Prime Highlight:
- Exhibitions and large events in the Middle East are now seen as engines for economic growth, attracting investment and boosting global presence.
- Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and similar regional initiatives are transforming events into year-round platforms that generate deals, jobs, and tourism.
Key Facts:
- Saudi Arabia hosts over 200 large international events annually and plans to add more than 1 million square metres of exhibition and conference space by 2030.
- At a recent MICE summit in Riyadh, companies with combined global revenues of $9 billion signed 20 agreements on the opening day.
Background:
Exhibitions and big events are becoming more important for the Middle East’s economy. In the past, people used them mainly for branding and networking; they now drive investment, create partnerships, and increase global visibility.
Across the GCC and wider region, governments and private companies are investing in modern venues, professional skills, and year-round event calendars. Their goal is to bring global markets together and use exhibitions as a strategic asset for long-term growth.
Saudi Arabia shows how fast this change is taking place. Under Vision 2030, the Kingdom plans to expand its exhibition and conference capacity by more than 1 million square metres by the end of the decade. It also aims to lift the cultural sector’s share of GDP to 3%, or about SR180 billion, from below 1% today.
To organise this rapid growth, the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority has launched an annual global season from October to May. The calendar groups major business and cultural gatherings, including Cityscape Global, the Future Investment Initiative and the Fortune Global Forum. Officials say the model helps global organisers plan better and deepens Saudi Arabia’s role as a global events hub.
Saudi Arabia now hosts over 200 large international events each year and ranks among the fastest-growing business events markets in the G20. At a recent MICE summit in Riyadh, companies with combined revenues above $9 billion signed 20 agreements on the first day.
Industry leaders say exhibitions now create jobs, business deals, and trust in areas like hotels, transport, and small businesses. People have also changed how they design venues, using flexible layouts and digital systems as the standard.
Similar trends are visible across Qatar, Egypt, and the wider region, where design-led events and cultural platforms link investors, developers, and creative talent. As Middle Eastern cities compete for capital and influence, exhibitions are becoming a core part of economic strategy.
