.