Andalusia Week at the 2020 Dubai World Expo, which is being held from February 7 to 13 under the slogan ‘Andalusia, an intelligent future’, includes showcookings with Andalusian products and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) tastings on its schedule, the goal being to enhance and position Andalusian gastronomy and its culinary techniques among visitors to this World Expo, where products from up to eight Andalusian companies are being showcased.
Through this activity, Andalusian chef Amelia Gómez will be hosting daily EVOO tastings and pairing sessions between typical Middle Eastern products and Andalusia’s ‘liquid gold’ to compose traditional recipes from the region, such as hummus, mutabbal and muhammara .
The goal of these sessions is to introduce Andalusian agri-food products to the public attending the Dubai Expo, and provide information to consumers and professionals in the sector on their characteristics and on how they can be adapted to their culinary tradition; to support importers and distributors who already collaborate with Andalusian businesses so they can maximize their sales; and to reinforce their visibility and presence in the United Arab Emirates and the Persian Gulf, a region to which Andalusia exported agri-food products worth 163 million euros in the first 11 months of 2021.
Another purpose of this initiative of the Office of the Presidency, Public Administration and the Interior is to show the culinary benefits of Andalusian EVOO as compared to other, more popular olive oils in the region, highlighting its health benefits and showcasing the different nuances, aromas and flavors that various EVOOs can bring to Arab cuisine, based on the different varieties of olives and how their versatility can improve the results of their traditional recipes.
During this gastronomic program, Amelia Gómez will be the chef in charge of conducting the four daily food demonstrations, to be held on the outdoor stage of the Spanish Pavilion every day during Andalusia Week, with special activities both on opening day and on the Day of Honor of Andalusia, which will be on February 12. The week will feature showcooking with Andalusian olive oil and Bluefin tuna caught using the almadraba technique, and will include the participation of the president of the Andalusian Government. Gómez has extensive experience in conducting this type of educational, cultural and gastronomic event, making her show more appealing to attendees.
The eight Andalusian firms present in the United Arab Emirates that wanted to have their products featured at this promotional event organized by Extenda-Andalucía, Exportation and Foreign Investment are Alevoo, Castillo de Canena and Oro de Bailén, from Jaén; Acesur and Hacienda Guzmán, from Seville; Almazaras de la Subbética, from Córdoba; Iznaoliva, from Granada; and San Cristóbal, from Malaga. The tastings will include a supporting infographic to indicate the variety of olive used, its organoleptic properties and the awards they have won.
The Middle East, a region of interest for the agri-food industry
For the Regional Government of Andalusia, Expo Dubai 2020 provides a unique setting for Andalusia to present the sectors with the greatest opportunities in the Middle East, a region to which more than 1,500 Andalusian companies exported goods worth 401 million euros in the first eleven months of 2021, 10.4% more than in the same period in the previous year. Half of these sales, 202 million euros, were to the United Arab Emirates, where Andalusian exports grew by 34% over the same period in the previous year.
Specifically, the countries of the Persian Gulf imported 163 million euros in agri-food products from Andalusia in the first 11 months of 2021, making Andalusia Spain’s second largest exporter to the region, with 18.4% of Spain’s sales, only behind Catalonia.
Andalusia Week
From February 7 to Sunday the 13th, the Spanish Pavilion at the Dubai World Expo 2020 is hosting Andalusia Week, which was opened under the slogan «Andalusia, an intelligent future at Expo Dubai 2020». This series of activities showcases Andalusia’s potential as a leader in response to the challenges of a sustainable future, the main theme of Expo Dubai 2020, the world’s largest showcase of human advancement, where Andalusia is showing its approach to dealing with what is to come, complementing the best of its traditions with the latest innovations in research, technology and creativity to build a unique model of sustainable development.
Andalusia Week, which was organized by the Office of the Presidency, Public Administration and Interior, is full of activities aimed at demonstrating the strengths of Andalusia in economic areas that offer important business opportunities in Middle Eastern markets, such as agri-food (through cuisine), consumer goods (through fashion), cultural industries (through flamenco), and its appeal as a world tourism destination.
The Day of Honor of Andalusia, the central event in this series of activities at Expo Dubai 2020, will be held on February 12 and will be led by Juanma Moreno, president of the Andalusian Government, as part of a full institutional and business agenda. The week will also feature other activities such as showcooking with key products of Andalusian cuisine and tastings of EVOO, shows by the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía, fashion shows, thematic videos on strategic industries in the region, and an interactive tourism stand.
All the information on the schedule of activities during Andalusia Week at Expo Dubai 2020 is also available on the bilingual page created on the website of Extenda-Andalucía Exportación e Inversión Extranjera (https://www.andaluciatrade.es/expo-dubai). This site will offer a virtual showcase of Andalusia’s presence at this global event, with information on all matters related to the Expo, as well as the promotional videos created to highlight the advantages of Andalusia in different fields – sustainable development, industry, research, technology, business, agribusiness, fishing, etc. – as well as its connection with Arab culture through the shared history and culture of Al-Andalus.en el original, “muhhabara”,
