Expo Centre Sharjah, Messe Essen explore strategic cooperation

January 14, 2026 / 6:11 PM

Sharjah 24: Expo Centre Sharjah discussed opportunities for strategic collaboration with Germany’s Messe Essen during the 21st edition of the SteelFab metalworking exhibition. Messe Essen organises SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN—the Essen Cutting and Welding Fair, one of Europe’s leading trade shows for the welding and joining industries.

Meeting between leadership teams

The discussions took place during a meeting between His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, and Oliver P. Kuhrt, CEO of Messe Essen, coinciding with the German delegation’s participation in SteelFab 2026. Both parties explored ways to enhance cooperation between SteelFab and the Essen Cutting and Welding Fair.

Focus on specialised industrial platforms

The talks focused on developing specialised international platforms to drive growth and innovation in industrial exhibitions, strengthening their role in supporting the steel and metalworking sector amid rapid global and regional industry changes.

Expo Centre Sharjah highlights SteelFab’s strategic role

His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Midfa emphasised potential avenues for collaboration with the Essen Cutting and Welding Fair to advance the metalworking sector. He highlighted SteelFab’s role as a strategic platform fostering steel industry development and supply chain integration.

“Our partnership with leading German industry players strengthens SteelFab’s value proposition, drives industrial innovation, and attracts foreign investment. It also broadens Expo Centre Sharjah’s international partnerships and offers global companies an effective platform to showcase their cutting-edge technologies and products, thereby boosting the competitiveness of the UAE’s steel and metalworking sector,” he said.

Messe Essen praises SteelFab

Oliver P. Kuhrt lauded SteelFab as the leading trade show for metal and steel processing in the Middle East and North Africa. He described it as a strategic partner to Messe Essen’s Cutting and Welding Fair and noted that the exhibition’s success reflects both economic dynamism and international confidence in Expo Centre Sharjah.

Kuhrt also emphasised plans to leverage combined expertise to develop smart solutions empowering steel manufacturers and facilitating their transition to automation and AI technologies.

SteelFab 2026 Exhibition overview

Organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with support from the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), SteelFab 2026 runs until January 15. The exhibition brings together over 600 local and global brands, including 350 exhibitors from 35 countries, to showcase the latest innovations in the steel and metalworking industry.