Tahaluf, a joint venture between Informa PLC, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP), and the Events Investment Fund (EIF), has announced plans to launch 20 new sectors-specific trade and consumer events in the Kingdom within 18 months.
The expansion will see Tahaluf debut Informa brands in Saudi Arabia, enhance existing flagship brands, such as the real estate-focused Cityscape Global, and launch new titles and concepts aligned with the strategic objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
The expansion will further stretch Tahaluf’s lead as the largest Saudi Arabia-based event organiser in terms of square metres and revenue, and one of the largest across the Middle East.
“Our new events will focus on Vision 2030’s strategically important sectors, including technology, real estate, infrastructure, aviation, pharmaceuticals, food, health and beauty, tourism, finance and hospitality,” says Michael Champion, CEO of Tahaluf and a co-creator of technology event LEAP.
The expansion is estimated to generate more than USD $1b in economic impact in Riyadh through exhibitor and delegate spending on travel and hospitality. The macroeconomic impact will complement Tahaluf’s investment in new office spaces in the country’s capital and its planned recruitment of up to 200-plus professionals over the coming year, including Saudi nationals.
Champion adds: “The expanded portfolio will help increase the MICE sector’s share of Saudi Arabia’s non-oil GDP by bringing global expertise and foreign direct investment into the Kingdom while creating economic and environmentally sustainable public-private partnerships. Additionally, the development of the MICE ecosystem will propel the tourism sector’s annual GDP contribution from its current three per cent to more than 10 per cent by 2030.
“Each new trade event will feature investment-enabling formats, including investor and venture capitalist funding platforms, business matchmaking, and start-up pitching programmes. These will bring the latest technical know-how to the Kingdom and catalyse cross-border collaboration, partnerships, and inward investment.”
