From Jamaica to Türkiye: How Coffee Became the Common Language at Arabian Travel Market Dubai
At the heart of Dubai World Trade Centre, coffee took center stage at Arabian Travel Market 2025. From Turkish delight to Omani halwa and Emirati dates, global cultures connected through a single cup. This journey through five countries proves coffee isn’t just a drink—it’s a passport to culture.
By Serkan Oral
During my visit to Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Dubai 2025, I walked through the pavilions of various countries, where I was warmly welcomed with local coffee and traditional sweets. From Türkiye to Jamaica, from Oman to Italy, every stand offered me a taste of something familiar—coffee—yet served with distinct identity.
At the Turkish stand, it was Turkish coffee with delight. The UAE pavilion offered Emirati qahwa with Dubai dates. Oman served traditional coffee with halwa, while Jamaica showcased its prestigious 100% Grade One Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee, paired with fine chocolate. Saudi Arabia presented qahwa with Madinah dates, and Italy stood out with its classic espresso served alongside natural gums.
Five countries, five flavors, five coffee traditions.
Coffee, it turns out, is not just a beverage. It’s a cultural ambassador. Every country takes pride in its way of brewing, presenting, and sharing coffee. Whether through flavor, preparation, or the history behind the bean, coffee speaks a universal language.
And at the center of this global coffee culture is Dubai.
Mokha 1450 Luxury Specialty Coffee welcomed ATM visitors with a rare offering—Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee.
“Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee has been traded for hundreds of years and is especially popular in Japan, where 80% of its production is pre-purchased years in advance,” said Garfield Kerr, CEO of Mokha 1450 and President of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).
Guests lined up for a chance to taste these unique brews. Fortunately, ATM 2025 provided a single venue where the world’s most iconic coffee styles came together under one roof at Dubai World Trade Centre.
Arabic qahwa is typically strong and slightly bitter, served in small cups with dates to balance the flavor.
Turkish coffee—prepared in a small copper pot called a cezve—is known for its intensity and the saying: “One cup of coffee brings forty years of friendship.”
Italian espresso is about simplicity and precision, a hallmark of coffee culture since the 16th century.
Ethiopian coffee ceremonies, meanwhile, involve roasting, brewing, and serving coffee while sharing proverbs and songs, turning coffee into a sacred social ritual.
From my experience at ATM 2025, it’s clear: coffee is no longer just a drink—it’s a global phenomenon.
It connects people, cultures, and stories. It’s part of national identity, hospitality, and—more than ever before—a part of the travel experience.
If you’re a traveler, coffee should be part of your journey.
Exploring different coffee traditions lets you savor the world, one cup at a time.
Events like ATM 2025 remind us that when coffee meets culture, the result is pure joy.
