UFI

Name

UFI

Legal name

l'Union des Foires Internationales

Website

https://ufi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Levallois-perret

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Fees: UFI membership is a corporate membership with two main categories (full and associate members). Full members include exhibition organizers (required to have UFI Approved Events), venue owners/operators, and industry associations. Associate members include tourism boards, service providers, consultants, auditors, press, and educational institutions.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue generated from global and regional events including the annual Global Congress (rotating globally), regional conferences, and networking gatherings. The 93rd UFI Global Congress 2026 will be held in Kingdom of Bahrain.
3. UFI Who's Who Directory Sales: The directory is provided complimentary to members; additional copies sold at 300 euros per copy excluding 20% VAT.
4. UFI Approved Event Certification: Organizers pay for auditing of their exhibition statistics to obtain and maintain UFI Approved Event status, which is required for full membership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

UFI is a global non-profit industry association founded in 1925 that serves exhibition organizers, venue owners/operators, national associations, tourism boards, and service providers. It offers corporate membership, quality certifications for exhibitions (UFI Approved Event and UFI Approved International Event), an annual Global Congress and regional conferences, a member directory, an awards programme, and industry research including the Global Exhibition Barometer.

Product overview

UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) is an industry association founded in 1925, not a software product company. Its core offerings center on events, certifications, and knowledge services: the Global Congress and Regional Conferences serve as the primary gathering platforms; UFI Approved Event and UFI Approved International Event certifications provide quality assurance; the Who's Who Directory offers member networking; and the Awards Programme recognizes industry excellence. Supporting offerings include the Knowledge Hub (research, Global Exhibition Barometer), Working Groups (Digital Innovation, Sustainable Development, People & Culture, Operations & Services, Marketing), and membership programmes. A notable technology proof-of-concept is the AI Voice Conference Advisor developed by the Digital Innovation Working Group demonstrating voice AI capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UFI Approved Event: A globally recognized quality label awarded to premier exhibitions that meet UFI's international standards for data auditing and quality.
• UFI Approved International Event
• UFI Global Exhibition Barometer
• UFI Global Congress
• UFI Who's Who

Products and services

• UFI Global Congress The exhibition industry's largest international annual gathering, providing collaboration, innovation, and strategic dialogue opportunities for UFI members and exhibition professionals worldwide.
• UFI Regional Conferences Regional conferences bringing together industry leaders from the Asia-Pacific Conference, European Conference, Central & South American Conference, Middle East & Africa Conference, and North America Chapter events.
• UFI Approved Event Certification Quality certification awarded to premier exhibitions that have been independently audited against UFI's international standards, providing exhibitors and visitors with a trusted basis for business decisions. Over 890 events worldwide carry this label.
• UFI Approved International Event An internationally recognized quality label for exhibitions meeting UFI's highest international standards for data auditing covering visitor, exhibitor, and net exhibition space metrics.
• UFI Who's Who Directory A directory of all UFI members worldwide with searchable listings by country, city, membership category, and company name, including social media information for networking. One complimentary copy to members; additional copies sold at 300 euros each.
• UFI Awards Programme A recognition programme with categories including Sustainable Development, Human Resources, Digital Innovation, People & Culture, and Operations & Services awards recognizing excellence across the global exhibition industry.
• UFI Knowledge Hub Research and knowledge resources including the bi-annual Global Exhibition Barometer reports, industry studies, best practices database, and educational materials for exhibition industry professionals.
• UFI Membership Corporate membership programme with Full Member categories (organisers, venues, associations, partners) and Associate Member categories (tourism boards, service providers, consultants, auditors, press, educational institutions) offering networking, research access, quality certification benefits, and member logo rights.

Quantifiable outcome

• 890+ exhibitions worldwide carry UFI Approved Event label
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered leadership, host partner and diamond sponsor.

