The UFI — The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, relocated its Middle East/ Africa regional office to Sharjah.

Based on a generous three-year agreement, the UFI MEA office has now relocated to host venue Expo Center Sharjah.

The UFI Middle East/Africa Regional Office supports UFI’s members in the region, enabling them to profit from networking opportunities, to develop industry information resources and to implement a variety of education programs.

UFI is the global association of the exhibition industry with member organizations in 85 countries.

Several UAE dignitaries, exhibition industry professionals, and UFI members from the region attended the official opening ceremony in Sharjah.

UFI MEA Chapter Chair Abdul Rahman Al-Nassar, and Vice Chairs Ahmad Baabood and Saif Al-Midfa presided at the ceremony alongside UFI’s Managing Director Paul Woodward and Regional Manager Ibrahim Alkhaldi.

Saif Al-Midfa, CEO, Expo Center Sharjah applauding the move, said: “We are very glad to host the UFI MEA office at Expo Center Sharjah.”

He said: “I would like to thank the Chapter Chair, Abdul Raham Al-Nassar for his efforts in supporting the UFI regional office and his help to relocate it here. I am convinced that the benefits from UFI’s presence, especially with regard to information, networking and education, will continue to serve the business objectives of members throughout the region.”

Ibrahim Alkhaldi said: “We thank our previous hosts in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait for their gracious support which enabled UFI to develop much needed programs and services for the exhibition industry in the region. The work of this UFI office has been much appreciated and we are delighted that our members will benefit from uninterrupted service in the years ahead.”

Recent UFI research shows that the exhibition industry in the Middle East continues to grow.

Since 2006, there has been a 14 percent increase in the number of trade fairs organized and a 21 percent increase in available exhibition space despite the sudden eruption the Arab Spring in 2011 and the major global economic crisis in 2008.

The move to Sharjah comes after ADNEC, Abu Dhabi and KIF, Kuwait hosted the UFI Regional office consecutively for eight years.

Paul Woodward, UFI managing director, commented: “UFI recognizes the great importance of maintaining a base in this region to serve actively the needs of our members in both the Middle East and Africa.”

Woodward said: “We are truly grateful to our Regional Chapter leadership and to the office hosts for the special support they provide us. We look forward to a long and fruitful presence in Sharjah as the exhibition business continues to develop and thrive across the regions we serve from this office.”