• Featuring Keynote by Eng. Abdulaziz Al-Ahmadi, Deputy Minister for Industrial Development, Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources
• Backed by ASAS and ICOR – Strategic Arms of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources
• Sets the stage for ACHEMA Middle East 2026 – the region’s most anticipated process industry platform aligned with Vision 2030
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: In a bold step toward transforming the Middle East into a global hub for industrial innovation, ACHEMA Middle East was officially launched at an executive-level ceremony in Riyadh, marking the beginning of a new era for the region’s process industries. Organised by Messe Frankfurt in strategic partnership with DECHEMA, and proudly supported by ASAS and ICOR, both subsidiaries of the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the launch event brought together senior figures from government, business, and the global scientific community to unveil the strategic direction of the upcoming ACHEMA Middle East 2026, scheduled for 26–28 October 2026 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (RICEC).
As Saudi Arabia fast-tracks its economic transformation under Vision 2030, this high-level gathering underscored the alignment between national industrial objectives and ACHEMA’s global legacy of advancing chemical engineering, biotechnology, clean energy, and smart manufacturing. Held under the theme “Accelerating Process Innovation”, the event provided a powerful platform for dialogue and collaboration among key stakeholders and served as the ceremonial launch of what is expected to become the region’s premier platform for the process industries.
The Executive Launch Event reaffirmed ACHEMA Middle East’s commitment to supporting Vision 2030 by enabling sustainable industrial development, promoting localisation of critical supply chains, and attracting international investments to Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing process sectors. Saudi Arabia’s strategic push to build a diversified, knowledge-based economy was a central theme throughout the agenda. From hydrogen ecosystems and biotechnology zones to digital twins and advanced production lines, the event spotlighted the vast opportunities for innovation across sectors such as:
• Chemical processing and engineering
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing and bioprocessing
• Green energy and hydrogen
• Laboratory, analytics and quality control
• Industrial digitalisation and smart plants
By uniting global expertise with Saudi ambitions, ACHEMA Middle East positions the Kingdom as a key gateway between European technology ecosystems and regional industrial demand.
The half-day event was hosted at a landmark venue in Riyadh and attended by an elite delegation of government officials, industry leaders, academics, and international partners. With tailored sessions and speeches to accelerate the Saudi’s process industry, the event offered a rich mix of strategic keynotes on Vision 2030 and industrial transformation, panel discussions with global and regional leaders on localisation, innovation, and investment, MOU signing ceremonies formalising new partnerships and interactive roundtables to discuss regional challenges and global opportunities.
Programme Highlights Included:
• A powerful keynote on “Vision 2030 and the Future of Industry in Saudi Arabia”, showcasing how ACHEMA Middle East will support national development priorities.
• A welcoming address from ACHEMA’s leadership introducing the event’s global credentials and legacy.
• A strategic outlook from Messe Frankfurt, outlining the organiser’s long-term investment in the Kingdom’s exhibitions sector.
• A presentation by the German Saudi Arabian Liaison Office for Economic Affairs (GESALO) on Vision 2030, highlighting the role of international partnerships in driving economic transformation.
• Sector-focused spotlights on chemicals, hydrogen, energy, pharma, and biotech, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to lead in high-value manufacturing.
• A panel discussion titled “What Do Global Companies Need to Succeed in the Middle East?” featuring C-suite leaders and innovation officers.
• A roundtable finale connecting policy, market demand, and innovation ecosystems, tackling the question: What’s next for industrial leadership in the Middle East?
ACHEMA Middle East is the result of a long-standing collaboration between DECHEMA – the organiser of the globally renowned ACHEMA event in Frankfurt – and Messe Frankfurt, one of the world’s leading exhibition and event organisers. For over a century, ACHEMA in Frankfurt has been the epicentre of global process industry innovation. Bringing that legacy to the Middle East, where massive infrastructure investments and rapid industrialisation are underway, marks a pivotal moment for the brand.
“ACHEMA Middle East is not just a regional extension – it’s a strategic evolution,” said Dr. Björn Mathes, CEO of DECHEMA Exhibitions. “By bringing ACHEMA to Riyadh, we’re creating a platform where world-class science, engineering, and innovation meet the demands and vision of one of the world’s most ambitious industrial economies. The event will unlock new synergies between global suppliers and regional pioneers, all under the shared banner of transformation and sustainability.”
The strategic partnership with Messe Frankfurt ensures the show benefits from local knowledge, regional networks, and best-in-class operational delivery.
“Saudi Arabia is undergoing a once-in-a-generation industrial evolution,” said Azzan Mohammed, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt Saudi Arabia. “We are honoured to play a role in shaping its exhibition landscape, and ACHEMA Middle East will be a flagship example of how international collaboration can empower regional progress. Together with DECHEMA, we are proud to lay the foundation for what will become the region’s most influential gathering of process industry leaders.”
Scheduled for 26–28 October 2026, ACHEMA Middle East 2026 will be held at Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center in Riyadh. It will feature: 6 Innovation Themes spanning the entire process industry value chain. Over 400 expected international exhibitors. Six Specialised Innovation Stages including: Process Innovation, Pharma Innovation, Lab Innovation, Digital Innovation, Green Innovation, Energy Innovation. Thought leadership, presentations, technical case studies, and C-suite panels. Government-led Sustainable Growth and Investment Leadership Summit.
ACHEMA Middle East will serve as a knowledge hub, a procurement gateway, and a trigger for technology partnerships across the region. The event is designed to facilitate cross-border collaboration, enable knowledge transfer, and accelerate regional innovation in alignment with Vision 2030, the Circular Carbon Economy framework, and global sustainability goals. With Saudi Arabia continuing to invest heavily in special economic zones, national industrial programmes, and next-generation infrastructure, the Kingdom offers a fertile landscape for businesses ready to lead the transformation of energy, chemicals, manufacturing, and logistics.
The executive launch event concluded with an optimistic tone, as participants echoed the shared belief that the Middle East is entering a new chapter in industrial development. ACHEMA Middle East will not only bring the global process industry to Saudi Arabia – it will also project the Kingdom’s industrial ambitions to the world.
Find out more at: achema-middle-east.comm
