Bahrain Exhibition World Welcomes 3 Million Visitors and Hosts 250 Events in Four Years

Bahrain hosts the UFI Global Congress for the first time, bringing together international industry leaders, as Exhibition World Bahrain records 103 international events since opening in November 2022.

Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB) has welcomed approximately three million visitors and hosted 250 events, including 103 international events, since its opening in November 2022 through the end of October 2026, according to figures announced by Bahrain's tourism authorities during the 93rd UFI Global Congress.

The congress officially opened on November 3 at Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir, as part of a programme running from November 2 to 5, marking the Kingdom's first time hosting this major annual gathering of the global exhibitions industry.

Organised by the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), the congress is hosted by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) and Exhibition World Bahrain.

The event brings together executives from exhibition organising companies, convention centre operators, and specialised service providers representing international markets.

Its programme addresses the evolution of exhibition business models, artificial intelligence applications, economic challenges, and strategies for improving the experience of exhibitors and visitors.

Among the speakers is Lord Stephen Carter, Chief Executive Officer of Informa Group, one of the world's leading international exhibition and events companies.

Fatima bint Jaffar Al Sairafi, Bahrain's Minister of Tourism, said Exhibition World Bahrain had welcomed approximately three million visitors over the past four years, reflecting the venue's operational activity since its opening.

Sara Ahmed Buhiji, Chief Executive Officer of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority and Chairperson of Exhibition World Bahrain, confirmed that the venue had hosted 250 events, including 103 international events.

Exhibition World Bahrain covers a total area of approximately 309,000 square metres and features ten exhibition halls offering 95,000 square metres of exhibition space, alongside dedicated conference and meeting facilities.

The Minister of Tourism noted that the global exhibitions industry generates an estimated USD 444 billion in economic activity and supports approximately 4.3 million jobs, according to international industry data.

These figures highlight the sector's role in facilitating trade, connecting businesses with buyers, and supporting services associated with exhibitions and major events.

Hosting the UFI Global Congress provides Bahrain with an opportunity to demonstrate its capabilities in organising international events to companies and decision-makers responsible for selecting exhibition and conference destinations.

The reported figures are significant because they document the scale of activity at Exhibition World Bahrain over four years.

However, they do not independently establish how many international tourists visited the Kingdom, how much they spent, or the impact of these events on hotel occupancy.

Measuring the actual tourism contribution of the exhibitions sector requires additional data on international attendees, hotel room nights, and visitor expenditure associated with hosted events.