Qatar’s expanding events industry is gaining momentum with the launch of the second edition of the Qatar Event Show, taking place this week at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. The event aims to provide a dedicated platform that fosters connections between industry professionals, attracts international expertise, and generates new business opportunities.
The Qatar Event Show was created by Mangosteen Middle East, led by founder and CEO Malek Shishtawi. The concept originated from Qatar’s experience in hosting major international sporting and entertainment events such as the FIFA World Cup, Asian Games, Arab Cup, and FIBA tournaments. According to Shishtawi, the country had a notable gap in having a central forum for event industry professionals despite its growing prominence as a global host for large-scale events.
The initial edition of the show launched last year to unite companies, specialists, and event professionals under one roof. This year’s expanded edition not only continues to showcase local and regional companies but also emphasizes facilitating dialogue on the industry’s challenges and opportunities, encouraging collaboration, and promoting knowledge exchange. The event also serves as a bridge for international firms looking to enter the Qatari market and for local businesses to explore opportunities abroad.
Following positive feedback from the first edition, organizers broadened the exhibition and its content program to include a wider mix of participants from Qatar, the wider Middle East, and worldwide. Shishtawi noted the enthusiasm shown by attendees and local companies, many of whom expressed appreciation for the platform’s establishment.
A significant addition to this year’s show is the inaugural Qatar Events Awards, designed to recognize achievements across categories including venues, suppliers, and agencies. The awards seek to provide credible acknowledgment to an industry that has developed rapidly in Qatar but previously lacked a formal mechanism for celebrating its progress. Organizers emphasized the selection of a diverse and independent jury to ensure fairness in the award process.
The show also features participation by prominent international and regional bodies such as UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry), the Dubai World Trade Centre, Oman Convention Bureau, and representatives from Saudi Arabia’s exhibitions and conferences sector. Their involvement underscores Qatar’s growing integration into the global events industry network.
Held under the patronage of HE Saad bin Ali al-Kharji, chairman of Qatar Tourism and Visit Qatar’s Board of Directors, the event reflects the country’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its reputation as a leading host of major international events. Shishtawi underscored the ambition to continue expanding and improving the platform to match Qatar’s evolving status in the global events market.