The UAE has been selected to the Board of Directors at UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry for the second time following an election held in the association’s headquarters in Paris.
This has been announced after Dr. Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah has been officially named a member of the association for the next three years.
Commenting on this achievement Dr. Al Midfa stated that, being re-elected is evidence of trust UFI has placed in the UAE and recognition for the efforts the county’s representatives have put to boost the conference industry.
“It is also in recognition of the pivotal role played by the UAE, Sharjah and Expo Centre Sharjah, in particular, to promote the leadership of the conference and exhibition industry despite the challenges posed by COVID-19,” Dr. Al Midfa added.
The CEO of the Sharjah Expo Centre further assured that he will put his maximum effort in the UFI to enhance the conference industry in the MENA region and will work to find solutions for the current challenges in the sector.
Dr. Saif Mohammed Al Midfa CEO – Expo Centre Sharjah
“UFI directly represents more than 50,000 exhibition industry employees globally and works closely with its 60 national and regional association members. More than 800 member organizations in 83 countries around the world are presently signed up as members. Around 1,000 international trade fairs proudly bear the UFI approved label, a quality guarantee for visitors and exhibitors alike.”
The president of UFI, Mary Larkin said that the organization is hoping to receive more support from its members and to further highlight the role of UFI in representing the industry globally.
Further Ms. Larkin remarked about the growth the UAE has made in the industry over the past years. The country has emerged as a prominent destination for both regional as well as global conferences and exhibitions that support the national economy and boost other sectors like tourism, hospitality and business.
Dr. Al Midfa played a key role in the development of the Expo Center Sharjah, which became a member of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry in 2009. Currently, he is chairing the Board of Directors of the Arab Union for International Exhibitions and Conferences (AUIEC).
