The first-ever International MICE Summit (IMS24) is happening from December 15 to 17 at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It has sparked transformative changes in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, with 19 key announcements made on a dynamic opening day, introducing major new exhibitions to Saudi Arabia.
Global event giants, including RX Global, Messe Munich, and Clarion, revealed plans to open new offices in Saudi Arabia, supporting the Kingdom’s ambitious event expansion goals over the next decade.
On the opening day of the International MICE Summit, three of the world’s leading Professional Exhibition Organizations (PEOs) revealed plans to open offices and begin operations in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant milestone. These announcements also include the launch of 12 new events set to begin in 2025. The summit, gathering 1,000 global event leaders from over 70 countries, is focused on shaping the future of the MICE industry.
In addition to announcing office and event launches, four Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were signed with key organizations, including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Saudi Tourism Authority, the Events Investment Fund, and the National Events Center.
Day One speakers included HE Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Saudi Minister of Tourism, along with former prime ministers and ministers from the United Kingdom, Italy, Bulgaria, and Greece. Also addressing the summit were leaders from the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, the International Congress and Convention Association, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, as well as executives from major organizations such as Informa, RX Global, Messe Munich, Clarion Events, Messe Düsseldorf, and Richard Attias & Associates.
IMS24 continues on Monday with a focus on driving investment in the MICE sector, creating the event venues of the future, and tackling global sustainability challenges within the industry. The summit has attracted over 1,000 MICE leaders from more than 70 countries to Riyadh.
