IAAPA has revealed its plans for a new trade show covering the Middle East amusements and attractions sector.
IAAPA Expo Middle East will be held in Abu Dhabi in 2026 and will move around the region year-on-year.
Its first staging will be at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi on March 30, 2026 and will run until April 2.
The news was announced at a press conference at Hotel Nhow Amsterdam, the Netherlands, last night, next to RAI Amsterdam where IAAPA Expo Europe begins today.
Speaking at the event, IAAPA Expo president and CEO Jakob Wahl called it a “huge chapter for IAAPA” and said that the Middle East was “one of the fastest growing regions in the world” for amusements and entertainment.
The prospect of an IAAPA Middle East show was forecast in InterGame as far back as last March. The news was confirmed at a press conference held on Monday evening as the European industry gathered in Amsterdam for the IAAPA Europe trade show.
The establishing of a Middle East exhibition effectively fills a gap in the world’s geography for the US-based trade association.
It already has its flagship trade show in Orlando in November, but also has a European show and a Far East exhibition.
The Middle East was the last obviously potentially expanding region for the wider amusement industry.
The organisation said that it was responding to requests from exhibitors, operators and other members to bring a world-class event with a strong education programme, networking events and backstage experiences to the region.
The Middle East already has two strong events for the amusement industry with the DEAL exhibition in Dubai and the SEA trade show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, scheduled in 2025 for March and May, respectively.
The IAAPA trade show is positioned between the two, assuming that the Dubai and Riyadh shows will be staged at similar dates to 2025, making three big shows in a three-month period for the international community to choose between.
IAAPA’s presentation for its plans accented Abu Dhabi’s advanced attractions industry which includes SeaWorld, Wild Wadi and other major entertainment venues.
President Jakob Wahl said: “This region is experiencing tremendous growth and innovation, and we are eager to support and elevate the industry here.
"Our expo will provide a platform for networking, learning, and discovering new opportunities.
"We look forward to creating a valuable experience for all attendees and participants and are enthusiastic about hosting the very first edition of this annual event in Abu Dhabi."
