Events professionals earn UFI degree in Qatar

Some 13 local andregional business events professionals have earned an Event ManagementDegree (EMD) after completing a programme certified by the Union ofInternational Fairs (UFI) in Qatar. The six-month training programmecame as part of Qatar Tourism Authority’s (QTA) efforts to enhance thecountry’s competitiveness in the business events field, and wasdelivered in collaboration with the Exhibition, Convention and EventManagement Company.Speaking at the graduation ceremony, QTA’sexhibitions director Ahmed al-Obaidli said: “This EMD programme is oneof many efforts undertaken to empower local exhibitions professionalswith the tools they need to attract and deliver the highest quality ofevents.”“As we embark on the Next Chapter of the National TourismSector Strategy 2030, QTA will be working to further consolidate andfocus the efforts of key members of the business events sector,” henoted. “We are particularly pleased to see participants join us fromcountries across the region, such as Oman, Iran and Sudan, reinforcingQatar’s position as one of the region’s business events knowledge hubs,”al-Obaidli added.The EMD programme aims to help business eventprofessionals develop essential skills, particularly those related toproject and risk management for exhibitions, sales management,exhibition marketing, strategic management and sustainability in theexhibition industry. The EMD programme has been delivered 15 times atdifferent locations in Asia, the Middle East and Europe since itslaunching in 2007 by leading global exhibitions association, UFI.“Theregion boasts world-class event venues and facilities, which encouragedseveral private and governmental organisers to push forward the role ofthe exhibition industry in the region,” UFI managing director and CEOKai Hattendorf said. Qatar’s business events sub-sector boasts growingevents management services, an exhibition capacity of 70,000 sq m,spread over world-class venues such as Qatar National Convention Centreand the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, an expanded transportnetwork, as well as exceptional accessibility via Qatar Airways’ reachto 150 destinations worldwide.