IEG Arabia has been appointed to deliver the World Firefighters Games Expo in Saudi Arabia, adding a major commercial and professional showcase to the global sporting event scheduled for November 2026.The exhibition will run from November 6 to 8 at Dhahran Expo in Al Khobar, during the 16th World Firefighters Games. The wider competition will take place from November 5 to 13 across venues in the Eastern Province, bringing together firefighters, emergency personnel, volunteers and their families from around the world.
IEG Arabia will organise two linked exhibitions covering fire safety and health and fitness. The programme is expected to connect firefighting organisations with manufacturers, technology companies, training providers, fitness specialists and emergency-response experts.
The Fire and Safety Expo will feature equipment and systems used in prevention, detection, suppression, rescue and incident management. Organisers plan to showcase firefighting vehicles, protective clothing, breathing apparatus, communications technology, smart alarms, emergency medical products and digital command platforms.
A parallel Health and Fitness Expo will focus on physical conditioning, recovery, nutrition and occupational wellbeing. Firefighters face demanding working environments involving extreme heat, heavy protective equipment, disrupted sleep and exposure to hazardous substances. The exhibition is therefore being positioned as both a commercial event and a platform for professional knowledge exchange.
More than 5,000 firefighters and family members from over 60 countries are expected to attend the Games, with competitors taking part in more than 50 sporting and firefighting disciplines. The programme includes conventional athletic contests alongside specialist events such as vehicle extrication, high-angle rescue, stair runs, fire-truck challenges and firefighter fitness competitions.
The appointment expands Italian Exhibition Group’s presence in Saudi Arabia through its local subsidiary, IEG Events Arabia. The listed exhibition and conference organiser operates internationally through offices, subsidiaries and partnerships across Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Asia.
IEG has been building its Saudi portfolio as the country increases investment in exhibitions, sports, entertainment, tourism and business events. Its activities in the kingdom include fitness and wellness exhibitions, sectors that overlap with the physical-performance component of the World Firefighters Games.
Italian Exhibition Group chief executive Corrado Peraboni said the partnership reflected the company’s ambition to expand internationally and strengthen its position in strategic growth markets. He said the project would combine international exhibition expertise with the development of Saudi Arabia’s events industry.
IEG Arabia’s mandate is expected to cover exhibitor recruitment, commercial partnerships, visitor engagement and the operational delivery of the expo. The organiser will also seek participation from international suppliers looking to enter or expand within the Gulf’s fire protection, civil defence and workplace-safety markets.
Demand for advanced fire and emergency systems is growing across the region as governments develop airports, industrial zones, tourism destinations, residential districts and large entertainment venues. Energy facilities, petrochemical operations and logistics centres also require specialised protection equipment and trained emergency teams.
Dhahran Expo offers a strategically important setting for the event. The venue lies within the Dammam metropolitan area, close to major energy and industrial operations in the Eastern Province. Its location allows exhibitors to engage with firefighting professionals as well as potential buyers from oil and gas, construction, transport, manufacturing and public safety agencies.
The World Firefighters Games were first held in Auckland in 1990. The international event combines competition with professional fellowship and is open to serving and retired firefighters, emergency personnel and eligible participants from related services.
Saudi Arabia secured hosting rights for the 2026 edition through Aramco, which is leading preparations for the Games. Sporting events and ceremonies will be spread across sites including Dhahran Expo, Aramco facilities and other venues around Al Khobar and Dammam.
The expo will occupy the opening phase of the nine-day Games, allowing exhibitors to reach participants before much of the sporting programme is completed. Demonstrations, product displays and professional discussions are expected to run alongside competitions and community activities.
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