REC

What REC does

Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd. (REC) is a privately held, Saudi Arabia-based B2B exhibition and conference organizer founded in 1980 in Riyadh. The company plans and delivers international trade exhibitions across seven flagship brands covering construction (Saudi Build, 32+ years; Saudi Elenex), agriculture (Saudi Agriculture, 39 years), plastics and petrochemicals (Saudi PlasticPetrochem, the number one Middle East trade fair in the sector), printing and packaging (Saudi PrintPack), logistics (Saudi Smart Logistics), and industrial transformation (Industrial Transformation Saudi Arabia, launched in partnership with Deutsche Messe AG and the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in 2025). REC also provides three service modules: full-scope event organizing, conference management, and business matchmaking. Across its 40+ year history, REC has executed more than 500 events and served over 1 million participants, and currently operates 21 B2B exhibitions and conferences annually.

REC's revenue model is professional services: it monetizes exhibition booth rentals, sponsorship packages, conference registration fees, and matchmaking service fees from exhibitors and participating businesses. The go-to-market is direct enterprise sales, with a sales team based at the Riyadh headquarters selling into both local Saudi businesses and international exhibitors. The core technology stack is non-proprietary and service-based — REC is not a technology company but an event organizer that uses standard event-management software for delegate management, online registration, and database management. Customer segmentation is vertical, organized across construction, agriculture, plastics/petrochemicals, printing/packaging, logistics, education, and industrial transformation, with strategic alignment to Saudi Vision 2030 mega-projects (NEOM, Red Sea Development, Qiddiya, Diriyah Gate, King Salman Park). REC is a member of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, providing international quality certification of its event standards.

Name

REC

Legal name

Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd.

Website

https://recexpo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

REC (Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd.) is a Riyadh-based, privately held B2B trade exhibition and conference organizer operating 21 annual events across construction, agriculture, petrochemicals, logistics, printing/packaging, and industrial transformation, serving over 1 million participants in 40+ years of operation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Exhibition and Conference Organizing Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Exhibitor/Sponsor Management (Corporate Conferences) (THACAFAN)

Keywords

• Trade exhibition organizing
• B2B event management
• Conference management services
• Business matchmaking services
• Trade fair organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Riyadh

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Exhibition and Conference Organizing: REC generates revenue by organizing international B2B trade exhibitions and conferences across multiple industry sectors in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. The company provides complete event organizing services including venue services, delegate management, database management, design and production of materials, on-site event management support, and speaker sourcing. The company has been delivering these services for over 40 years.
2. Business Matchmaking Services: REC provides business matchmaking services that bring businesses face-to-face with promising prospects. The company offers pre-scheduled meetings with qualified buyers and sellers, working with high-profile companies and associations to provide productive results for participants.
3. Conference Management: REC creates and executes world-class conferences from concept to content and from strategy to execution. Services include targeted senior-level audiences, high-level presentations, panel discussions, one-to-one meeting forums, specialist workshops, exhibitions, networking formats, and technology demonstrations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

REC organizes international B2B trade exhibitions and conferences across key Saudi and Middle East economic sectors (construction, agriculture, plastics/petrochemicals, printing and packaging, logistics, and industrial transformation). The company delivers end-to-end event organizing services — including strategic development, budget planning, venue services, delegate management, database management, online registration, on-site event management support, conference creation and execution, and business matchmaking — to international exhibitors, sponsors, trade buyers, project owners, and government officials.

