Results of the 37th edition of UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry’s flagship Global Exhibition Barometer report show a limited impact of the current situation in the Middle East, with only 14% of companies globally, and 10% outside the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), reporting a strong negative effect on business at the time of the survey.
“Our barometer indicates that there is no real evidence of a significant knock-on effect from the current Middle East disruption outside the GCC, and positive trends remain around the world, despite concerns about the state of national economies in some locations,” the report claimed.
“Within the GCC, there is an understandable impact from the conflict, but the situation has positively evolved since our survey, and we are confident that the industry will bounce back quickly,” commented Chris Skeith OBE, managing director and CEO at UFI.
Other global results of the survey, which concluded in June 2026, indicate that 27% of companies expect revenue growth above 5% annually, while 38% anticipate stable revenues.
The most pressing business issue in the short term remains ‘State of the economy in home market’ (19%), while ‘Global economic developments’ ranks first for the mid-term (18%).
Global AI adoption in the exhibition industry is steadily increasing, with 91% of companies now reporting the use of AI, a 4% increase from six months earlier.
This latest edition of UFI’s bi-annual industry report is based on data from 466 companies in 59 countries and regions. The study includes outlooks and analyses for 20 focus countries and regions, as well as five additional aggregated regional zones. It also segments global results for organisers, venues and service providers/suppliers whenever this is relevant.
Rented space
Globally, 26% of respondents expect an increase in activity in their home market of more than 5% year on year in 2026, while 38% expect activity to remain stable (+/- 5%). In contrast, 21% anticipate a decrease of more than 5%, and 14% remain uncertain.
As anticipated due to the situation in the Middle East, those results appear more cautious than those declared six months ago, when 44% of respondents were expecting an increase in activity of more than 5% (18% more), 41% stability (3% more), while 8% were anticipating a decrease (13% less) of more than 5%. Uncertainty has increased, with 7% of respondents unable to answer (7% less).
Operating profit
In terms of operating profits, the results show a generally positive performance in 2025, with 37% of companies reporting an increase in operating profit of more than 10% and a further 50% indicating stable profits.
At the time of the survey, companies appeared more cautious about their profit expectations for 2026. While 19% expected operating profits to increase by more than 10%, a majority (54%) anticipated stable profits.
The 37th Global Exhibition Barometer report was conducted in collaboration with 33 associations.
The full Barometer survey results can be downloaded at www.ufi.org/knowledge-hub.
The next UFI Global Exhibition Barometer survey will be conducted in December 2026.
Source: www.exhibitionworld.co.uk
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