[Cover photo: Trixie LohMirmand, CEO KAOUN International, EVP Dubai World Trade Centre and Matt Denton, President, dmg Events]
• The new partnership to build on a stellar portfolio of business and consumer events to take the 30-year legacy of shows like GULFOOD and The Hotel Show to new markets
• DWTC establishes KAOUN International, a wholly owned subsidiary to serve as its international events organising business
• Inaugural Saudi Food & Beverage Show & The Saudi Food Manufacturing Show to be held in June 2023, in Riyadh
KAOUN International, the newly incorporated event organising company of the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and dmg events, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT) an international portfolio of information, media and events businesses, announced the signing of a joint venture agreement to develop an international portfolio in the food and hospitality sectors.
The newly formed company, KAOUN International, is built upon DWTC’s formidable record of organising industry-leading events that have helped establish not just the UAE but also the Middle East region, as a top destination for major international business events. Its portfolio of over 20 business and consumer events, spans across sectors such as technology, food and hospitality, sustainability, broadcast and satellite, automotive, talent development and leisure marine.
As its first international market expansion, the new joint venture will launch The Saudi Food & Beverage Show & The Saudi Food Manufacturing Show in Riyadh from June 20-22, 2023. The inaugural event will be affiliated to GULFOOD Global, the world’s largest go-to event brand trusted by the global F&B industry.
The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia will be rebranded for September 2023 to include the broader hospitality, HORECA and interiors markets. dmg’s existing food and hotel events in South Africa will also move under the new joint venture.
“The dmg & KAOUN International partnership combines market leading food and beverage industry events with international infrastructure and an existing hotel and hospitality portfolio.”
dmg President Matt Denton said.
“Having grown our regional and international operations significantly in recent years, dmg clearly shares KAOUN International’s view of high-growth opportunities in the region.”
“Developing new markets and providing access for our global food and beverage business community to emerging growth markets is our collective focus,”
Trixie LohMirmand, EVP DWTC and CEO KAOUN International, added.
“Working together, dmg & KAOUN International will leverage our existing complementary experience, networks and brands to create a synergistic portfolio of food, hotel and hospitality events that offer far greater opportunities within targeted geographies.”
“Our market leading events have become centres of excellence in the food, hotel and hospitality markets and will continue to act as the gateway to the wider region,”
noted Matt Denton.
Outside of Dubai, dmg & KAOUN International together will create more value for their customers, providing them with a reliable global partner bringing its proven level of expertise and professionalism to a host of new and emerging markets.
