Exhibition & Seminars: 18 - 19 August 2026
Sheikh Maktoum Hall, DWTC, UAE
Awards: 20 August 2026
Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
Recognise and celebrate world-class events at the Middle East Event Awards
Awards Ceremony: 20 August 2026 | Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
Join us as we honour and applaud the outstanding achievements of the events and entertainment industry in the Middle East.
THE SHORTLISTED NOMINEES ARE...
Best Arts and Culture Event
- BALICH WONDER STUDIO MENA for HEGRA AFTER DARK
- Emirates Literature Foundation for Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
- Mistika & THEM Global for UAE Ministry of Culture - Al Burda Award 2025
- Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre for Muscat Art - Elements That Build The Story
- People for 54th Eid Al Eithad Celebrations
- SM Pro for Red Sea International Film Festival 2025
- Vision Division for The Incense Road Experience
Best Association / Corporate Meeting
- Expo City Dubai for 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum
- fischerAppelt Middle East for New Global Sport Conference (NGSC)
- Imagination Middle East for TOURISE
- OneMubadala for The Mubadala Fair 2025: An Immersive Corporate Experience
- Pico International Bahrain WLL for 34th Arab Summit
- SAIA Marketing & Corporate Communication Team for Internal Audit Annual Conference 2025
- Sight for TOKEN2049 Dubai
Best Community Event
- Abu Dhabi Sport Council for Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026
- Black Orange Live for Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 Riyadh
- Cre8tivEntertainment for Artist Meet Up
- Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi & Ethara for NBA Abu Dhabi Games & NBA District 2025
- DXB LIVE, Dubai World Trade Centre for Hatta Unites Us by Dubai Community Development Authority
- Global Encounters for GE Festival 2025
Best Employer of the Year less than 100 employees
Best Employer of the Year more than 100 employees
Best Entertainment Production
- A LOUD MINORITY / dragone for TERHAL by dragone 2025
- BALICH WONDER STUDIO MENA for HEGRA AFTER DARK - STORIES FROM THE SKY
- HQ Worldwide Shows on behalf of Miral for Disney Abu Dhabi Announcement Spectacular
- MDLBEAST for The City of Beats: Soundstorm 2025
- People for 54th Eid Al Eithad Celebrations
- People for Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi - Opening Ceremony
- People for Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi - Welcome Ceremony
Best Event Logistics Provider of the Year
Best Event Marketing Campaign of the Year
- Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi for Liwa International Festival 2026 by LINKVIVA
- dmg events for Big 5 Global
- Informa & Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi for The Fan Takeover - Middle East Film & Comic Con
- Informa Bahrain for The MEOS GEO 2025
- Informa Markets for Dubai Airshow 2025
- Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre for The Essence of Ages - Oman Perfume Show
- Proactiv Entertainment for MAMMA MIA! The Musical - Abu Dhabi
Best Event on a Budget
- ComCo Middle East & Africa for We Create Drama
- DXB LIVE, Dubai World Trade Centre for Bahrain Coffee Festival 2025
- No1 Events for ADIB Cup Final 2025
- No1 Events for Emaar Super Cup 2025
- Pyxis for Wings of Wonders Competition by Etihad Engineering
- Sharjah Ladies Club for Move for Wellness
- YEP Event Agency for "GAGGENAU Dubai Flagship Opening ""A Matter of Degrees. For Those Who Know"
Best Event Photography & Videography
- Arc Series Production for Middle East Film and Comic Con
- Cityscape Bahrain, Informa Markets for Cityscape IMEA
- Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi for Liwa International Festival 2026 by LINKVIVA
- Digitally Media
- Informa Bahrain for Jewellery Arabia
- LIGHTS IN MOTION
- Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre for Muscat Art - Frames that Build the Story
Best Event Power & Utilities Solution Provider
Best Event Recruitment Agency
Best Event Space Design & Décor
- Designlab Experience for Whispering Reef
- DXB LIVE, Dubai World Trade Centre for Knowledge Summit 2025
- fischerAppelt Middle East for Maqbool Fida Husain Museum Opening
- Imagination Middle East for Diriyah Opening Dinner at At-Turaif
- People for 54th Eid Al Etihad Celebrations
- SM Pro for Red Sea Film Festival 2025
- The Ether for Dubai Watch Week
Best Exhibition of the Year less than 10,000 sqm
- CONNECT for Oman Petroleum & Energy Show
- dmg events and Koelnmesse for FSB Sports Show Riyadh
- dmg events for Global Infrastructure Expo
- dmg events for Jeddah Construct
- dmg events for Saudi Warehousing & Logistics Expo
- Informa & Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi for Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC)
- RX Global for FIBO Arabia 2025
Best Exhibition of the Year more than 10,000 sqm
Best Festival of the Year
- Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi for Kayan Wellness Festival 2026 by LINKVIVA
- Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi for Liwa International Festival 2026
- Emirates Literature Foundation for Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
- Informa & Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi for Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC)
- MDLBEAST for The City of Beats: Soundstorm 2025
- SM Pro for Red Sea International Film Festival 2025
- Viola Communications - Festival of Health for Department of Health - Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Public Health Center
Best Light & Sound Solution
- BeWunder for E-sports World Cup 2025
- Creative Technology for F1 Qatar Grand Prix & After Concerts
