March 12 (Reuters) - British exhibitions group Informa on Thursday reported a 15% rise in annual adjusted operating profit, driven by strong performance in its live business events business. The
UK's Informa delays Middle East events due to Iran war, remains committed to region
Informa's Response to Middle East Conflict and Event Postponements
By Yamini Kalia
Event Postponements and Financial Impact
March 12 (Reuters) - Informa has postponed events across more than 10 brands in the Middle East to the latter months of 2026 due to conflict in the region, and is expected to absorb some of the rescheduling costs, it said on Thursday.
CEO Statement on Client Withdrawals and Event Relocation
Stephen Carter, the CEO of the world's largest exhibitions group, said only a nominal number of clients have withdrawn from events in the region due to U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, adding that the postponed events have not been relocated.
Fixed Costs and Ongoing Commitments
"There are some fixed costs that we'll have to swallow, for sure, because we had some events that were kind of in-flight," Carter told analysts in a conference call.
The British group runs events in markets including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Revenue and Strategic Importance of the IMEA Division
Informa earns about a quarter of its revenue from its India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) division and said roughly 40% of the region’s 2026 revenue is already secured.
Upcoming Events and Regional Presence
According to event listings on its Informa Markets website, the company is hosting events in Dubai starting in September, while events in Saudi Arabia from April onwards were still listed.
Commitment to Middle East Targets and Growth Initiatives
The group, which reported a 15% jump in profit in 2025, said it remained committed to its Middle East targets despite the crisis.
IMEA is a key growth market for Informa, which recently launched a joint venture with the Dubai World Trade Centre as fast-growing economies increasingly use conferences and exhibitions to attract foreign investment.
Broader Impact of the Iran War on the Industry
The Iran war has forced airlines to cancel flights or reroute around drone and missile activity, severely restricting airspace and triggering the industry’s worst crisis since the pandemic.
Financial Targets and Analyst Reactions
Informa reaffirmed its 2026 revenue and earnings target, a move welcomed by analysts, although shares fell 1.6% in morning trade.
Event Scheduling During Ramadan and Ongoing Preparations
Informa previously told Reuters that no events in the affected countries were scheduled to run in March due to Ramadan, and preparations for events running in the second quarter were continuing, subject to review with relevant authorities.
Additional Information
($1 = 0.7472 pounds)
(Reporting by Simone Lobo and Yamini Kalia in Bengaluru; Writing by Yadarisa Shabong; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Kevin Liffey and Keith Weir)
