Ras Al Khaimah – Qahwa World
Omani barista Loay AlHattali, representing Historia Roastery from the Sultanate of Oman, was crowned champion of the second edition of the Gulf Coffee Maker Competition 2026, held in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, amid strong and diverse Gulf participation.
The competition witnessed intense competition among 44 skilled baristas from the UAE, Oman, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, all showcasing exceptional technical expertise, creativity, and a deep understanding of specialty coffee, making the judging process highly competitive.
Emirati competitor Aisha AlSuweidi secured second place, while Omani barista Moayed AlHousni claimed third place, reflecting the strong presence and growing professionalism of Gulf coffee talent.
In the Junior Coffee Makers Category, Emirati participant Mohammed AlShumaili won first place in a category introduced for the first time this year to support young home-based coffee makers aged between 15 and 18.
In an exclusive statement to Qahwa World, champion Loay AlHattali expressed his immense happiness with the win, describing it as a starting point rather than a final destination, and emphasizing that the title motivates him to participate in future regional and international championships to achieve further accolades.
For his part, Saeed AlMannaei, founder of S3 Café and organizer of the championship, congratulated all winners and praised the high level of competition displayed throughout the event. Speaking to Qahwa World World, Al-Mannaei highlighted the significant growth of the championship, noting that the number of participants increased from 27 in the first edition to 44 competitors this year. He also announced that the total prize value was doubled from AED 10,000 last year to AED 20,000 in the current edition.
AlMannaei added that the introduction of the Junior Coffee Makers category reflects the organizers’ commitment to discovering and nurturing young talent, providing dedicated trophies and recognition to encourage the next generation of coffee enthusiasts.
The championship attracted a distinguished audience of Gulf coffee professionals and enthusiasts, who enjoyed an energetic and engaging atmosphere further enhanced by the distribution of 100 prizes to attendees, reinforcing the event’s philosophy that everyone is a winner.
The competition was overseen by a highly experienced judging panel consisting of Fatima AlKetbi and Shamma bint Lahij from the United Arab Emirates, and Ahmed AlHabsi from the Sultanate of Oman, ensuring the highest standards of professionalism and evaluation.
