IAAPA and MENALAC are joining forces to launch IAAPA MENA, a new regional structure designed to support the fast‑growing attractions industry across the Middle East and North Africa. IAAPA MENA will be formally unveiled at IAAPA Expo Middle East in Abu Dhabi and will become fully operational on 1 July 2026, with a dedicated regional office based in Dubai. The IAAPA MENA platform aligns IAAPA’s global reach with MENALAC’s regional network to deliver more targeted services for operators, suppliers and developers across the region.
Under the IAAPA MENA banner, the two associations will coordinate education, advocacy, research and networking initiatives tailored to the needs of theme parks, water parks, FECs, visitor attractions and manufacturers active in the Middle East and North Africa. MENALAC, founded in 2016 by leading entertainment companies, has built a strong base of regional members, which will now be connected more closely to IAAPA’s global community and resources. IAAPA MENA will feature a Regional Advisory Board made up of IAAPA and MENALAC members, with its chair taking a permanent seat on IAAPA’s Global Board of Directors, ensuring that regional priorities feed directly into global decision‑making.
Specialist IAAPA MENA committees will focus on Safety, Education, and Manufacturers & Suppliers, reflecting core priorities for operators and vendors working in the region’s high‑investment leisure markets. IAAPA plans to appoint a vice president and executive director to lead the IAAPA MENA office in Dubai and oversee a local professional team. The creation of IAAPA MENA adds a fourth regional hub alongside IAAPA APAC, IAAPA Latin America Caribbean and IAAPA North America, while the existing IAAPA EMEA office transitions to IAAPA Europe & Sub‑Saharan Africa.
Image: IAAPA
