UFI
Lord Stephen A. Carter keynotes Bahrain
Chris Skeith OBE, CEO, UFI, looks towards the November Global Congress and beyond
reparations for the 93rd
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UFI Global Congress in Bahrain are proceeding with genuine momentum and confidence. I made a site visit in September to Exhibition World Bahrain, and the feedback from the region has been overwhelmingly positive. The venue is exceptional, government support is authentic, and the local industry is energised about hosting a global gathering of this significance.
The region’ s enthusiasm extends well beyond Bahrain itself. Conversations at the Qatar Event Show and at other events across the Gulf confirm strong interest and engagement with the event. There has been understandable discussion about travel considerations given current geopolitical circumstances, but the industry’ s appetite for face-to-face gathering remains remarkably strong. In uncertain times, the value of human connection only increases.
Practically Gulf Air, Bahrain’ s national carrier, is providing exclusive discounts for Congress attendees: 15 % off Business Class and 10 % off Economy Class. We have an extensive FAQ section on the UFI website, but if your question isn’ t covered, please don’ t hesitate to contact a member of the team.
The programme and regional opportunity The Congress programme spans three days of substantive content. Lord Stephen A. Carter, who has been group CEO of Informa plc for 13 years, will deliver the opening keynote, a significant draw for delegates.
The full agenda covers resilience and agility in volatile environments, innovation in business models, the integration of technology and AI, and embedding sustainability across operations. The theme,‘ Stronger Connections, Smarter Futures’, reflects where our industry stands and where it is heading.
Beyond the formal programme, we have created a distinctive opportunity. Through our connection with the Economic Development Board of Bahrain, we are facilitating conversations between selected exhibition organisers and regional officials responsible for investment attraction and business development. This positions the Congress not just as an industry gathering but as a platform where business opportunities are identified, explored, and developed. It reflects the vital role exhibitions play as international trade platforms.
A full year of regional activity The Congress is the centrepiece of a substantial UFI calendar. This year includes our first event in Brazil with the UFI Central and South America Regional Conference alongside the first Event Directors Summit outside of Europe, and the East African Exhibition Forum, all of which happen during the first week of December.
Looking ahead into 2027, we are hosting the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference in Bali, the UFI Middle East and Africa Conference, the Global
Above: Chris Skeith
Policy Forum in Washington, the UFI European Conference in Rimini, and opening the year with the Global CEO Summit in Madrid.
This full calendar reflects UFI’ s commitment to supporting our global membership through meaningful regional connection, peer learning, and advocacy on behalf of the industry. We continue developing UFI Learning programmes, advancing research initiatives, creating UFI Experiences, and undertaking delegation visits to key markets, including Korea, to strengthen partnerships and advocacy.
Why this matters The exhibition industry thrives through connection. Times of uncertainty and change actually reinforce the importance of face-toface gathering, where people share knowledge, build trust, and move forward together. That is why events matter. We look forward to seeing you soon. EW www. exhibitionworld. co. uk Issue 5 2026 11