Expo Centre Sharjah sets record with 80 exhibitions, 3m visitors

Expo Centre Sharjah continues its journey of achievements, cementing the emirate’s status as a leading regional and global hub for exhibitions and conferences. It further strengthens the exhibition industry’s role as a key driver of economic diversification and sustainable growth in Sharjah and the UAE.

In 2024, Expo Centre Sharjah, alongside its affiliated centres in Khorfakkan and Al Dhaid, successfully organised and hosted 80 major exhibitions. These events featured extensive international and regional participation from leading companies and renowned brands, attracting nearly 3 million visitors from across the UAE and beyond.

Expo Sharjah’s event portfolio encompassed diverse sectors, including commerce, real estate, manufacturing, and culture. Key highlights included the Sharjah International Book Fair, which recorded a remarkable turnout of 1.82 million visitors, and the Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show, which attracted more than 150,000 visitors and 1,400 exhibitors over two editions.

Other notable events included the Emirates Perfumes and Oud Exhibition, the Sharjah Real Estate Exhibition “ACRES”, the metal working and steel fabrication exhibition “SteelFab”, and numerous other specialised events.

Among the standout exhibitions on Expo Sharjah’s events calendar for the year was the International Education Show, which drew 25,000 visitors and brought together 125 universities and academic institutions from over 20 countries. The Centre also hosted the “Ethraa” Career Fair, dedicated to the financial and banking sector, which featured over 100 entities from the leading banks and financial institutions in the UAE.

Expo Centre Sharjah has demonstrated a proactive commitment to enriching its annual events calendar with innovative exhibitions and specialised events. It has focused on boosting international participation in the events it hosts by strengthening its strategic partnerships at both local and international levels while enhancing its presence at key global events and exhibition industry-related forums.

Strengthening strategic partnerships Expo Centre Sharjah formalised over 10 cooperation agreements with leading regional and global exhibition organisers. Key agreements included a partnership with MIE Events to officially launch the Evolve Future Mobility Show (EFMS), dedicated to promoting electric vehicles (EVs), in 2025 at the Centre.

Additionally, an agreement was inked with the Pakistan-based “Education Scenario International” to enhance the participation of Pakistani universities, colleges and educational institutes in the upcoming edition of the International Education Show (IES).

Expo Sharjah also signed a strategic partnership agreement with Magnati and PayRow Payment, two leading digital payment solutions and service providers.

The agreement aims to deliver cutting-edge payment services for exhibitors and visitors, elevating their overall experience at the Centre’s events and activities.

Enhancing cooperation in the exhibition sector Furthermore, Expo Centre Sharjah welcomed multiple official delegations from around the globe, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance cooperation with specialised entities, diplomatic missions, and official representatives within the exhibition sector.

It hosted a delegation from the Italian exhibition organiser “Artex Group” to discuss avenues for enhancing mutual collaboration and increasing Italian exhibitor participation in future editions of the Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show.

On the sidelines of the SteelFab 2024 exhibition, the Centre also held a meeting with Germany’s Messe Essen to strengthen bilateral cooperation in organising joint events and providing tailored services and benefits for investors and exhibition visitors from both countries.

Successful international participation Expo Sharjah marked over 15 successful participations in key global exhibitions and conferences, showcasing its comprehensive range of services and advantages it offers to exhibitors and visitors alike.

Notable among the global events that Expo Sharjah participated in during the year were the Global Business Forum (GBF) held in Bengaluru, India, in addition to the World Travel Market (WTM) 2024, the EdTech Conference in UK, and Cosmoprof India 2024.

The Centre also made a remarkable appearance at the Global CEO Summit held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and the Global Congress of UFI- The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry held in Cologne, Germany.

Solidifying Sharjah’s position In his remarks,  Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and Chairman of Expo Centre Sharjah, stated that the momentum and remarkable growth witnessed by the Centre mirrors the strength of Sharjah’s economic infrastructure. This strength has solidified the emirate’s position as an ideal destination for hosting international exhibitions and conferences.

He further pointed out that Sharjah’s state-of-the-art infrastructure and integrated logistical services create an optimal environment for hosting large-scale events and accommodating visitors and delegations from across the world.