Sheikh Khaled opens SteelFab 2026 with 600 brands from 35 nations

January 12, 2026 / 4:23 PM

Sharjah24: Sheikh Khaled bin Abdullah bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority, inaugurated the 21st edition of SteelFab 2026, the Middle East and North Africa’s largest exhibition for the metalworking and steel fabrication industries, on Monday. The event is being held at Expo Centre Sharjah and will run until 15 January.

Organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SteelFab 2026 brings together more than 600 leading local and international brands, with 350 exhibitors from 35 countries. The exhibition spans 25,000 square metres and features companies from the UAE, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Turkey, India, Taiwan, and Thailand, alongside prominent regional enterprises.

Tour of exhibition and key technologies

During his tour, Sheikh Khaled bin Abdullah Al Qasimi met with exhibitors and corporate representatives and was briefed on the latest products and technologies for the steel and iron industries. The exhibition showcases advanced innovations in steel fabrication, metal forming, welding technologies, laser cutting systems, and AI-powered manufacturing robots, with live demonstrations.

Officials in attendance and sector importance

Accompanying Sheikh Khaled were His Excellency Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI and Expo Centre Sharjah; His Excellency Waleed AbdelRahman Bukhatir, Second Vice Chairman of SCCI; His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah; and several senior officials and industry stakeholders. Sheikh Khaled praised the efforts behind SteelFab, emphasising its role as a strategic platform that enables manufacturers and suppliers to expand their presence in regional and global markets and reinforces Sharjah’s position as a hub for specialised international exhibitions.