FESPA Middle East has announced that its 2027 edition will be held from 27–29 April 2027 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), bringing together the speciality print, signage, visual communication and textile decoration industries.
The event dates were finalised following consultations with industry stakeholders across the Middle East and North Africa. The revised schedule reflects current market conditions and aims to provide the regional print and visual communications community with an opportunity to connect with suppliers, distributors and buyers while exploring the latest technologies, ideas and business strategies.
Bazil Cassim, Regional Manager, Middle East & Africa, FESPA, said: “The decision to host FESPA Middle East 2027 in April at the Dubai World Trade Centre was made in close consultation with industry leaders, exhibitors and partners across the region. The response was clear: the industry is focused on the future and wants a platform that supports business growth, knowledge sharing and meaningful commercial engagement.
“Dubai World Trade Centre provides the ideal location for our event, and the new dates allow us to create the strongest possible environment for exhibitors and visitors to reconnect, discover new opportunities and accelerate growth. We see this as a positive step for the entire speciality printing and signage sector and an important investment in the region’s future.”
The announcement follows the 2026 edition, which welcomed 3,593 visitors from 72 countries and featured more than 150 global brands. The exhibition attracted senior decision-makers from across the GCC, the wider MENA region and international markets. It also hosted 31 educational sessions led by 21 international experts, covering a range of business and technology topics.
Education will continue to be a key part of FESPA Middle East 2027, with conference sessions focused on market trends, business insights, practical case studies and strategies to help print and signage businesses improve operations and adapt to industry changes.
The 2026 conference programme explored topics including leadership, sustainability, automation, artificial intelligence, workflow optimisation and business transformation. Recordings and highlights from selected sessions remain available on the event website, and these themes will continue to inform the 2027 conference agenda.
FESPA also continues its global research initiatives through the FESPA Print Census 2026, which highlights trends affecting the industry. The Sustainability Report found that while many businesses recognise the importance of sustainability, fewer have translated those ambitions into measurable outcomes or clear customer communication strategies.
The Automation Report noted that businesses increasingly view automation as important for improving efficiency and protecting margins, although smaller companies often delay implementation because of budget and resource limitations. Meanwhile, the Artificial Intelligence Report found growing interest in AI technologies but also identified uncertainty around adoption, highlighting the need for practical implementation guidance.
These findings support the role of FESPA Middle East as a platform that combines technology showcases, educational content and industry insights through its exhibition, conference sessions and year-round knowledge-sharing initiatives.
With 76% of visitors attending from the GCC and the remaining 24% travelling from international markets, the exhibition continues to connect regional businesses with global suppliers, technology providers and industry experts.
Cassim concluded: “FESPA is unique because we are a not-for-profit organisation that exists to support the global speciality print community. Every event, every educational programme and every research initiative is designed to help printers, sign-makers and visual communication specialists build stronger, more sustainable and more profitable businesses.
“In the Middle East and North Africa, there is a tremendous appetite for knowledge, innovation and collaboration. FESPA Middle East 2027 will bring together world-class experts, industry leaders and technology innovators to create an environment where businesses can learn, connect and prepare for the future. As the industry continues to evolve, our role is to ensure the community has access to the latest technology and the insight and expertise needed to thrive.”
