Interview
Agility and adaptability-keys to Saudi success
Bilal Al Barmawi, founder and CEO of Saudi Arabiabased 1st Arabia Tradeshows & Conferences, updates EW on the local market environment has reinforced how much agility and preparedness matter.
How are international organisers reacting – are you seeing client hesitation and lower attendance, or is demand for Riyadh holding firm despite the headlines? Naturally, international organisers are asking more questions, particularly around travel, logistics and business continuity. That’ s understandable given the headlines.
At the same time, interest in Riyadh and Saudi Arabia remains strong. International organisers are looking past the short-term noise toward the long-term opportunity the Saudi market represents, and the continued growth of its exhibitions and conferences sector.
Our role as a local partner is to give clients accurate, up-to-date information, because there’ s often a real gap between the picture painted by regional headlines and the day-to-day business environment here in Riyadh.
Bilal Al Barmawi
How significantly has the regional conflict affected 1st Arabia ' s calendar, and what operational changes have you had to make on the ground? The regional situation has affected our calendar, a number of events originally planned for 2026 have moved to 2027, giving organisers, exhibitors and partners the best possible conditions to succeed.
Operationally, this has meant closer coordination across stakeholders: sharper contingency planning, closer monitoring of regional and travel developments, and steady communication with venues, suppliers and international partners.
Our priority throughout has been to manage these changes responsibly while protecting the quality of each event. If anything, the current
Is reduced flight availability becoming a dealbreaker for international delegates, or are people simply adjusting their travel routes to get here? Connectivity always matters for a major event, and schedule changes create real challenges for delegates and exhibitors alike.
What we ' re seeing mostly is a need for adaptability, participants adjusting routes, considering alternative connections, or booking earlier than usual.
For us as organisers, that means starting travel communication earlier and keeping participants informed whenever circumstances shift.
Has securing event and travel insurance become a major obstacle for international participants, and what can governments or the industry do to resolve this? Insurance has become a bigger
40 Issue 5 2026 www. exhibitionworld. co. uk