What HQ Worldwide Shows does

HQ Worldwide Shows (HQWS) is a Dubai-headquartered event production company founded in 1996 that designs and delivers mega events, brand experiences, sports entertainment productions, and government/institutional ceremonies across the Middle East and internationally. The firm operates end-to-end across creative concept development, 2D/3D visual design, AV production, projection mapping, drone swarm performances (1,500+ drones), hologauze screen shows, VVIP protocol management, venue build, crowd management, and live broadcast coordination. Its client base is dominated by sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities in the UAE and Saudi Arabia — including NEOM, AlUla, Diriyah Company, Miral, RTA Dubai, Emirates Foundation, and Misk Foundation — alongside global entertainment brands such as WWE and Warner Bros.

HQWS is structured around four service lines (Shows & Ceremonies, Brand Experiences, Sports & Entertainment, Government & Institutional) supported by underlying capability units (Mega Event Production, Creative Design & Build, Projection & Drone Shows, VVIP Protocol & Guest Management). It maintains offices in Dubai (headquarters), Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Sydney, and operates across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Australia, France, India, and Egypt. The business model is project-based professional services: bespoke contracts are won through direct enterprise sales, tenders, and relationship-driven business development, with no publicly disclosed pricing tiers and revenue that is quote-based and project-specific. The company is privately held.

In 2023, HQWS was acquired by Banijay Group, one of the world's largest media production conglomerates with 130+ production companies across 23 territories and 185,000+ hours of original programming, giving HQWS access to international IP, formats, and cross-territory co-production capability while preserving its regional operating identity and founding leadership.

Name

HQ Worldwide Shows

Legal name

HQ Worldwide Shows

Website

https://hqws.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HQ Worldwide Shows is a Dubai-headquartered, Banijay-owned event production company founded in 1996 that designs and delivers mega events, brand experiences, sports entertainment, and government ceremonies for sovereign clients and global entertainment brands across MENA and beyond.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Production Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Event Planning & Production (HSACAAAA)

Keywords

• Event production services
• Mega event management
• Brand activation experiences
• Sports entertainment production
• VVIP protocol services

Headquarters

HQ city

Al Barahah

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Event Production Services: Project-based professional services revenue generated through comprehensive event production contracts with governments, corporations, and entertainment brands. Services include creative concept development, design, build, show production, and operational management.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

HQ Worldwide Shows (HQWS) is an end-to-end live event production company that designs, builds, and executes mega events, brand experiences, sports entertainment spectacles, and government/institutional ceremonies. Services span creative concept development, 2D/3D visual design, projection mapping, drone show production, set and structural builds, crowd management, live broadcast integration, and VVIP protocol and guest journey management for clients in the MENA region and internationally.

Product overview

HQ Worldwide Shows is a full-service event production company offering comprehensive live event solutions. The company operates across four main service lines: Shows & Ceremonies (award ceremonies, cultural events, state visits), Brand Experiences (fan villages, experience centers, brand activations), Sports & Entertainment (WWE events, motorsport, stadium productions), and Government & Institutional Events. Core capabilities include mega event production, creative design and build, projection and drone shows, and VVIP protocol management. Founded in 1996 and part of Banijay Group since 2023, the company delivers end-to-end event production from conceptualization through execution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shows & Ceremonies
• Brand Experiences
• Sports & Entertainment
• Government & Institutional Events
• Mega Event Production
• Creative Design & Build
• Projection & Drone Shows
• VVIP Protocol & Guest Management

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% visitor satisfaction achieved at WWE Night of Champions 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Banijay GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023In 2023, HQWS became part of Banijay Group, one of the world's largest media production entities with over 130 production companies across 23 territories. This acquisition provides HQWS with global reach and access to extensive production capabilities and resources.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Plan B Group: Saudi Arabia-based events and experiential agency with strong KSA government and entertainment client base. Regional peer that competes with HQWS for Saudi mega-events, giga-project activations, and sports entertainment work.
• Brite Group: UAE-headquartered event management and brand activation agency operating across the Middle East. A regional peer that competes with HQWS for MENA-based corporate events, government projects, and brand activations.
• UniWorks Design: Middle East-focused design, build, and event production company delivering exhibitions, pavilions, and large-format events. Comparable to HQWS on creative design, build, and exhibition-production scope in MENA.

Direct peers

• MKG: Experiential marketing and event production agency producing brand experiences, immersive events, and live shows for major brands. Directly comparable on creative-led live event production for enterprise clients.
• Wasserman: Sports, music, and entertainment marketing agency with significant event production and brand experience capabilities. Comparable to HQWS in sports entertainment production (WWE, fan festivals, stadium shows) and brand experience work.
• Jack Morton Worldwide: Global brand experience agency producing flagship events, brand activations, and immersive experiences for Fortune 500 brands. Competes directly with HQWS for brand-experience and entertainment-led event mandates in the Middle East.
• Pico Global: Global experiential marketing and event production group with strong MENA and Asia presence. Directly comparable to HQWS as a full-service mega-event producer serving government, brand, and entertainment clients.
• George P. Johnson Experience Marketing (GPJ): One of the world's largest experiential marketing agencies, producing large-scale brand experiences, product launches, and corporate events. Direct competitor for enterprise brand experience and mega-event contracts in MENA.
• Sparks: Global experiential agency producing trade shows, brand activations, and corporate events. Overlaps with HQWS on brand experiences and corporate mega-events, particularly for technology and consumer brands.

Broad incumbents

• Banijay Events (parent-adjacent): Banijay Group, HQWS's parent, operates 130+ production companies producing live events, content, and experiences globally. Closely related as both parent and corporate peer with overlapping live-event and large-format production capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HQWorldwideShows
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hq-creative-llc
• Instagraminstagram.com/hqworldwideshows
• Xx.com/hqwssocial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

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 HQ Worldwide Shows