FESPA Middle East, the region’s premier event for the global specialty print and signage industries, has demonstrated significant momentum by recording an 8% increase in visitor attendance compared to its debut in 2024. Held from January 20th to 22nd at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, the event attracted over 3,400 visits from more than 2,700 industry professionals representing 80 countries—a record-setting turnout that underscores the event’s growing importance.
Global Attendance and International Participation
The event, officially inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Hasher bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, served as a melting pot of international talent and industry expertise. High-level decision makers and professionals from key markets, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, India, China, and beyond, converged in Dubai to explore the latest advancements in the print and signage sectors. Over 100 exhibiting companies—an 8% increase from last year—showcased their innovative products, while more than 200 global brands added to the dynamic mix on display. This surge in participation reflects the region’s expanding influence and the increasing demand for cutting-edge solutions among print service providers, sign-makers, visual communication experts, and textile professionals.
Emerging Technological Trends and Product Launches
One of the standout features of this year’s FESPA Middle East was the spotlight on technological innovation. Among the emerging trends was the rising popularity of direct-to-film (DTF) technology, which is revolutionizing the way designs are printed directly onto films and then transferred to various substrates. In addition, the exhibition showcased advanced additive manufacturing and 3D printing solutions. Notable product launches included the industrial-grade Massivit 3D printer, which promises to transform production processes in the automotive, marine, and railway sectors, and the Kornit Digital Textile Printers, a single-step solution that streamlines direct-to-fabric printing. Furthermore, Yaslan’s Super Wide format printer—a 5.5-meter wide UV printer capable of double-sided printing—proved to be a major attraction, setting new benchmarks for printing performance and versatility.
Conferences, Competitions, and Sustainability Initiatives
Complementing the exhibition floor was an extensive, free three-day conference programme that provided valuable insights into the future of the industry. The FESPA Leadership Exchange (FLEX) brought together prominent figures from the print and signage sectors to discuss business intelligence, emerging technologies, personalization, and sustainability. Esteemed speakers, including Richard Askam (the creative mind behind Coca-Cola’s Share a Coke campaign), Professor George Simonian, Amit Radia, Prasanna Naidu, Gianmauro Vella, and Kumail Khalfan, offered perspectives that resonated with the diverse audience, sparking robust discussions about the future direction of the industry.
Adding an element of competition and creative flair to the event was the World Wrap Masters competition. This international series, which sees 16 competitors from various parts of the world, culminated in a thrilling contest where Czech competitor Vit Simek emerged as the Middle East champion. Simek’s victory now propels him to represent the region at the final round of the competition at the FESPA Global Print Expo in Berlin, scheduled for May.
Sustainability also featured prominently at FESPA Middle East. The Sustainability Spotlight stand attracted a broad array of champions from both government and semi-government entities in the UAE, as well as industry professionals committed to greener practices. This initiative highlighted the latest sustainable products and showcased a series of informative sessions aimed at outlining a path toward a greener future for the print and signage sectors.
Networking and Collaborative Opportunities
Another significant highlight of the event was the FESPA ASEAN meeting, which provided a dedicated forum for members of the Asian Association. Representatives from Australia, Japan, Thailand, Korea, India, Nepal, and China engaged in discussions about the latest market trends and explored collaborative opportunities that could drive the industry forward. The networking sessions were a testament to FESPA’s ability to unite diverse markets and foster international cooperation in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
Exhibitors expressed their satisfaction with the event’s ability to keep them abreast of the latest technological developments and market trends. “If you want to be aware of all the new and most important innovations in digital print, then you definitely need to go to FESPA Middle East,” stated Danna Drion, General Manager Marketing at Mimaki. This sentiment was echoed by Mehdi Berrada-Baby, Managing Director of Icon Digital, who noted, “Our experience with FESPA has always been fantastic. FESPA Middle East 2025 has improved on the inaugural event, and we believe that it will continue to grow. It’s the most professional organization for specialty printing exhibitions.”
As a global federation of associations for the digital printing, textile, and screen printing communities, FESPA has reinvested over US$9 million into the printing industry worldwide since 2015 through its Profit for Purpose programme. This reinvestment further solidifies its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and industry growth.
Looking forward, FESPA Middle East is set to return from January 13th to 15th, 2026, at the Dubai Exhibition Centre. With each edition, the event continues to set new standards for industry collaboration, technological advancement, and sustainable growth in the global print and signage sectors.
