Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East Muwaffaq Al-Harith and Muwaffaq Al-Harith, chairman of ACE.

Messe Frankfurt Middle East, one of the region's largest exhibition organisers, is expanding its regional reach with the announcement of the inaugural Materials Handling Saudi Arabia 2016.

The two-day conference and exhibition will take place from 28-29 November, 2016 at the Park Hyatt Hotel in the port city of Jeddah, offering global suppliers and regional manufacturers direct access to the Kingdom's thriving logistics, warehouse, freight and cargo industries.

Organised in partnership with Saudi-based Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions (ACE), Materials Handling Saudi Arabia is a biennial event alternating with the flagship Materials Handling Middle East exhibition in Dubai.

It also marks Messe Frankfurt Middle East's second direct foray into the vast Saudi market, after the breakout success of the first edition of Automechanika Jeddah in January 2016.

"Materials Handling Saudi Arabia is the latest development in our ongoing expansion in the Kingdom, and, together with Materials Handling Middle East, we have a dual platform offering intralogistics and supply chain players unmatched access to one of the most promising markets in the world," says Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East.

"Saudi's logistics and materials handling industry is undergoing immense expansion and change and, with it, challenges that are unique to the Kingdom. We felt the need to provide a dedicated trade and networking event so key stakeholders can share their experiences, understand the market realities, and prepare for future developments," he adds.

The inaugural edition of Materials Handling Saudi Arabia will include a two-day Supply Chain and Logistics Forum, bringing together top industry leaders, academics, and solutions providers to address the opportunities and challenges in a rapidly evolving market.