Under the patronage of the Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Governor of Makkah Region, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, the Makkah Chamber of Commerce will celebrate on Thursday, February 24, 2022, the 75th anniversary of its establishment and the anniversary of the first meeting of its Board of Directors in 1368 AH, corresponding to 1948.

The historic celebration of the Makkah Chamber coincides with the inauguration of the Makkah Chamber Exhibition and Events Center, which can accommodate about 30,000 visitors and is located on an area of ​​10,000 meters, in the Al-Zaidi neighborhood on Prince Mohammed bin Salman Road.

The inauguration of the center will be accompanied by a number of exhibitions, events and forums that will last for 4 days, starting after the inauguration of the Makkah Exhibition and Events Center building on the 23rd of this month, with the accompanying events starting on February 24, 2022 and ending on February 27.

For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce, Hisham bin Mohammed Kaaki, expressed the business sector's gratitude for this generous patronage, saying: "We are very pleased with the patronage of the Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Governor of Makkah Region, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, for the Chamber's 75th anniversary celebration. We are also grateful for all the support provided by the Makkah Region Governorate to the Chamber on various occasions and projects. This demonstrates his interest in and support for everything that enhances the performance of the private sector and its participation in the Kingdom's economic development, in line with Vision 2030." Hisham Kaaki emphasized that this event will be a landmark in the history of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce: "Seventy-five years is a long time during which the Makkah Chamber of Commerce has made significant efforts to serve the business world and the community. It has been able to keep pace with the major economic and developmental advancements in our beloved country. Therefore, this celebration reflects the spirit of this venerable institution, presenting successful models that have evolved over the years, and new projects that have emerged to shape a new future. We celebrate all those who have contributed so much to this edifice, which we honor today with the laurels of its 75th anniversary." The Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Exhibition and Events Center is the Chamber's flagship project for its 20th session. It is the first of its kind in the Holy City and the largest in the Makkah region. Its primary objectives are to serve the Makkah economy, align with the Kingdom's strategic directions, boost investment, and enhance Makkah's role as a business hub and a fertile ground for opening new markets. The center also provides spaces for hosting exhibitions and events with high economic viability. The exhibition hall features a panorama of events launched by the Chamber in previous years that have garnered positive feedback from the community. These events will return in exceptional editions, aiming to introduce them to guests, attendees, and the wider community, and highlight their support for the business world across all sectors and their target audiences. The "Event Makers Exhibition" will also be launched, joining the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry's portfolio of exhibitions. This exhibition will bring together a number of companies and institutions specializing in event and conference organization and management. Its purpose is to showcase their services and the latest technologies in the exhibition industry, facilitating deals and the establishment of business relationships between event organizers and those interested in this sector. The “Real Estate Makers Exhibition” will also be held for the first time through the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Exhibition and Events Center, to highlight the most important development projects and development initiatives for the city of Makkah, the available real estate and investment opportunities, and to learn about the efforts of the supporting and participating entities in development, and the extent to which they keep pace with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

On the second day of the exhibition, the "Real Estate Developers Conference" will be held, targeting the same audience. A number of speakers specializing in real estate and investment will present enriching open meetings and discussions with visitors. The "Makkiyat Exhibition," which was launched in 2015, will return for its fourth edition, this time targeting artisans and productive families, providing opportunities to showcase their work and projects. This will contribute to improving their products, increasing their chances of entering the freelance market, enhancing their financial resources, strengthening the local economy, and encouraging the community to establish small businesses.

Among the successful exhibitions that will meet their enthusiasts is the "Manafe'a" exhibition, which launched its first edition in 2016. Its concept is based on creating a platform to showcase investment opportunities and projects in the Islamic world through commercial attachés or relevant authorities, via the Makkah Chamber of Commerce. It seeks to develop and enhance the concept of trade exchange between Islamic countries and strengthen commercial ties between them through commercial attachés. The Manafe'a exhibition is considered one of the exhibitions that transcends the local level and targets a wide audience from Islamic peoples and countries. The "Shaghaf" forum will also return to meet its enthusiasts, targeting artisans and hobbyists who have honed their skills and transformed them into pioneering projects and successful models. "Shaghaf," whose activities will continue on February 24 and 25, 2022, aims to... To support young talents and encourage their owners to invest in them and create more entrepreneurial commercial magazines in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. “Shaghaf” will have a number of specialized dialogue sessions, such as the Financial Awareness and Investment in Passion session, the Future of Information Technology Fields session, and other sessions in which experts and specialists in various related fields will speak.

At the end of the days, the Makkah Chamber of Commerce will honor the heads of the sectoral committees for their efforts that have resulted in various projects and initiatives of the Chamber, and for their recommendations that have contributed to the advancement of the various sectors, and for presenting the challenges that the private sector is going through to officials and competent authorities with the aim of achieving optimal integration between the public and private sectors.

We will be treated to an exceptional edition of the "Success Story" series of meetings. Launched in 2015 and continuing for seven years, this series hosts inspiring role models who motivate young men and women to start and persevere, revealing new facets of their lives and allowing them to witness untold stories. This edition will feature four chairmen of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, representing four consecutive terms: Hisham Kaaki (20th term), Maher Jamal (19th term), Talal Mirza (18th term), and Adel Kaaki (17th term). "Success Story" is a series of meetings that the Chamber regularly organizes, hosting leading figures to share their success stories.

The Chamber will also honor its retired employees who dedicated many years to serving Makkah and its people, setting an example of loyalty and dedication. Acting Secretary General, Engineer Ismat bin Abdulkarim Maatouq, said: “The work and projects at the Makkah Chamber are a continuous process, and challenges are constantly emerging. However, we always find capable individuals who face these challenges with wisdom and overcome them successfully. The Makkah Chamber is always keen to thank and encourage all sincere efforts and dedicated individuals.”.

Ma’touq added, “I expect positive reactions to the ceremony and all the accompanying exhibitions and events, as they essentially reflect successive successes, thanks to God. We chose to gather, activate, and present them to the community in new forms that align with our ambitious goals, God willing. This began with the inauguration of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Exhibition and Events Center. These five days will culminate the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s many years of continuous work to develop business and the community. They will also feature new projects that will intensify the exploitation of the opportunities that abound in the city of Makkah and work to overcome the challenges facing the business sector. This is in harmonious response to the calls of the National Transformation Program and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, marking the beginning of its first steps towards the centennial.”.