What Sesam Connect does

The business is managed by two Managing Partners — founder Boris Ritter (joined by Philipp von Zitzewitz in 2006) — supported by a team of approximately 20 professionals including a Business Development Director, an IT & Online Campaigns Manager, and bilingual/multilingual consultants. Revenue is generated through professional-services fees for trade-promotion projects, conference management retainers, and per-attendee registration fees (e.g., AED 110/USD 30 for virtual panels and AED 1,525/USD 415 for in-person Fire Safety Forum registration). The company is privately held with no disclosed external investors, no funding rounds, no parent entity, and no subsidiaries.

Name

Sesam Connect

Legal name

SESAM CONNECT FZC LLC

Website

https://sesam-connect.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sesam Connect is a Dubai-based professional services firm that helps foreign companies and government trade agencies enter GCC markets via trade delegations and B2B matchmaking, and manages end-to-end industry conferences across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Trade Promotion Services: Revenue generated through consulting and representation services for foreign entities and SMEs looking to enter the Middle East market. Services include B2B matchmaking, market research, trade delegations, and on-the-ground representation.
2. Conference Management Services: Revenue from managing conferences throughout the GCC on behalf of government departments and individual companies. Services include end-to-end conference solutions including theme development, stakeholder management, budget building, speaker organization, event promotion, marketing and PR. The company turns 'one-off' conferences into well respected annual events.
3. Conference Registration Fees: Direct conference registration fees charged to attendees, with options for credit card or bank transfer payment. Cancellation and refund policies apply with administrative fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Sesam Connect is a Dubai-based B2B professional services firm that provides trade promotion services for international companies and SMEs seeking to enter the Middle East market, including B2B matchmaking, trade delegations, market research and on-the-ground representation across the GCC. The firm also offers end-to-end conference management services to government departments and companies throughout the Gulf region, handling conference themes, stakeholder coordination, speaker organization, budgeting, marketing, and PR.

Product overview

Sesam Connect operates as a dual-service company offering Trade Promotion Services and Conference Management Services. The Trade Promotion Services division supports foreign entities and SMEs in entering the Middle East market through B2B meetings, trade delegations, market research, and representation across GCC states. The Conference Management Services division provides end-to-end conference solutions throughout the GCC, managing events from concept to execution. Key conference products include Safety Design in Buildings (covering 45 conferences over 7 years), Fire Safety Forum UAE (annual Dubai Civil Defence event), International Conference for Sustainable Construction Materials, ASTM Cement Conference in Kuwait, and Canadian Innovations in Agri-Food & Agri-Tech Forum. The company also offers virtual B2B matchmaking services and hosts virtual conference series such as the 2021 Fire Safety Forum.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trade Promotion Services Business development and market entry services for international clients seeking to establish or expand their footprint in the GCC, including B2B meetings and receptions, sector-specific market research, inbound and outbound trade delegations, hosted buyer programs, workshops, product presentations, and dedicated on-the-ground representation.
• Conference Management Services End-to-end conference management for government departments and companies in the GCC, including theme development, stakeholder management, budget building, speaker organization, event promotion, marketing, and PR.
• Safety Design in Buildings (SDiB) Multi-year GCC-wide educational conference series promoting fire safety standards, quality materials and design in the built environment, with annual events held in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain.
• Fire Safety Forum UAE Annual forum hosted on behalf of Dubai Civil Defence bringing together international fire industry experts, informal exhibitions and strategic discussions.
• International Conference for Sustainable Construction Materials Annual event presented by Dubai Central Laboratory and Dubai Municipality covering sustainability, regional trends in sustainable construction materials, and AI applications in the construction sector.
• ASTM Cement Conference and Workshop – Kuwait Annual cement conference and workshop organized in partnership with Kuwait Cement Company and ASTM International, focusing on ASTM test procedures for cement and concrete.
• Canadian Innovations in Agri-Food & Agri-Tech Forum In-person forum organized on behalf of the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service showcasing Canadian innovations to increase food production, enhance resource management and reduce waste.
• Fire Safety Forum 2021 (Virtual Conference Series) A series of six virtual best-practice conferences bringing leading Fire & Life Safety Experts together under the moderation of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), covering topics from tactical initiatives to fire safety in the built environment.
• Virtual B2B Matchmaking Services Virtual B2B matchmaking services enabling international clients to connect with GCC business partners through online networking platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Managed 100+ conferences with 12,000+ participants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and standard.

