The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) has announced plans to launch a new Cacao Centre aimed at developing an integrated global platform for cacao trading, processing, and innovation.
The initiative is designed to position Dubai as a key hub for agri-commodities trade by creating a structured ecosystem that spans the full cocoa value chain, from sourcing and processing to branding, distribution, and trade finance.
The Cacao Centre builds on DMCC’s established cluster model, which has already reshaped global trade in coffee and tea.
The district currently hosts 88 companies operating across the cocoa trading, chocolate manufacturing, and confectionery sectors.
Integrated trade and processing platform
The new platform will be developed in partnership with Kumbi Cocoa and Ribezzi Group, which will jointly assess the feasibility of establishing integrated infrastructure in Dubai.
The facility is expected to support storage, trading, and processing of cocoa beans into semi-finished products such as cocoa liquor, butter, and powder, serving global markets while enhancing efficiency and transparency across the supply chain.
The center will also offer value-added services, including grading, blending, branding, packaging, and storage, alongside access to trade finance solutions through DMCC’s FinX platform.
These services are intended to support cocoa boards, cooperatives, and farmers in addressing market volatility and liquidity challenges.
Ahmed Bin Sulayem Executive Chairman and CEO DMCC
“Cocoa is no longer just about production but about how value is structured, financed, and distributed. The Cacao Centre will bring producers, traders, manufacturers, and capital together within a single platform, enabling greater value creation closer to origin while strengthening Dubai’s position as a global agri-commodity hub.”
Kumbi Cocoa emphasized its focus on building transparent and equitable supply chains that connect farmers directly to global markets, while the Ribezzi Group highlighted the center’s potential to become a benchmark for integrated commodity infrastructure through its cross-border sourcing and processing model.
The global cocoa market, valued at approximately $16.6 billion in 2025, is projected to reach $26.2 billion by 2035, driven by rising demand for premium and artisanal chocolate products.
While the UAE’s cocoa trade remains in early stages, imports and exports of cocoa-related products are steadily increasing, reflecting Dubai’s growing role as a re-export and processing hub.
The initiative also aims to address structural imbalances in the cocoa sector, where producing regions account for the majority of output but capture limited value.
By connecting producers directly with global buyers and capital markets, the Cacao Centre seeks to enhance transparency, resilience, and inclusivity across the global cocoa supply chain.
