ACHEMA Middle East was officially launched at an executive-level ceremony in Riyadh, Saudia-Arabia, on 18 September 2025, marking the beginning of a new era for the region’s process industries. Organised by DECHEMA in strategic partnership with Messe Frankfurt and supported by the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the launch event brought together senior figures from government, business, and the global scientific community to unveil the strategic direction of the upcoming ACHEMA Middle East 2026, scheduled for 26–28 October 2026 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (RICEC).
As Saudi Arabia fast-tracks its economic transformation, this high-level gathering of government officials, industry leaders, academics, and international partners underscored the alignment between national industrial objectives and ACHEMA’s global legacy of advancing chemical and pharmaceutical engineering, biotechnology, hydrogen, and industrial water management – an alignment that transcends national boundaries of an entire region on the rise.
Accelerating Process Innovation
Held under the theme “Accelerating Process Innovation”, the half-day event provided a powerful platform for dialogue and collaboration among key stakeholders. With tailored sessions and speeches to accelerate Saudi’s process industry, the event offered a rich mix of strategic keynotes on Vision 2030 and industrial transformation, panel discussions with global and regional leaders on localisation, innovation, and investment and interactive roundtables to discuss regional challenges and global opportunities. The event set the stage for the MOU signing ceremonies formalising the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources for ACHEMA Middle East.
The Executive Launch Event reaffirmed ACHEMA Middle East’s commitment to shaping the future of the process industries as well as the life science industry in Saudi-Arabia by enabling sustainable industrial development, promoting localisation of critical supply chains, and attracting international investments to Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing process sectors. Saudi Arabia’s strategic push to build a diversified, knowledge-based economy was a central theme throughout the agenda. From hydrogen ecosystems and biotechnology zones to digital twins and advanced production lines, the event spotlighted the vast opportunities for innovation across sectors such as:
- Chemical processing and engineering
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing and bioprocessing
- Green energy and hydrogen
- Laboratory, analytics and quality control
- Industrial digitalisation and smart plants
ACHEMA Middle East: a strategic evolution
ACHEMA Middle East is the result of a long-standing collaboration between DECHEMA – as organiser of ACHEMA – and Messe Frankfurt, one of the world’s leading exhibition and event organisers. For over a century, ACHEMA has been the epicentre of global process industry innovation. Bringing that legacy to the Middle East, where massive infrastructure investments and rapid industrialisation are underway, marks a pivotal moment for the brand.
“ACHEMA Middle East is not just a regional extension – it’s a strategic evolution,” said Dr Wolfram Stichert, Chairman of DECHEMA. “By bringing ACHEMA to Riyadh, we’re creating a platform where world-class engineering, science, and innovation meet the demands and vision of one of the world’s most ambitious industrial economies. The event will unlock new synergies between global suppliers and regional pioneers, all under the shared banner of transformation and sustainability.”
The strategic partnership with Messe Frankfurt ensures the show benefits from local knowledge, regional networks, and best-in-class operational delivery. “Saudi Arabia is undergoing a once-in-a-generation industrial evolution,” said Azzan Mohammed, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt Saudi Arabia. “We are honoured to play a role in shaping its exhibition landscape, and ACHEMA Middle East will be a flagship example of how international collaboration can empower regional progress. Together with DECHEMA, we are proud to lay the foundation for what will become the region’s most influential gathering of process industry leaders.”
Over 400 exhibitors expected
Scheduled for 26–28 October 2026, ACHEMA Middle East 2026 will be held at Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center in Riyadh. It will feature six innovation themes with specialised stages spanning the entire life science and process industry value chain: Process Innovation, Pharma Innovation, Lab Innovation, Digital Innovation, Green Innovation, Energy Innovation. Over 400 expected exhibitors will join industrial and political leaders, industry experts and visionary thought leaders on the Government-led Sustainable Growth and Investment Leadership Summit as well on six innovation stages packed with insightful presentations, technical case studies, and C-suite panels.
ACHEMA Middle East will serve as an innovation hub, a procurement gateway, and a trigger for technology partnerships across the region. The event is designed to facilitate cross-border collaboration, enable knowledge transfer, and accelerate regional innovation in alignment with Vision 2030, the Circular Carbon Economy framework, and global sustainability goals. With Saudi Arabia continuing to invest heavily in special economic zones, national industrial programmes, and next-generation infrastructure, the Kingdom offers a fertile landscape for businesses ready to lead the transformation of energy, chemicals, manufacturing, and logistics.