• Ontario Ministry of International TradecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAppointed as GCC Trade Development Representative for the Ontario Ministry of International Trade. Support GCC export opportunities for Ontario SMEs through market intelligence, trade fair participation and B2B programs.
• Basque Trade & Investment (Spain)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAppointed as Trade Consultant for Basque Trade and Investment, the export branch of the Basque Government in the GCC. Support individual Basque SMEs and government entities in multiple industrial sectors with trade partner/distributor research, market studies, sectorial reports, outbound & inbound Government trade missions, B2B contact building and product launching.
• US Commercial ServicecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAppointed as an Alternative Service Provider for the US Commercial Service, the export branch of US Department of Commerce covering the Middle Eastern market. Support individual American SMEs in multiple sectors, trade partner/distributor research, due diligence reports, in country contact follow up and B2B sector-specific programs.
• Aragón Exterior Foreign Trade & Investment Promotion AgencystandardGTM or Marketing PartnerProject objective: Increase visibility, first market entry guidance and B2B program for Spanish exhibitors at Arab Health and Medlab Exhibitions in Dubai (UAE).
• Switzerland Global EnterprisestandardGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade consultancy for several Swiss SMEs via Switzerland Global Enterprise. Services included compiling sector specific research reports and developing B2B program for Swiss companies in various industry sectors looking to nurture contacts with local business partners and importers in UAE, Qatar and Oman.
• Ministry of Economy and Innovation of Quebec (Canada)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerProject objective: Increase visibility and B2B program for Quebec exhibitors at 3 consecutive editions of the annual Arab Health from 2018-2020. Organize delegation visits to local private hospitals, schedule B2B meetings and provide commercial support to Quebec healthcare manufacturers.
• German Federal Ministry of Food and AgriculturecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlanning and executing a 4-day trade delegation of German food and agri-tech manufacturers to the UAE. Organize industry briefing workshop, identify UAE expert speakers, arrange visits to local food manufacturing plants, hydroponic system tours, and visits to animal research & veterinary centers.
• Apex BrazilstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade consultancy for Apex Brazil and related Brazilian Trade Promotion Agencies. Services included research and identifying GCC companies interested in buying Brazilian products with potential buyers and 'multipliers' invited to visit Brazil as part of Hosted Buyer Programs.
• Istanbul Chamber of CommercestandardGTM or Marketing PartnerProject objective: increase visibility and B2B program for Turkish exhibitors at the annual SIAL Middle East food exhibitions in Abu Dhabi since 2010. Organize industry briefing seminars and hosted buyers sessions.
• Consulate General of Canada in DubaicoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganizing Canadian Innovations in Agri-Food & Agri-Tech forum in collaboration with Canadian partners. Event showcases Canadian Agri-Food & Agri-Tech innovative and sustainable solutions to increase food production, enhance resource management and reduce waste.
• Dubai Civil DefencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Fire Safety Forum UAE organized on behalf of Dubai Civil Defence. The Forum reviews industry trends and sets direction for the force's strategy. The company manages the complete conference production, VIP speakers, and exhibition management.
• ASTM InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ASTM International for organizing cement conferences and workshops across the GCC. Organized Annual ASTM Cement Conference and Workshop in Kuwait in partnership with Kuwait Cement Company.
• Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFire Safety Forum presented by IFE GCC UAE Branch. Partnership for international industry dialogue through virtual Best Practice Panels. IFE provides subject matter experts and CPD certificates for attendees.
• Dubai Central Laboratory / Dubai MunicipalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Conference for Sustainable Construction Materials presented by Dubai Central Laboratory and Dubai Municipality. Company manages annual 2-day events including content development, speaker recruitment, site visits, website building, marketing materials, PR, and sponsor management.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Messe Frankfurt Middle East: Subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt running trade fairs in the Middle East (e.g., Automechanika Dubai, Beautyworld). Comparable trade promotion and B2B programme offering across the GCC.
• Informa Markets (Middle East): Global events organiser with major MENA presence (e.g., Arab Health) directly overlapping Sesam's conference management and trade fair B2B programmes. Significantly larger scale and portfolio breadth.
• Clarion Events (MENA): Global events organiser with energy, defense and infrastructure events in the Middle East. Comparable B2B conference and trade-show management capability for government and corporate clients.
• dmg events: Leading Dubai-based B2B events organiser running flagship exhibitions (Big 5, ADIPEC, etc.) in the same GCC verticals Sesam targets (construction, fire safety, food). Overlaps with Sesam's conference and B2B matchmaking offerings.

Others

• JETRO Dubai (Japan External Trade Organization): Japanese government trade promotion body operating in the UAE — both a peer (foreign trade agency with GCC presence) and a former employer of a Sesam team member. Represents the type of national trade agency that appoints firms like Sesam.
• Khalifa Fund / Dubai FDI (ecosystem): UAE government ecosystem players facilitating foreign company setup and trade promotion in the GCC. Adjacent to Sesam's market-entry mission and a potential channel partner or competitor for government mandates.

Direct peers

• GRS (Global Reach Solutions): Boutique MENA advisory offering market entry, partner search and trade promotion services to foreign SMEs. Similar profile, client base and scale as Sesam Connect.
• Provenance International (Dubai): Boutique Dubai-based trade consultancy supporting companies entering the GCC market. Closely mirrors Sesam's trade promotion and on-the-ground representation services for SMEs and government trade agencies.
• Curzon MENA Advisory: Middle East-focused advisory firm supporting international clients with GCC market entry strategy, B2B introductions and government engagement. Comparable boutique positioning and service scope to Sesam Connect.

Regional players

• Strategic Gears (Riyadh): Saudi-based management consultancy that supports Vision 2030-linked market entry and government advisory mandates. Comparable trade promotion and market entry mandate work in a GCC market where Sesam also operates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Sesam Connect