AI-Powered Digital Twin Enables Continuous Engagement At SteelFab 2026 In The UAE

SteelFab 2026 is introducing AI-powered digital exhibition technology to the steel and metal fabrication industry in the UAE and the wider region. The trade show is using a new digital twin platform called AetherEx. The move signals a shift towards data-driven exhibitions, where physical events link directly with long-term online engagement and measurable audience insights.

Organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with backing from the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SteelFab 2026 is using AetherEx to extend exhibitor exposure beyond the event dates. The platform helps companies maintain visibility with international buyers. It also supports continuous engagement with visitors, vendors, and partners across different time zones and markets.

SteelFab 2026 is regarded as the largest metalworking and steel fabrication exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa. The event hosts more than 600 local and international brands and 350 exhibitors from 35 countries. Activities span 25,000 square metres, creating a sizeable marketplace for machinery suppliers, service providers, and industrial buyers from across the region.

The exhibition floor displays a wide range of machinery and production solutions. These include welding and cutting systems, pipe manufacturing lines, and sheet metal processing equipment. Live demonstrations show how advanced metal forming technologies are used in real operations. This approach helps industrial decision-makers compare solutions, assess productivity, and evaluate technology upgrades.

The AetherEx platform allows exhibitors at SteelFab 2026 to create and manage digital booths that mirror their physical stands. Companies can present product catalogues, technical specifications, and service information. They can also communicate with buyers before the show opens, during the event, and after closing, turning visitor interest into longer sales discussions.

The system tracks visitor behaviour and customer sentiment through a central analytics dashboard. Exhibitors can see which products attract more views and which pages drive enquiries. This information helps manufacturers understand market demand, refine their offers, and align future product planning with current trends in regional and global steel fabrication markets.

SteelFab 2026 AI-powered digital exhibition technology and strategic positioning

Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, said the AI-powered digital twin platform represents a key step in SteelFab’s development. According to Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, the initiative supports Expo Centre Sharjah’s strategy to apply advanced tools that improve outcomes for exhibitors and visitors. It also aims to strengthen SteelFab’s status among specialised industrial exhibitions.

"The platform opens new horizons for connection beyond the event timeline, facilitating continuous interaction with clients, buyers, and major manufacturers. This reinforces Sharjah’s position as a regional hub for innovation in the exhibitions and events industry," Al Midfa added.

The digital component extends SteelFab 2026 beyond its physical venue. Global buyers and stakeholders can continue to access stands and content after the show, using the AetherEx environment. This sustained visibility, combined with real-time analytics and live demonstrations, supports better informed business decisions and reinforces Sharjah’s role in the regional steel fabrication value chain.

With inputs from WAM