Product overview

REC operates as a unified platform for international trade exhibitions and conferences in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. The portfolio consists of seven core trade exhibition brands (Saudi PlasticPetrochem, Saudi PrintPack, Saudi Smart Logistics, Saudi Agriculture, Saudi Build, Saudi Elenex, and Industrial Transformation Saudi Arabia) covering key economic sectors, complemented by three service modules (Event Organizing, Conference Management, and Business Matchmaking). Together, these offerings provide end-to-end exhibition services from strategic planning and execution to networking and business development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Saudi Build International trade exhibition for construction materials, building and environmental technology, targeting construction companies, contractors, and suppliers seeking access to Saudi mega projects including NEOM, Red Sea Development, Qiddiya, Diriyah Gate, and King Salman Park.
• Saudi Agriculture International trade exhibition for farming, agro and organic food, poultry, livestock and dairy, mills and feed, and aquaculture. Positioned as the largest international agriculture exhibition in the region, serving businesses participating in the Saudi farming and food production sector valued at over 100 billion SR.
• Saudi PlasticPetrochem International trade exhibition for plastics, petrochemicals, foam and rubber machinery, products, and technology. Positioned as the number 1 trade fair in the Middle East for the plastics and petrochemicals sector.
• Saudi PrintPack International trade exhibition for paper, printing, and packaging innovations, technologies, products, and services.
• Saudi Smart Logistics International trade exhibition for logistics, material handling, warehousing, and supply chain.
• Saudi Elenex International trade exhibition for HVAC-R, electromechanical, electricity, lighting, alternative energy, and water technology.
• Industrial Transformation Saudi Arabia International trade exhibition for products and solutions for smart manufacturing. Targets industrial firms participating in advanced manufacturing, automation, AI, and energy technologies relevant to Saudi Arabia's industrial transformation goals.
• Event Organizing Services End-to-end event organizing services including strategic development, budget planning, venue services, delegate management, online registration, database management, design and production of materials, and on-site event management support, delivered to international exhibitors, sponsors, and trade buyers.
• Conference Management Services Conference creation and execution service from concept to content and from strategy to execution, including targeted senior-level audiences, high-level presentations, panel discussions, one-to-one meeting forums, specialist workshops, exhibitions, networking formats, and technology demonstrations.
• Business Matchmaking Services Face-to-face business matching service connecting businesses with qualified buyers and sellers via pre-scheduled meetings, working with high-profile companies and associations to deliver productive business results.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (Saudi Arabia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerREC is cooperating with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources to organize Industrial Transformation Saudi Arabia, scheduled for December 1-3, 2025. This event aims to showcase advanced manufacturing, AI, automation, and energy technologies, contributing to Saudi Vision 2030's goal of building a sustainable industrial economy.
• Deutsche Messe AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeutsche Messe AG, the organizer of Hannover Messe (the global industrial platform), is cooperating with REC and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources to expand the global industrial platform to Saudi Arabia through Industrial Transformation Saudi Arabia.
• Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a cooperating partner, Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd. is involved in organizing the Industrial Transformation Saudi Arabia event alongside Deutsche Messe AG and the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Messe München: Messe München operates bauma, IFAT, and drinktec, and has expanded into the Middle East (e.g., Middle East Cleaning Technology Week). It is a broader-incumbent peer for industrial and infrastructure exhibitions that REC also serves.
• Informa Markets: Informa Markets is the world's largest exhibitions organizer, running hundreds of B2B trade shows including Cityscape, Arab Health, and The Big 5. It competes with REC across multiple Saudi/Middle East verticals and has been expanding its regional footprint.
• Messe Frankfurt: Messe Frankfurt runs a global portfolio of B2B trade fairs (Heimtextil, Ambiente, Automechanika) with a Middle East presence including Light + Intelligent Building Middle East. It overlaps with REC's construction, lighting, and consumer-facing segments.
• Messe Düsseldorf: Messe Düsseldorf organizes drupa, K, and interpack—global benchmark events in printing/packaging and plastics. It is a strategic peer whose global brand competes with REC's Saudi PrintPack and Saudi PlasticPetrochem events.
• RX Global (Reed Exhibitions / RELX): RX Global organizes flagship B2B exhibitions including Arabplast, WOC, and Gulf Print & Pack. It competes with REC in plastics/petrochemicals and printing/packaging verticals across the Middle East.

Direct peers

• Deutsche Messe AG: Deutsche Messe organizes Hannover Messe and is REC's partner on Industrial Transformation Saudi Arabia. It is a direct peer for industrial/manufacturing trade shows and could be a competitor if the partnership transitions to wholly-owned Saudi operations.
• dmg events: dmg events is a major international exhibition organizer with deep Middle East operations (The Big 5, ADIPEC co-organizer, INDEX). It directly competes with REC in running industry-specific B2B trade shows across the region, often in adjacent verticals like construction.
• Dubai World Trade Centre: DWTC operates the leading exhibition venue in the UAE and runs/co-hosts major B2B trade shows (GITEX, Arab Health). It is a direct competitor for regional exhibition attendees and a frequent alternative venue for Saudi exhibitors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RecExpos
• Facebookfacebook.com/RECEXPOS

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 REC