Page 19 - PWM2026_JANUARY EBOOK

PROFILE

How global brands fast-track

Middle East & Africa via SGI Dubai

D SGI Dubai particularly valuable for global exhibitors. A single
ubai’s role as a distribution and partnership gateway makes

exhibition investment can unlock conversations spanning the
UAE and GCC, North Africa, East Africa, and parts of the
Levant and Central Asia markets that, in many cases, prefer to procure
through Dubai-based distributors and regional integrators. This is one of
the reasons SGI Dubai has retained strong pull for international visitors
and buyers - it is often the most efficient route for multi-market access.
“Dubai’s advantage is connectivity—logistics, business confidence,
and regional reach,” added Falaknaz. “SGI Dubai sits at the centre of
that. Global exhibitors are not just selling into one country; they are
building reach across the Middle East and Africa from one platform.”
Market indicators reinforce this direction:

• The Middle East and Africa commercial display market is projected to
expand meaningfully through 2030, as per Grand View Research. SGI Dubai’s authority is reinforced when it offers more than product display
• Africa’s printing market is projected to grow steadily through 2030, as SGI Dubai’s show profile is built around this convergence. In SGI Dubai
per 6Wresearch. 2026, exhibitors and visitors can expect a cross-section spanning:
• Large-format and wide-format printing technologies
• The Middle East and Africa digital signage solutions market is
• Digital textile printing and soft signage
expected to continue growing at a strong pace, as per Straits Research.
• Digital signage, LED systems, and display solutions
One of the clearest measures of SGI Dubai’s international momentum
• 3D printing and additive manufacturing applications
has been the growing diversity of exhibitor origin markets and the
• CNC routing, laser cutting, engraving, and fabrication
increasing importance of country pavilions. Pavilions tend to emerge • Sign-making materials, inks, substrates, and finishing solutions
when two conditions are met - an organiser can demonstrate commer- • Labelling, packaging, coding, and marking systems
cial conversion, and a market can justify sustained participation by clus- • Workflow software, colour management, automation, and emerging arti-
ters of manufacturers. Recent editions have seen new national pavilion ficial intelligence applications
participation and expanded global interest, an indicator that SGI Dubai • Retail display solutions and point-of-sale production ecosystems
is being taken seriously not only as a regional show, but as a global route • Sustainability-oriented innovations across inks, materials, energy usage,
to market. and waste reduction
“SGI Dubai has always been where global innovation meets regional For brands assessing where to invest exhibition budgets in 2026, SGI
opportunity,” Mr. Falaknaz noted. “Our focus for 2026 is to make the Dubai stands out for a simple reason - it is a show where commercial out-
comes are the organising principle. It sits at the intersection of three power-
platform even more international, more diverse in technology, and
ful forces: a region still investing in destination infrastructure and brand
more aligned to what buyers in this region need next.”
environments; an industry evolving through automation and sustainability
For exhibitors, this expansion creates a healthy competitive environ-
pressures; and a buyer base that increasingly values integrated solutions—
ment, more choice for buyers, stronger benchmarking, and higher
print plus display, print plus fabrication, print plus workflow intelligence.
expectations around demonstration quality, service models, and appli- The 29th edition in 2026 arrives at a moment when global manufacturers
cation support. The most effective exhibitions are those that reflect how are rethinking route-to-market strategies and regional growth allocation.
buyers operate in real life. Print businesses and visual communication For those targeting the Middle East and Africa, SGI Dubai is positioning
suppliers are no longer built around one technology lane. They compete itself not just as a place to exhibit, but as the platform where regional
by blending capabilities, wide-format, textile, finishing, display, fabrica- demand becomes measurable opportunity—through distribution relation-
tion, software, and increasingly, automation and data. ships, project pipelines, equipment sales, and long-term market presence.

www.printweekmena.com January 2026 PrintWeek MENA 17