
Record Prices Set at Inaugural DMCC Specialty Coffee Auction
The inaugural Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) Specialty Coffee Auction has made a global impact by setting new records in the world of specialty coffee.
Held during the World of Coffee Dubai 2025 event, the auction featured 16 lots from 11 producers across nine countries, showcasing six coffee varieties. The standout was Geisha coffee, with 11 lots of this sought-after variety attracting bidders both in the room and remotely.
The highest price of the auction came from Finca Sophia in Panama, where their coffee sold for an impressive US$10,020 per kilo. Additionally, a Kona SL 34 lot from Hawaii set a new benchmark for American coffee, fetching US$910 per kg, eight times higher than its previous record. Other notable lots included La Llama beans from Bolivia, which became the country's most expensive coffee at US$350 per kg, and an Ethiopian Gesha Village Oma Natural lot, which sold for US$1,100 per kg.
DMCC's Executive Chairman, Ahmed Bin Sulayem, emphasized the event's role in reinforcing Dubai's position as a key hub in the global coffee trade. Khalid Al Hammadi, Executive VP of DXB Live, highlighted the growing global demand for high-quality coffee and DMCC's commitment to industry sustainability.
Auctioneer David Paparelli of M-Cultivo compared the auction to luxury goods sales, with buyers viewing the coffee as exclusive, high-end products. All coffees at the auction scored 92 points or higher on the Specialty Coffee Association's scale.
This historic event further elevated Dubai's standing as a pivotal player in the international coffee industry.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Gulf Today
2 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Global energy investment set to rise to $3.3 trillion in 2025: IEA
The International Energy Agency (IEA) said that global energy investment is set to increase in 2025 to a record US$3.3 trillion despite headwinds from elevated geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, with clean energy technologies attracting twice as much capital as fossil fuels. In its new World Energy Investment 2025 report, IEA stated that investment in clean technologies – renewables, nuclear, grids, storage, low-emissions fuels, efficiency and electrification – is on course to hit a record US$2.2 trillion this year. The report explained that investment in solar, both utility-scale and rooftop, is expected to reach US$450 billion in 2025, making it the single largest item in the global energy investment inventory. Battery storage investments are also climbing rapidly, surging above US$65 billion this year. Lower oil prices and demand expectations are set to result in the first year-on-year fall in upstream oil investment since 2020, according to the report, with an expected 6 percent drop driven by lower oil prices and demand expectations.


Fintech News ME
8 hours ago
- Fintech News ME
MENA Startups Raise $289M in May as Egypt Leads Recovery
The startup ecosystem in MENA experienced renewed momentum in May 2025, securing a total of US$289 million across 44 deals. This reflects a 25% increase compared to April and a modest 2% rise year-on-year. Debt financing accounted for only 9% of the total investment, with the bulk of capital directed towards equity deals. Egypt regained its position as the region's leading recipient of funding, largely thanks to Nawy 's notable US$75 million round. According to Wamda, seven other Egyptian startups collectively raised US$50 million, marking activity levels not seen since July of the previous year. The UAE followed with US$86.7 million raised across 14 deals, while Saudi Arabia trailed closely behind with US$69 million from 15 deals. Meanwhile, Kuwait made a rare appearance on the investment radar, with two startups securing a combined US$6 million, positioning the often-overlooked GCC nation in fourth place. AI remained a hot topic in the Gulf, especially following a high-profile visit by US President Trump and prominent Silicon Valley AI executives. The diplomatic event prompted both Saudi Arabia and the UAE to announce major plans to enhance their local AI ecosystems. However, despite the political attention and media excitement, investment in AI startups fell short of expectations. The sector drew only US$25 million across two deals, underscoring the disconnect between the narrative and actual funding activity. Fintech continued to lead in sectoral funding, attracting US$86.5 million through 14 rounds. Proptech followed closely, buoyed by Nawy's large raise, while mediatech companies brought in a total of US$32 million from two deals. Construction technology also made a notable contribution, with WakeCap raising US$28 million. There was a marked absence of late-stage funding activity in May. Just one pre-Series C round was recorded, amounting to US$12 million. Early-stage investments dominated, accounting for US$161 million of the total capital raised. Investor preference continued to lean towards business-to-business (B2B) models. B2B startups attracted US$157 million across 29 deals, while hybrid B2B/B2C companies brought in US$79 million. In contrast, business-to-consumer (B2C) startups received significantly less attention, with nine companies raising a combined US$53 million. The gender gap in startup funding remained pronounced. Startups founded exclusively by men secured 82% of the total capital. Female-founded ventures garnered just 7%, while teams comprising both male and female founders attracted nearly 11%.


Fintech News ME
12 hours ago
- Fintech News ME
Saudi Digital Bank D360 Eyes Series A in 2025, Targets Global Investors
Saudi Arabia's digital bank D360, backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is in preliminary discussions with potential global investors as it prepares for a Series A funding round slated for the second half of 2025. The Shariah-compliant bank, which began operations in December, aims to complete the fundraising in the first quarter of 2026, according to Chief Executive Officer Eze Szafir in an interview with Bloomberg. This follows D360's successful raising of approximately US$500 million from existing shareholders, including the PIF and Derayah Financial Co. Szafir did not specify the size of the upcoming round but said the funds would support efforts to expand services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in line with Saudi Arabia's economic diversification objectives under Vision 2030. 'We're looking for new investors in the international landscape, most probably from Europe or the US, with the same quality we have here with the PIF and Derayah,' Szafir told Bloomberg. The bank also plans to launch comprehensive lending services for individuals and SMEs later this year. To prepare for the funding round, D360 has appointed former JPMorgan Chase & Co. banker Mohammed Nazer as Chief Financial Officer to oversee the process. Nazer said the bank expects to appoint advisers to manage the Series A round by the end of July. D360 is among the first institutions to receive a digital banking licence in Saudi Arabia and currently serves over 1 million users. It is targeting 4 million account holders ahead of a potential public listing within the next four years. By leveraging data-driven strategies and modern technologies, the bank aims to support the development of Saudi Arabia's digital financial infrastructure in alignment with Vision 2030. The move comes as the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), continues to update regulatory frameworks to facilitate digital transformation in the financial sector. SAMA has prioritised innovation and financial inclusion by licensing new digital banking players as part of efforts to modernise the Kingdom's banking system and bolster financial resilience. This regulatory push has contributed to electronic payments accounting for 79% of all retail transactions in Saudi Arabia in 2024, up from 70% in 2023, according to SAMA. The central bank also reported that non-cash retail transactions totalled 12.6 billion in 2024, compared with 10.8 billion the year before, reflecting ongoing growth and adoption of digital payments nationwide.