Messe München will be holding its first-ever trade fair in KSA in 2026 with IFAT, the trade fair for environmental technologies. A memorandum of understanding was signed in late January with the National Center for Waste Management (MWAN) in KSA.
The trade fair, the 13th in the IFAT stable, will be held at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center from January 26 to 28, 2026, and will bring together the key players in waste, water and various environmental technologies from the Middle East and North Africa region.
"Strong and successful international business also secures the economic future of our trade fairs in Munich," explained Messe München Co-CEOs Stefan Rummel and Dr Reinhard Pfeiffer.
"We see great potential in Saudi Arabia and are looking forward to the first IFAT in the Middle East."
The trade fair is an important part of the KSA government's Vision 2030 programme, through which it is investing more heavily in the sustainable development of the economy. This development offers great growth potential for environmental technologies and the circular economy.
Goals include 91% source segregated waste, 79% of waste prepared for recycling and 90% diversion from landfills by 2040. For the water sector, desalinating seawater, expanding water networks and building wastewater treatment plants and associated infrastructure to meet national needs are all being accomplished while ensuring the sustainable extraction and consumption of this valuable resource, and protecting the natural environment of the Kingdom.