ACHEMA Expands to Saudi Arabia as Industrial Investment and Energy Transition Accelerate Across the Region

As Saudi Arabia advances large-scale industrial and energy transition projects — including a carbon capture hub in Jubail designed to capture up to 9 million tonnes of CO₂ per year by 2028 and the USD 8.4 billion NEOM Green Hydrogen project targeting production of 600 tonnes per day of clean hydrogen by 2027 — the region’s process industries are entering a phase defined by system integration, decarbonisation, and advanced manufacturing.

Against this backdrop, ACHEMA Middle East debuts in the region, taking place from 26–28 October 2026 at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center (RICEC), in Saudi Arabia, under the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and with the support of ASAS. The event brings ACHEMA’s century-long heritage in chemical engineering, process technology, and applied industrial science into a region undergoing rapid industrial diversification and downstream expansion.

For more than 100 years, ACHEMA has served as a global reference point for the chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, laboratory and process industries. Its arrival in Saudi Arabia extends this role into the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA), providing a full-scale exhibition and conference platform that connects international solution providers with regional manufacturers, policymakers, researchers and technology leaders.

Organised by Messe Frankfurt and powered by DECHEMA, ACHEMA Middle East is aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s industrial development agenda. The event is designed to support localisation, advanced manufacturing, sustainability, digitalisation, and long-term investment across sectors including chemicals, energy, pharmaceuticals, food production, water technologies, and advanced materials.

The exhibition covers six core product groups, spanning the full process industry lifecycle, from industrial engineering and process technology to laboratory and analytical solutions, automation and digital systems, packaging and supply chain solutions, and innovation-led R&D. This integrated scope reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of modern process industries and the need for cross-disciplinary solutions.

Programme content is structured around six innovation themes — process, pharma, lab, digital, green, and energy innovation — delivered through CPD-accredited conferences, technical sessions and expert-led discussions addressing current industrial challenges and future pathways, including electrification, bioprocessing, AI-enabled operations and circular economy models.

Commenting on the launch, Dr. Björn Mathes, CEO of DECHEMA Exhibitions, said: “ACHEMA Middle East is not just a regional extension – it’s a strategic evolution. By bringing ACHEMA to Riyadh, we’re creating a platform where science, engineering and industrial innovation align with the ambitions of one of the world’s most dynamic industrial economies.”

Azzan Mohammed, Managing Director, Messe Frankfurt Saudi Arabia, added: “Saudi Arabia is undergoing a significant industrial transformation. ACHEMA Middle East reflects how international collaboration and knowledge exchange can support regional progress and contribute to the development of sustainable, competitive industrial ecosystems.”

Strong early interest is reflected in confirmed international brands including Yokogawa, GMM Pfaudler, Hach, Beckhoff, Aptek, Pharmadule Morimatsu, Tofflon and Sealmatic, indicating solid market engagement ahead of the inaugural edition.

With its emphasis on technical depth, system integration and applied knowledge exchange, ACHEMA Middle East 2026 is positioned to play a meaningful role in the region’s evolving process industry landscape.