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Leading with Vision in Saudi Arabia
Bilal Al Barmawi, founder and CEO of 1st Arabia Tradeshows & Conferences, offers his thoughts on the Kingdom’ s vision for developments in events and the economy
EW – How has your vision influenced 1st Arabia’ s strategic direction, especially in the context of Saudi Arabia’ s transformation under Vision 2030? From the beginning, my vision for 1st Arabia Exhibitions & Conferences was built on the belief that the exhibitions industry is not merely about organising events – it is a strategic platform for economic development, knowledge exchange, and enhancing Saudi Arabia’ s global standing.
The Saudi Vision 2030 aspirations perfectly aligned with ours and this inspired me to reshape the company’ s strategic direction to be more ambitious and closely connected to national objectives.
We began by expanding our portfolio of events to cover key sectors supporting economic diversification, such as organic products, health, education, tourism, and halal industries. We also focused on attracting international exhibitions that strengthen the Kingdom’ s presence in global markets. In parallel, we embraced digital innovation, transforming many of our operations into smart models driven by data analytics and virtual engagement – in line with the Kingdom’ s digital transformation.
This vision also led me to invest in national talent, making the
empowerment of Saudi youth a cornerstone of our corporate culture through training, recruitment, and leadership opportunities in event management. Moreover, we ensured that our company became an active member of international organisations, adopting best global practices and showcasing Saudi Arabia’ s capability to lead and compete in the exhibitions industry.
This vision has made 1st Arabia Exhibitions & Conferences a true partner in realising Vision 2030 – not only by organising events, but by building an integrated ecosystem that contributes to development, innovation, and empowerment.
EW – What are the most defining milestones of 1st Arabia during your tenure? One of the most significant milestones was our membership in the Global
Left: Bilal Al Barmawi
Association of the Exhibition Industry( UFI). This marked a true turning point in our professional path, as it opened doors for international collaboration and affirmed our commitment to global standards of excellence.
Another defining achievement was the launch of BIOFACH Saudi Arabia in the Middle East – a success that brought together over 200 exhibitors from 35 countries and positioned the Kingdom as a global hub for organic products. This event was held alongside the Halal Products Exhibition. Equally impactful was our strategic partnership with Messe Frankfurt, which enabled the transfer of international expertise to the local market and elevated the quality of our events in terms of technology, content, and organisation.
I also consider our digital transformation journey a major milestone. We automated registration and engagement processes, integrated augmented reality and live streaming technologies, and revolutionised the experience for both visitors and participants.
EW – Which events or partnerships best represent the innovation and impact your organisation brings to the events industry? There are several. At the forefront is the Halal Products Exhibition, a global platform that bridges innovation in the halal sector with commercial and cultural exchange.
Equally significant is BIOFACH Saudi Arabia, the regional edition of the world-renowned organic products exhibition series. It reflects our commitment to bringing international experiences to the Saudi market while adapting them to suit the local environment and needs.
In addition, the Disability Support Exhibition, organised in strategic partnership with the Authority for the Care of Persons with Disabilities, stands as the largest event of its kind in Saudi Arabia.
22 Issue 6 2025 www. exhibitionworld. co. uk