FESPA Middle East Expo To Showcase Latest Industry Trends In Dubai, January 2025

FESPA Middle East, a key event for senior decision-makers and trade professionals in the print, textile, and signage industries, is set to return to the Dubai Exhibition Centre from 20th to 22nd January 2025. The event follows a highly successful inaugural edition earlier this year.

According to Mordor Intelligence, the GCC digital printing market is projected to reach US$1.16 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 8.93 percent over the next five years. Additionally, Research and Markets reported that the global printing industry was valued at $357 billion in 2023 and is expected to surpass $443 billion by 2028.

The FESPA Print Census, updated in 2023, showed that print service providers experienced an average revenue increase of 7 percent since 2018. This data was collected from 1,788 respondents across 120 countries, covering various sectors including sign and display businesses, screen printers, commercial printers, textile and garment printing specialists, and packaging printers.

One notable trend identified by FESPA is the rising demand for eco-friendly products and practices. Approximately 72 percent of print buyers are actively seeking environmentally sustainable products or those produced using green processes. Other significant trends include faster turnarounds, increased personalisation, and shorter print runs.

The first FESPA Middle East event in January 2024 attracted over 150 brand exhibitors and more than 3,000 visitors over three days. Participants hailed from diverse countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, Türkiye, Iran, and Tanzania.

Bazil Cassim, Regional Manager (Middle East and Africa) at FESPA stated: "As an inaugural event, FESPA Middle East was extremely well received. On average, exhibitors expected to generate over one million dollars in new sales; we had a 92 percent satisfaction rate with the event; and 85 percent believe that the show is now an important part of their marketing strategy."

Cassim added that this success provides a strong foundation for building FESPA Middle East into a prominent event for regional printers and sign makers. The event aims to present industry professionals with new technologies and products while offering access to high-quality educational content and networking opportunities.

The positive business outlook highlighted by the FESPA Print Census reflects a resilient industry despite economic challenges posed by the pandemic. The data underscores growth across various printing sectors globally.

The upcoming FESPA Middle East promises to be a significant platform for showcasing advancements in printing technology and sustainable practices. It will also serve as a hub for knowledge sharing among industry professionals.

With inputs from WAM