MEADFA Conference relocates from Beirut to Dubai

The Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association has confirmed that its annual conference will take place in Dubai in January 2018, after taking the “difficult decision” to move the event from Beirut.

The MEADFA Conference has moved from Beirut to Dubai

The MEADFA Conference was initially scheduled to take place on 20-21 November at the Phoenicia Hotel in Beirut, Lebanon.

Despite previously reassuring attendees that the event in Beirut would go ahead, MEADFA postponed its conference due to the political uncertainty following the resignation of prime minister Saad Hariri.

The conference will now take place in Dubai at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, on 28-30 January 2018. Dubai Duty Free will be the official host of the Conference.

“For all of us at MEADFA, the decision to move our annual conference from Beirut was a very difficult one, and we remain hugely grateful to all our friends and partners in Lebanon and elsewhere for their support. We hope to take the event to Beirut in the near future,” said MEADFA president Haitham al Majali.

“Having taken into account feedback from our delegates, we are confident that Dubai will be a popular choice to host the rescheduled conference. Dubai Duty Free has always been a most convivial host for this event, and we are grateful once again to them for their support.”

He continued: “We are of course aware of the inconvenience that the postponement and change of venue has caused to all those involved in the Conference: not least our partners in Lebanon, but also our sponsors, speakers and delegates.

“We are grateful for their understanding and hope that the industry will get behind the event in its new location. It is more important than ever that we are able to gather together as one industry, and we look forward to welcoming our friends and partners to Dubai for what I am sure will be an insightful and enjoyable MEADFA Conference.”