A new platform for the Gulf’s wellness and safety economy
IEG Arabia, the Middle East subsidiary of Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) and organiser of Dubai Active and Dubai Muscle Show, has secured the mandate to design and stage the Fire & Safety Expo and the Health & Wellness Expo. Both trade fairs will run from 6 to 8 November 2026 at Dhahran Expo in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, as part of the broader 16th World Firefighters Games, taking place from 5 to 13 November 2026.
Organisers expect this edition of the Games to be the largest in the event’s history, drawing more than 7,000 athletes and roughly 200,000 spectators from 70 countries, competing across 56 sports disciplines. The scale of the gathering gives the accompanying expos a built-in audience of professionals, athletes and delegates with a direct stake in occupational health, fitness and emergency-response performance.
Building on a track record in health and fitness events
IEG Arabia already organises some of the largest health, fitness and wellness events in the Middle East, and will draw on that experience and its international exhibitor network to shape the two new fairs. Over three days, the World Firefighters Games Expo will bring together global and regional players active in health, wellness and fitness; functional fitness programmes tailored to firefighters; occupational health and safety; performance and recovery solutions; healthcare technology and innovation; nutrition; and firefighter-specific training and safety initiatives.
Beyond the exhibition floor, the two Expos are designed as a networking and business-development platform for the international firefighting community, supporting product discovery, industrial collaboration and the exchange of best practice on firefighter health and well-being.
Part of a broader push into Saudi Arabia’s exhibition economy
For Italian Exhibition Group, the mandate is a further step in its Middle East expansion and comes as Gulf states build out their exhibition and events infrastructure in support of broader economic diversification goals. “IEG Arabia’s partnership with the World Firefighters Games 2026 reflects our ambition to expand internationally and consolidate our presence in strategic growth markets. The Middle East is a key priority for us, and trade fairs also have an important role to play in supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, creating platforms for investment, knowledge exchange and industry development,” said Corrado Peraboni, CEO of Italian Exhibition Group S.p.A.
Francesco Santa, CEO of IEG Middle East, framed the mandate as a natural extension of the company’s regional focus: “We are honoured to have been chosen to organise the Firefighter Health & Wellness Expo at the World Firefighters Games 2026. It is one of the most important global events for the firefighting community and a platform that aligns with our experience in organising large-scale events dedicated to health, fitness and wellness.” Santa added that the event would bring together leading brands, organisations and innovators to support firefighter health, performance and well-being while fostering industry connections.
What to expect on site
The Expo is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors, industry professionals, athletes and delegates over the course of the Games, showcasing products, services and innovations aimed at improving firefighters’ fitness, endurance, safety and overall quality of life. Preparations are already under way, with IEG Arabia working alongside the World Firefighters Games organisation to deliver what both sides describe as a world-class exhibition experience matching the scale and prestige of the wider event.
