This summary will describe present and future of the exhibition industry in some countries all over the world. By the experts’ estimations, the world’s exhibition business is developing fast. Recently the UFI developed the Research activities focusing on the “hardware” of the Exhibition Industry.

As it was concluded, by year 2010 there will be a minimum of 1,104 venues (with a minimum of 5,000 sqm of indoor exhibition space) totalising 31.1 million sqm of indoor exhibition space.

For now, Europe and North America followed by Asia offer the highest venues capacities, with respectively 44%, 34% and 12% of the total number of venues, and 52%, 26% and 14% of the total indoor exhibition space.

The exhibition space will expand in the coming years, with an overall development estimated at 3.5 million sqm identified for the 2007-2010 period (+13% with 2006) for a total expenditure estimated at around 13.5 billion € (18.7 billion US$)3. This level can be considered as a minimum, since some projects, for which space details or deadlines were not fully validated, were not taken into account.

The exhibition space is still expanding, proving the strength of the exhibition industry. However, the overall 2006-2010 rhythm of development (13% anticipated at this stage) may be less significant than it has been in the recent years. The Western European countries and the US are still developing their capacities, whereas some market adjustments will happen in Asia and Central & Eastern Europe, where some current obvious under capacity situations are about to disappear, or diminish. Russia and Moscow especially, will become an important player.

The Middle East region is booming, with a global space increase of 38%, which will also lead to an average size of venues getting close to the ones in Europe or Asia.

These trends also tend to prove the existence of a fierce competition, both locally and internationally, with a “development race” often justified by operators with:
- the need to enlarge facilities to keep the growing shows from moving;
- the growing awareness by local authorities of the benefits of the industry, both in terms of
direct and indirect economic impact; and
- the coexistence of various economic models and financial expectations.

Next you will find the summaries of the exhibition business in some countries all over the world, such as: The Middle East and Africa, India, GCC and Ukraine.