IAAPA and MENALAC to affix forces to launch IAAPA MENA

IAAPA, the worldwide affiliation for the points of interest business, immediately introduced plans to strengthen its help and deepen its dedication to members and the quickly rising points of interest business throughout the Center East and North Africa (MENA) area with the institution of a brand new regional workplace. The official launch will probably be celebrated throughout IAAPA Expo Center East and be formally in place July 1, 2026.

The announcement displays IAAPA’s continued funding in one of many world’s fastest-growing markets for tourism, leisure, and leisure.

As a part of this enlargement, IAAPA and the Center East and North Africa Leisure and Points of interest Council (MENALAC) will be part of forces to launch IAAPA MENA, aligning actions and merging efforts to finest serve members and advance the business. A revered voice for the area since its institution in 2016, MENALAC was based by main leisure corporations with a shared dedication to making sure the MENA leisure and points of interest sector is represented, supported, and positioned for long-term progress in an more and more dynamic world market.

By means of this collaboration, IAAPA builds upon the robust basis MENALAC has established over the previous decade—championing the area’s pursuits, elevating business requirements, and fostering collaboration amongst theme parks operators, amusement parks, customer points of interest, household leisure facilities, producers and suppliers. Collectively, IAAPA and MENALAC will present localized training, advocacy, analysis, sources, and expanded networking alternatives whereas connecting professionals within the area to IAAPA’s world neighborhood. The collaboration additionally acknowledges MENALAC’s management and the Center East’s rising experience within the regional indoor amusement and household leisure sector, making certain that operators of all sizes — from large-scale locations to indoor leisure venues — obtain devoted help, business insights, and illustration.

“By establishing IAAPA MENA, we’re making certain that members on this dynamic area obtain even stronger devoted illustration and sources whereas remaining totally related to our worldwide community,” mentioned Jakob Wahl, IAAPA President and CEO. “MENALAC has been a passionate and efficient advocate for the area’s points of interest business, and collectively we’re combining the strengths of two revered organizations to empower innovation, collaboration, and sustainable progress.”

Over the previous decade, billions of {dollars} have been invested throughout the area, fueling the rise of world-class points of interest—from large-scale branded theme parks to revolutionary, domestically impressed experiences. International locations such because the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are main this transformation, positioning the Center East as a brand new world hub for tourism and leisure.

As a part of this initiative, IAAPA will take a number of key steps to ascertain a powerful basis for its presence within the area by means of its regional workplace. The affiliation will type an IAAPA MENA Regional Advisory Board composed of IAAPA and MENALAC members representing the area’s various points of interest neighborhood to information priorities and technique. The chair of the Regional Advisory Board can even have an everyday seat on IAAPA’s World Board of Administrators. There can even be devoted committees for Security, Training, and Producer & Suppliers. As well as, IAAPA will safe a vp and government director to steer the IAAPA MENA skilled crew, which will probably be primarily based in Dubai and oversee the native IAAPA crew.

The creation of IAAPA MENA marks a significant milestone in IAAPA’s mission to help secure, sustainable operations {and professional} growth on a world scale, whereas honoring and constructing upon MENALAC’s legacy of management and advocacy within the area. It provides to the present areas IAAPA APAC, IAAPA Latin America Caribbean, and IAAPA North America. The present IAAPA EMEA workplace will develop into IAAPA Europe & Sub-Saharan Africa and oversee all European international locations in addition to the Sub-Saharan area.

The announcement takes place as business leaders, media, and attendees put together to assemble to be taught extra about IAAPA’s increasing presence within the area and its future plans to foster collaboration and innovation.