DMCC Cocoa Centre to position Dubai as integrated hub for global cocoa trade
DMCC launches Cocoa Centre in Dubai to integrate cocoa trade, processing and financing, strengthening Dubai’s role in global agricultural commodities markets.
The DMCC Cocoa Centre will create a unified platform for cocoa trade, processing and innovation, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre announced. The initiative aims to bring producers, traders, manufacturers and financiers together under a single ecosystem to boost value-added activity in the cocoa supply chain. DMCC said the new centre builds on its cluster model used for coffee and tea and seeks to enhance Dubai’s standing as a global agricultural commodities hub.
DMCC unveils Cocoa Centre and strategic goals
In its announcement, DMCC framed the Cocoa Centre as a strategic expansion of its agricultural and food commodities programme. The platform is intended to span the full cocoa value chain from sourcing and storage through to semi-processed goods and distribution. DMCC highlighted the centre’s role in facilitating financing and innovation that capture more value near production origins.
Partnership structure and lead developers
DMCC said the project will be implemented in partnership with Combi Cacao and the Ribizzi group, with the latter steering development activities. Combi Cacao, described as focused on building transparent and fair supply chains, will contribute expertise in farmer linkages and traceability. The partners will jointly assess and develop an integrated infrastructure for storage, trading and conversion of cocoa into semi-processed products.
Cluster model and existing industry presence in Dubai
The Cocoa Centre follows DMCC’s cluster approach that has been applied to coffee and tea, where specialized ecosystems attract traders and processors. DMCC noted there are already 88 companies in Dubai active in cocoa trading, chocolate manufacturing and confectionery, providing a ready industrial base. Bringing these firms into a unified platform is expected to deepen local capabilities and streamline regional operations.
Supply-chain infrastructure and benefits for stakeholders
Project planners said the centre will study and potentially deliver dedicated storage, handling and processing facilities to improve logistics and reduce friction in global supply chains. Centralised services are expected to enhance traceability and enable the production of higher-value semi-processed cocoa closer to origin. DMCC representatives argued that these capabilities will help channel more financing and technical support to producers while increasing efficiency for international buyers.
Market projections underpinning the initiative
DMCC pointed to global market dynamics that support investment in cocoa infrastructure, citing recent market estimates. The global cocoa market was valued at about $16.6 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach roughly $26.2 billion by 2035. Luxury chocolate demand is also expanding, with the premium chocolate segment estimated to grow from $31.9 billion in 2024 to about $40.6 billion by 2030, underscoring opportunities for higher-margin, traceable cocoa products.
Comments from industry leaders and expected impact
Ahmed bin Sulayem, DMCC’s Group Chief Executive, said trade in cocoa now encompasses financing, value creation and distribution as well as production, and that the centre will respond to this reality. The founder and CEO of Combi Cacao said the partnership is built on connecting farmers directly to global markets while ensuring traceability and fair returns. Mauro Ribizzi of the Ribizzi group described the initiative as forward-looking, with potential to become a benchmark platform linking supply, logistics and processing across continents.
The DMCC Cocoa Centre is being positioned as both an infrastructure project and a market-development platform, intended to attract capital, manufacturers and logistics providers to Dubai. Officials believe the integrated approach will strengthen supply-chain resilience and create new commercial pathways for cocoa originating in producer countries.
This initiative follows a broader trend of commodity hubs investing in value-added services to capture more revenue within trade channels. By concentrating storage, processing and trading capabilities, the DMCC Cocoa Centre aims to shorten supply chains and increase transparency for buyers and consumers alike.
If plans proceed, the centre could alter regional cocoa logistics and expand commercial opportunities for exporters and midstream processors. DMCC and its partners will now move into feasibility and infrastructure planning, while engaging industry participants to define services and operating models for the new platform.
