MEA Exhibitions Industry

HE Saif Al Midfa, Chair of the Middle East/African Chapter of UFI – the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, attended the 83rd UFI Global Congress in Shanghai, where he met with international counterparts to review the association’s work in 2016 and plans for the year ahead.

Along with Al Midfa, over 600 event professionals from more than 50 countries gathered in Shanghai for the four-day UFI Global Congress, dubbed: “Ripples - The Exhibition Industry in Transformation”. 

Chaired by UFI President Sergey Alexeev, the General Assembly highlighted a wide variety of new initiatives supporting and inspiring UFI’s 700+ members in 84 countries. 

The UFI Middle East/Africa Chapter meeting, also held during the UFI Global Congress, witnessed a huge turnout, with many of the major players in the region present, and two new members. 

Despite geopolitical challenges, Chapter Chair Saif Al Midfa confirmed that the exhibition industry is on the right track for continued development in the MEA region, as he reiterated his priorities as Chair of the Chapter. These priorities include training (and education), networking and the provision of information in the form of research. 

Commenting on the sidelines of the Congress, Al-Midfa said: “I am delighted to be part of this fundamental Congress - a huge testament to the global connectedness of the exhibitions industry- which pragmatically addressed the development, support, and challenges of the exhibition industry.” 

Al Midfa added: “The success of exhibitions worldwide is linked to the success of the industries they serve. Thus, it is our duty to support and bolster the growth of industries and economies both on the national and international levels.”  

Mark Brewster, CEO of Explori, UK, updated the members of the MEA Chapter on the “visitor research” he had presented in Sharjah in June, affirming that the MEA region is young, emerging with less competition than in other regions.

Kai Hattendorf, UFI’s Managing Director, said: “With a global membership growth of almost five per cent in the past year, UFI’s global role continues to grow, with the Middle East/Africa Chapter one of the regions in the spotlight. We are working with our Chapter Chair on establishing UFI’s presence in the region in the most sustainable way.”

The Congress goals included involving more active members and drawing a broader audience to UFI events, cultivating the industry's role in stimulating economic growth, generating jobs and developing infrastructure.