The UAE has won the membership of the Board of Directors of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, for a second time in a row. The UAE was re-elected during recent board elections held at the association’s headquarters in Paris.

The UAE’s election to the Board of Directors was a result of the re-election of Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Executive Chairman of Expo Centre Sharjah, as a member of the board for three more years. This follows his election in 2015 as Chairman of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry for the Middle East and Africa.

Al Midfa expressed his delight at his re-election, saying it represents recognition of the UAE’s efforts to benefit the industry, develop it further and enhance its competitiveness. He added that the win is a recognition of the UAE in general and the Expo Centre Sharjah in particular, for its great role and leadership in the region’s exhibition industry.

Established in 1925 in Italy, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry aims to promote and support the commercial interests of its members in the exhibition industry. The association is represented by approximately 50,000 employees across the global exhibition sector and has 740 member organisations from 85 countries.

Kai Hattendorf, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry congratulated Al Midfa on his re-election to the board, saying that he looked forward to working with him in his new position, and to his continued contributions as an active member of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry’s ​​Board of Directors.

Over the past few years, the UAE has made significant strides in the exhibition industry and has become a leading regional and global destination. The industry contributes to supporting the national economy and enhancing the growth of other related sectors such as tourism, hospitality and business. The volume of investment in the UAE’s exhibition and conference sector is estimated at AED36.7 billion, according to reports from the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the UAE.