Gulfood 2016 - the 21st edition of the world's largest annual food and hospitality trade show - opened on Sunday at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) with a record line-up of national and food export industry groups vying to grab an increased share of the GCC's $53.1 billion food imports market.

Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, formally opened the show as the first day drew a record number of trade visitors.

Organisers said Gulfood's global trading status has attracted the show's biggest tally of national and food export industry groups, which, at 117, are five more than last year. These pavilions include first-time representation from Russia, Costa Rica, Belarus, Mauritius and New Zealand returning after a six-year break. The show features over 5,000 companies from 120 countries and spans in excess of 1.29 million square feet of exhibition space.

UAE Economy Minister Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Helal Saeed Almarri, director-general of the Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing and the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, Minister Alexander Tkachev of the Russian Federation's Ministry of Agriculture, and a host of ministers, ambassadors and dignitaries from the UAE, GCC and around the world were present during the opening ceremony.

Gulfood also hosts hundreds of show-floor culinary demonstrations at the annual Emirates Culinary Guild International Salon Culinaire - a showcase of the region's best culinary talent and expertise. One of Gulfood's draws for the regions' top professional chefs, pastry chefs, cooks and bakers, this year's Salon saw more than 1,300 professional chefs evaluated by a panel of 25 experts, mandated by the World Association of Chefs Societies to judge culinary events across the globe.

Running until Thursday, Gulfood is expected to draw more than 85,000 visitors from over 170 countries.

"As a strategic investment platform, Gulfood connects the world's leading food and hospitality industry companies and brands, national policy makers and innovative thought leaders," said Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice-president, DWTC, organiser of Gulfood.

Gulfood 2016 also features the Halal World Food show-within-a-show and the globe's biggest, annual halal food sourcing trade event. This year, Halal World Food features over 800 Halal food suppliers - 15 per cent up on last year.