UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, kicked off 2019 by announcing a designated regional conference for the exhibition industry in the Middle East/Africa region, which will be open to all industry professionals. With the complexity and integration of smart technologies, political and economic incertitude, environmental and social challenges and customer changing behaviors, remaining relevant in the market becomes a challenge of the future. The conference will focus on trends and initiatives shaping the exhibition industry moving forwards.
Scheduled for the Dubai World Trade Center on April 8-9, the UFI MEA Regional Conference’s theme is “Embracing Change, Looking Forward to the Future.” It will bring together Middle Eastern and African exhibition industry professionals to discuss opportunities related to the ongoing changes in the industry: digital impact and exponential change, the future of venues and events, talent management, the evolution of value and ROI from trade fairs, the economic outlook and visitors’ insights.
“With old certainties gone, it is a time of change in many ways,” says Sonia Thomas, UFI COO and director of operations. “Different markets and regions need increasingly varied business approaches. The UFI MEA conference will address topics that will shape the future of events and exhibitions in this particular region.”
The exhibition industry in the Middle East has grown strongly over recent years, with the market size in the Gulf Cooperation Council region alone nearing around $1 billion U.S. dollars, according to estimates from industry consultants.
UFI CEO and Managing Director Kai Hattendorf says, “UFI currently has close to 100 member companies based in the region, organized in the MEA chapter, who we are serving out of our Dubai regional office. The conference is one of the region’s key initiatives, as well as numerous educational projects. Moving forward, we also plan to produce research around core industry data for this important region. And, last but not least, 2020 will see the UFI Global Congress returning to the region with Oman hosting this UFI flagship event.”
The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, UFI, is the leading global association of the world’s tradeshow organizers and exhibition center operators, as well as the major national and international exhibition associations, and selected partners of the exhibition industry. UFI’s main goal is to represent, promote and support the business interests of its members and the exhibition industry. UFI directly represents around 50,000 exhibition industry employees globally, and also works closely with its 58 national and regional association members. More than 780 member organizations in 86 countries around the world are presently signed up as members. Over 1,000 international trade fairs proudly bear the UFI approved label, a quality guarantee for visitors and exhibitors alike. UFI members continue to provide the international business community with a unique marketing media aimed at developing outstanding face-to-face business opportunities. For more info and registration details, visit www.ufi.org/dubai2019.
