RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Fiera Milano, Italy’s premier trade fair and congress sector leader and one of the top operators globally, today proudly announced Host Arabia, in partnership with Semark, a Saudi leader in event organization for the Food Service sector. This launch took place during Horeca 2024, the biggest international food, beverage & hospitality exhibition happening in Saudi Arabia, with the esteemed presence of Italy’s ambassador in the kingdom, Mr. Carlo Baldocci.
Set to launch in Riyadh in 2026, the new trade fair Host Arabia will introduce to Saudi Arabia the successful format of HostMilano – the world’s foremost exhibition for professional hospitality, out-of-home, and retail sectors.
Amidst Vision 2030’s ambitious framework, Saudi Arabia is undergoing a significant transformation with extensive investments in infrastructure and tourism expansion. The Kingdom plans to construct over 300,000 new hotel rooms and welcome 150 million tourists by 2030, marking it as a key player in the global hospitality market.
Francesco Conci, CEO and General Manager of Fiera Milano, commented, “This project marks the beginning of a new growth phase for the Group, focused on global expansion and enhancing our portfolio in high-potential markets, as outlined in our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. We aim to further establish ourselves as an incubator of innovation and a hub for business growth, extending the reach of our exhibitions to the world’s leading economic arenas.
The Saudi professional hospitality market offers unique opportunities, with import values for HostMilano sectors rising to 456 million euros in 2023 and expected to reach approximately 600 million euros by 2027. Host Arabia aims to capitalize on this potential and reaffirms our ability to anticipate trends and promote Made in Italy in an increasingly competitive international context, expanding the scope of our exhibitions to key markets.”
The collaboration with Semark, part of the prestigious Al Rajhi Group, provides a solid foundation for the success of Host Arabia, thanks to the Saudi partner’s extensive experience in organizing high-profile events aligned with the ambitions of Vision 2030.
Jad Taktak, CEO of Semark, stated, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Fiera Milano on Host Arabia. For the past 15 years, our ‘Saudi HORECA’ exhibition has led the region in showcasing food, beverage, and hospitality services. This partnership with Fiera Milano is poised to elevate the hospitality exhibition standard in Saudi Arabia, setting the stage for the largest hospitality gathering in the Kingdom and uniting the most influential players from around the world to explore opportunities and showcase the latest industry trends.”
