Business events in Jeddah: what is worth attending in 2026–27

Jeddah's business event season runs from October to March, and most of it falls in October to December. atndr lists 23 upcoming Jeddah business events as of mid-October 2026, and 13 of them fall in November 2026 alone. The spring brings two large shows in March 2027, Jeddah Construct 2027 and Cityscape West KSA 2027, and the 5th Saudi Fashiontex Expo 2027 opens the following season in September 2027.

November also holds five medical congresses, listed under health below. Dates are the editions as the organizers publish them. The always-current list is on the Jeddah events page.

Jeddah's calendar is built around the industries the city is known for: the Red Sea port, the pilgrim economy, food trade, real estate and construction across the Western Region. Pick by sector first, then by format.

Maritime, ports and logistics

Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress 2026 runs 21–22 October 2026 at the Jeddah Superdome. It is run by Seatrade Maritime (Informa Markets) and combines an exhibition with a conference. The organizer cites 15,000+ attendees, 200+ exhibitors and 120+ speakers from 90+ countries, and visitor passes are free. For port authorities and contractors, the smaller International Port & Marine Development Conference runs 9–10 November 2026 at the Jeddah Hilton.

Hajj and Umrah services

The Hajj Conference & Exhibition 2026 is the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's international platform for pilgrim services. The sixth edition runs 8–11 November 2026 at the Superdome. It brings Hajj affairs offices, government entities and suppliers of transport, hospitality and technology together.

Real estate and construction

Cityscape West KSA 2027 runs 29–31 March 2027 at the Superdome, 12:00 to 22:00 daily, for developers, investors and buyers of projects across Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah. Jeddah Construct 2027 runs a week earlier, 22–24 March 2027, 16:00 to 22:00 at JIECC; it is dmg events' construction show for the Western Region and cites 13,000+ attendees and 200+ exhibitors. Admission is free for trade professionals, and visitors under 18 are not admitted. Two invitation-only summits sit at The Ritz-Carlton Jeddah in November: the GBB Investment Summit Saudi Arabia 2026 (10 November) for real estate and hospitality investors, and the 20th Real Estate Development Summit (11–12 November), which pairs developers with suppliers in pre-set meetings.

Food, franchising and manufacturing

Foodex Saudi 2026 (23–25 November 2026) is the 14th edition of Jeddah's food and drink trade show. The organizer describes it as a meeting point for 20,000+ trade buyers and 800+ brands from 50+ countries. Saudi Franchise Expo Jeddah 2026 runs on the same dates in the same venue; its Riyadh edition follows on 26–28 January 2027. PAPER-ME KSA 2026 (16–18 November) covers paper, packaging and printing, and the Saudi Clean Show 2026 (1–3 November, Jeddah Hilton) covers cleaning equipment and hygiene. The 5th Saudi Fashiontex Expo 2027 runs 27–30 September 2027 at JIECC and opens 15:00 to 22:00.

Health and medicine

Jeddah hosts a dense run of medical congresses. The largest is the 23rd Arab Association of Urology Congress (4–7 November 2026, King Abdullah International Convention Center). Others include the Saudi Pediatric Neurology Society Conference (11–14 November), the Pan Arab and Saudi Endodontic Society Conference (12–14 November), MEFS 2026 (21–23 November), the 19th International Conference on Psychiatry (26–28 November), the 18th AOCNMB & 3rd SSNMMI Congress on nuclear medicine (4–6 December) and the Saudi Digestive Disease Forum 2026 (17–19 December).

Water, technology and people

IDWS 2026 (14–16 December 2026, The Ritz-Carlton Jeddah) is the Saudi Water Authority's water sustainability conference and exhibition. IEEE IMAS 2026 (19–22 October) is a research symposium for RF and antenna engineers. The Workforce Strategy & Leadership Conference 2026 (22 October) is a one-day forum for HR directors.

Most of Jeddah's large business events use two venues: the Jeddah Superdome and the Jeddah International Exhibition & Convention Center (JIECC). Conferences and medical congresses move to the big hotels.

The Superdome sits on Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah Road. The Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress puts it about 20 km from King Abdulaziz International Airport, a 25–30 minute drive in normal traffic, with free parking on site. Taxis and ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Careem operate across the city. Check the venue on your badge before you book a hotel: JIECC and the Superdome are different sites.

Riyadh has the bigger calendar and the flagship shows. Jeddah has fewer events, and they lean towards trade, logistics, real estate and the pilgrim economy. In mid-October 2026, atndr lists 124 upcoming business events in Riyadh against Jeddah's 23.

Two practical points follow. First, several Jeddah shows run in the evening: Jeddah Construct opens 16:00–22:00, Saudi Fashiontex 15:00–22:00 and Cityscape West 12:00–22:00. Plan meetings for the evening and keep mornings free. Second, some series run a Jeddah edition and a Riyadh edition, such as the Saudi Franchise Expo and Cityscape. Choose the city whose buyers you want to meet: Jeddah reaches the Western Region, including Makkah (80 km by road) and Madinah (420 km). Riyadh is about 950 km away by road, so most visitors fly. For the Riyadh calendar, read our Riyadh guide.

Sort out your visa, your badge and your hotel before you fly.

• Visa. Saudi Arabia's tourist eVisa is open to citizens of a list of eligible countries through the official eVisa portal. It is a one-year, multiple-entry visa that allows stays of up to 90 days, and the portal lists events among the permitted activities. If your country is not on the list, the portal directs you to the nearest Saudi embassy. Exhibitors should ask the organizer which visa it recommends.
• Makkah and Madinah. Jeddah is the gateway city for pilgrims. If you plan to add Umrah to a business trip, check the current rules for your visa type on the official portals first.
• Badges. Trade exhibitions such as Foodex Saudi, Jeddah Construct and the Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress offer free visitor registration for industry professionals. Conferences and medical congresses charge for delegate passes, and the real estate summits are invitation-only.
• Hotels. November 2026 is the busiest month, with 13 events between the 1st and the 28th. Book as soon as your dates are fixed, close to your venue.
• Working week. Saudi Arabia's working week runs Sunday to Thursday, and evening show hours are common.

Treat a Jeddah trip as one sector week and plan meetings before you land.

1. Stack events by sector. Maritime visitors can pair the Hajj Conference and the port conference in the week of 8 November. Real estate visitors can pair Jeddah Construct and Cityscape West in late March 2027.
2. Use the matchmaking tools. Foodex Saudi 2026 runs a business-match programme where buyers book meetings before the show.
3. Register with a company email. Trade visitor passes are for industry professionals, and some shows do not admit under-18s.
4. Plan around evening hours. When a show opens at 16:00, use the morning for office visits and site tours.
5. Follow up the same week. A short note that mentions your conversation is remembered after a busy show.