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Exhibitions 9 min readMay 1, 2026
Hosting an event in Saudi Arabia: a 2026 playbook
S
Sara Al-Dosari
The Journal
Permits, venues, hospitality partners and everything else you wish someone told you upfront.
The fastest growing event market in the world is also one of the most exciting — here's how to make the most of it without stumbling over the fundamentals. Start with a local destination management company (DMC), line up your venue through the Saudi Conventions & Exhibitions General Authority portal, and build a 10-week runway for approvals. Hospitality partners in Riyadh and Jeddah can absorb 40,000+ room nights; anchor your ancillary programme around adjacent cultural moments to stretch attendee stays.
