The Kingdom of Bahrain has won the bid to host the 93rd Global Association of the Exhibition Industry UFI Global Congress. UFI’s Board voted in Bahrain’s favour at the recent UFI European Conference 2024 held in Zurich, Switzerland, meaning it will be the first time the association’s annual gathering will be held in Bahrain.
The UFI Global Congress is scheduled for November 2026, at the award-winning Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB) in Sakhir. EWB is the Middle East's Leading Large-Scale Wedding Venue 2024 and has hosted numerous successful global events.
“We are honoured to have been selected as the host destination for the UFI Global Congress,” said H.E. Fatima bint Jaffar Al Sairafi (pictured), the minister of tourism and chairman of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA). “This is a testament to Bahrain’s commitment to the MICE industry and our ongoing efforts to drive innovation in this promising sector. We look forward to welcoming delegates from across the globe to experience the Bahraini hospitality and the many opportunities our nation has to offer.”
Geoff Dickinson, UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry president, added: “After Cologne in 2024 and Hong Kong in 2025, we couldn’t be more excited to announce that Bahrain will host the 2026 UFI Global Congress. Exhibition World Bahrain presented a very strong bid, making it an easy decision for the UFI leadership. After the success of the 2022 Global Congress in Oman, we are thrilled to return to the Middle East for another unforgettable event.”
EWB led the bid to secure this internationally renowned event for the first time in the Kingdom of Bahrain, with the support of strategic local partners. Hosting the UFI Global Congress will enable the Kingdom to attract hundreds of industry professionals and decision-makers from around the world to exchange insights, foster collaborations, and shape the future of the sector. It strengthens Bahrain’s positioning as a regional leader in the MICE industry since the early 1980s and a dynamic hub for business tourism.
Since its opening in November 2022, EWB has rapidly established itself as a premier destination for events of all sizes, attracting over 800,000 visitors and exhibitors across 186 local and international events in its inaugural year.
The EWB’s Convention Centre features a Grand Hall that can accommodate over 4,000 guests and can be sub-divided into three separate halls all equipped with the latest technical services to host international conferences and events. The Convention Centre also offers 19 meeting rooms of various sizes that can accommodate medium-and small-scale conferences and meetings.
Exhibition World Bahrain is owned by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) and is operated by BTEA’s strategic partner; ASM Global
For more information about EWB and its facilities, visit: https://www.ewbahrain.com/
