Dubai Municipality Unveils AI-Powered Safety Innovations And Automated Labs At Gulfood 2026

Dubai Municipality is taking part in the 31st Gulf Food Exhibition, Gulfood 2026, at Dubai World Trade Centre from 26th to 30th January, presenting new digital and laboratory services that support food trade, strengthen inspection systems, and uphold strict food safety controls across the Emirate of Dubai and its key entry points.

The Municipality is using the exhibition to present a new generation of smart inspection tools, including smart glasses used at ports and food outlets. These devices support fully digital and remote inspections for ports, warehouses, and production facilities, improving inspection accuracy, saving field time, and strengthening transparency and regulatory compliance.

A central feature is the Montaji+ system, which regulates imported and exported products under a single digital framework for food, health, and safety requirements. Montaji+ manages a database of more than 1.5 million registered products, allowing authorities to monitor, track, and ease food import and export operations through one integrated customer journey.

The Montaji+ platform combines registration, import, and export steps into one streamlined process instead of separate services. Its design is based on benchmarking with over 12 regional and international organisations. The system uses a flexible technical architecture, enabling ongoing upgrades according to user feedback and helping maintain efficient, consistent regulation of traded products.

Dubai Municipality is also highlighting the AI-powered virtual assistant Ghalia, created to answer questions on food safety and school nutrition rules in Dubai. Ghalia offers instant, accurate information for students, parents, and food suppliers, providing fast digital access to approved guidelines and regulatory instructions that support safe meals in educational settings.

Advanced laboratory work is another focus of the participation. Dubai Central Laboratory has launched a specialised laboratory to detect insect residues in food products, supporting local and imported food checks. The facility is equipped with modern instruments and supporting tools that allow rapid and precise analysis, aligned with international food safety standards and global best laboratory practices.

Dubai Municipality food safety Gulfood 2026 laboratory innovation

The Municipality is presenting two public-facing laboratory initiatives, the Laboratory Gateway project and the Microscopic Exploration Unit. Laboratory Gateway supplies simplified, science-based material that helps different community groups understand food safety concepts. The Microscopic Exploration Unit uses advanced technologies, including robotic arms, to prepare samples and perform virus testing with high precision.

The Microscopic Exploration Unit also introduces visitors to Rashid Robot, which interacts with audiences and explains the latest laboratory innovations and digital services used by Dubai Municipality. Through this interactive model, visitors can see how automation and robotics support laboratory tasks and contribute to faster, more reliable testing in Dubai Central Laboratory’s operations.

Dr. Naseem Mohammed Rafee, Acting CEO of the Environment, Health and Safety Agency at Dubai Municipality, stated that Gulfood 2026 offers a global meeting point for exchanging knowledge, experience, and innovation in the food and beverage sector, reflecting Dubai’s focus on advanced regulation, efficient services, and strong protection of food safety across the Emirate.

With inputs from WAM