• Said Al ShanfarileadershipOthers · 1 January 2026Elected as UFI President 2027-28, representing Oman and the Middle East region at the association's leadership level.
• AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE)host partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025Co-hosted 92nd UFI Global Congress (November 2025) at AsiaWorld-Expo venue in Hong Kong, celebrating UFI's centenary and AWE's 20th anniversary. AWE announced SKYTOPIA airport city expansion plans including 20,000-capacity arena and 100,000 sqm exhibition space by 2028.
• IECA (Indonesian Exhibition & Convention Association)host partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025Will host 2027 Asia-Pacific Conference in Bali, Indonesia, marking UFI's return to Indonesia after more than ten years.
• Art of Fiberdiamond sponsorOthersDiamond sponsor of UFI since 2020, providing standardized sustainable stand building solutions for exhibitions. Art of Fiber delivers digital innovation and profitable growth for venues and organizers while driving sustainability with up to 81% carbon footprint reduction.
• AsiaWorld-Expodiamond sponsorOthersWholly owned by Airport Authority Hong Kong, AsiaWorld-Expo is a Diamond Sponsor with over 70,000 square metres of rentable exhibition space and 10 state-of-the-art halls including a 14,000-capacity arena.
• Expo Guadalajaradiamond sponsorOthersMexico's largest exhibition and convention venue (90,000 sqm sellable space) and Diamond Sponsor hosting the 94th UFI Global Congress 2027 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
• Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)diamond sponsorOthersGovernment agency established by Royal Decree in 2002 promoting business events in Thailand; Diamond Sponsor and host of 2026 Asia-Pacific Conference in Bangkok.
• Visit Qatardiamond sponsorOthersMarketing and promotional arm of Qatar Tourism; Diamond Sponsor promoting Qatar as a leading MICE destination with world-class venues including DECC (30,000+ m2) and QNCC (40,000+ m2).

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SISO (Society of Independent Show Organizers): Global trade association for independent exhibition organizers, directly overlapping with UFI's primary organizer member segment. SISO competes for the same exhibition-organizer membership base and offers peer networking, though with a more limited geographic footprint.
• IAEE (International Association of Exhibitions and Events): Long-established US-headquartered association for exhibition and event professionals with comparable membership, certification (CEM program), and advocacy offerings. Directly competes with UFI in the North American market and on industry education/certification.
• IFES (International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services): Global federation for exhibition services providers (stand builders, contractors, logistics). Overlaps with UFI's associate member segment and competes for influence over industry standards, particularly around sustainability and digital innovation in services.

Regional players

• AEO (Association of Event Organisers): UK-based trade association for exhibition organizers and venue operators with overlapping member profile to UFI but focused on the British market. Operates the AEO Awards and similar certification/recognition programs as UFI does globally.
• AUMA (Association of the German Trade Fair Industry): Germany's leading exhibition industry association representing organizers and service providers. Operates similar industry data, advocacy, and certification functions as UFI but primarily in the DACH region with strong government ties.
• AFECA (Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations): Federation of national exhibition associations across Asia-Pacific. Operates as a regional counterpart to UFI in the same geography UFI serves, with overlapping member associations and competing voice for industry standards in Asia.
• EEAA (Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia): Regional exhibition industry association for Australia and New Zealand. Operates similar awards, advocacy, and member services to UFI but restricted to Australasia, with potential membership overlap in the region.

Broad incumbents

• MPI (Meeting Professionals International): Large global association serving the broader meetings and events industry. Wider scope than UFI (covers corporate meetings, not just exhibitions) but overlaps on professional certification, education, and chapter-based global member engagement.
• PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association): Major association for convention and business events professionals globally. Overlaps with UFI on the MICE side (conventions/exhibitions crossover) but skews more toward association/organization meeting planners rather than trade show organizers.

Others

• ASAE (American Society of Association Executives): US-based association for association professionals — not a direct competitor but a peer in the broader trade-association operating model. Useful benchmark for governance, non-profit operations, and member engagement best practices applicable to UFI's own association management.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ufilive
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGukqDoURSvSXfiqK8NsqCQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ufilive
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ufi-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/ufilive

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UFI