- Creative Technology for Islamic Solidarity Games
- mediaPro International for Keinemusik Al Ula, Elephant Rock 2025
- mediaPro International for MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2025
- mediaPro International for OLC New Year’s Eve – Dubai Mall Fountain
- SLS Production | Middle East for Anyma presents Quantum at Ushuaïa Dubai
Best Music Event
- Beyon Al Dana Amphitheatre for Metallica
- Blu Blood for Sitar for Mental Health by Rishab Rikhiram Sharma
- Blu Blood for Symphony of Stars - Sami Yusuf & Atif Aslam
- Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi for Saadiyat Nights
- Ethara for Yasalam presented by e& - 2025
- MDLBEAST for Balad Beast Festival 2026
- SLS Production | Middle East for David Guetta at Ushuaïa Dubai Harbour Experience in Dubai
Best Social Event
- Ahmed Seddiqi for Dubai Watch Week
- BUREAU BÉATRICE for HUDA BEAUTY - EASY BAKE PRESSED POWDER LAUNCH EVENT
- CPI Business for Hub71 Impact 2025
- fischerAppelt Middle East for Maqbool Fida Husain Museum Opening
- SM PRO for Emirati Women's Day 2025
- The Collective for GQ Men of The Year-Conde Nast
- YEP Event Agency for Porsche Carrera Cup 2026
Best Sporting Event
- Abu Dhabi Sport Council for Spartan World Championship 2025
- Black Orange Live for Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 Riyadh
- Black Orange Live for NextGen ATP Finals 2025
- Black Orange Live in collaboration with Saudi Motorsport Company for Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025
- Ethara for Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025
- Eventify Entertaiment for Dubai Premier Padel P1
- STAMiNA for 2025 FIA Extreme H World Cup
Best Stand Design & Build less than 100 sqm
- ComCo Middle East and Africa for Nissan Ignite with Magnite Stand at e& MOTB
- Designlab Experience for Woven Forest
- DXB LIVE, Dubai World Trade Centre for Dubai South Stand at Gulfood 2026
- PR!ME for Azercosmos Stand at SatExpo 2025
- Pyxis for Al Ain Zoo Promotional Platform
- Rayqube for Bookworm Lounge Feature Zone at Middle East Film & Comic Con 2025
- The Collective for Retro MINI World, AGMC Stand at Qouz Arts Fest by Alserkal
Best Stand Design & Build more than 100 sqm
- Capital 360 Event Experiences for Department of Government Enablement Stand at GITEX 2025
- Dallah Holding Media for Barzan Holdings Pavilion at DIMDEX 2026
- Designlab Experience for Arabian Dyar Cityscape 2025
- DXB LIVE, Dubai World Trade Centre for du stand at Gitex Global 2025
- DXB LIVE, Dubai World Trade Centre for Emirates Health Services (EHS) Stand at World Health Expo Dubai 2026
- Experiment Events for MTCIT Pavilion at COMEX
- Fair Construction @ Messe Frankfurt Middle East for Perfumery Paris Corner LLC Stand at Beautyworld Middle East 2025
Best Temporary Venue or Structure
- Ahmed Seddiqi for Dubai Watch Week
- Arena Group for 18th Hospitality at Hero Dubai Desert Classic
- CPI Business for Abu Dhabi Finance Week
- Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi for Saadiyat Nights
- ELECTRA for Viewbox at Dubai Watch Week 2025
- People for 54th Eid Al Etihad Celebrations
- Protec Events Supadome for F1: The Movie - Abu Dhabi Premiere
Best Use of AI at an Event
- fielddrive for Facial Recognition
- fischerAppelt Middle East for AI-recreated voice at Maqbool Fida Husain Museum Opening
- Lazulite Technology for AI and Robotic Powered Interactive Technology - RTA Booth at GITEX 2025
- Option One Design Studio for Guinness World Record AI Smart Glass Experience
- Pico International Bahrain WLL for Al Jahiz Animated Kids Video
- Premagic for AI Everything MEA Egypt
- Viola Communications - Beauty of Our Minds Event for Department of Health - Abu Dhabi & Abu Dhabi Public Health Center
Best Use of New Technology at an Event
- Abu Dhabi Sport Council for Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix 2025 Season Grand Final
- CPI Business for ADFW Digital Twin
- Creative Technology for G42 "Supercharged 2025"
- HQ Worldwide Shows on behalf of Miral & DCT Abu Dhabi for Inauguration Ceremony – teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi
- Option One Design Studio for The Guinness World Record AI Technology Experience
- Viola Communications - Beauty of Our Minds Event for Department of Health - Abu Dhabi & Abu Dhabi Public Health Center
Best Venue less than 10,000 sqm
Best Venue more than 10,000 sqm
Best Video Solution
- Creative Technology for Eid El Eithad
- Creative Technology for EWC OC
- mediaPro International for OLC New Year’s Eve – Dubai Mall Fountain
- No1 Events for Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ramadan Tournament – Al Wathba 2026
- SLS Production | Middle East for Anyma presents Quantum at Ushuaïa Dubai
- SLS Production | Middle East for Entry Plaza Opening Ceremony - Six Flags - Qiddiya
- THE INDEPENDENTS for H&M GLOBAL RELAUNCH
Outstanding Brand Activation Event
- Amber Communications for Andrew Garfield Teaser Campaign - Middle East Film & Comic Con
- ELECTRA for Adidas ADIZERO House of Fast
- HQ Worldwide Shows on behalf of Miral for Disney Abu Dhabi Announcement Event
- Rayqube for MEFCC Feature Zones – Experience Abu Dhabi x Informa Connect x Rayqube Future Tech
- SM Pro for DAMAC Redbull Partnership Reveal
- The Collective for YouTube House - 1 Billion Followers Summit
- YEP Event Agency for "GAGGENAU Dubai Flagship Opening ""A Matter of Degrees. For Those Who Know"
Young Achiever of the Year
- Aman Sethi from Tahaluf
- Dave Dsouza from Encore
- Isaac Briggs from People
- Maria Keisel from Messe Frankfurt Middle East
- Nigel Ranasinghe from BeWunder
- Rami Zeineddine from Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee SOPC
- Zaid Rahmoun from George P. Johnson