Out Now: The latest issue of ME PRINTER Magazine
Middle East Print Gathers Momentum Across the GCC
The printing and packaging industry is entering a pivotal phase, one defined by accelerating innovation, growing sustainability commitments, and expanding regional and global opportunities. This issue of ME Printer reflects an industry in motion, one that is not only adapting to change, but actively shaping its future across the Middle East and beyond.
As major industry platforms such as FESPA Middle East, SGI, and Gulf Print & Pack prepare for their upcoming editions in 2026, they reaffirm their role as essential business and knowledge hubs. These events continue to bring together technology providers, converters, brand owners, and decision-makers, creating the connections that drive investment, innovation, and long-term growth.
Regional News:
Bisleri Inks Deal as Emirates Cricket Board Hydration Partner
Bisleri International, India’s leading packaged drinking water brand, has entered a landmark three-year partnership with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) as its Official Hydration Partner. The agreement was formalised last week (8 December) at the Dubai International Stadium. This strategic alliance marks a significant step in Bisleri’s expansion in the UAE and reinforces its commitment to championing hydration, wellness, and peak athletic performance across global sporting platforms.
Chemitech, Böttcher to Optimise Print Solutions in Levant
Chemitech, a Lebanese supplier of printing materials, has announced a major strategic partnership with Böttcher, a German market leader in printing consumables and components. The agreement grants Chemitech the rights to distribute Böttcher’s complete range of printing materials and solutions across Lebanon and Syria.
Takamul Launches Unified Packaging Brand Identity in GCC
Saudi-based packaging company Takamul Industries has announced a strategic rebranding initiative, consolidating its five previously independent packaging companies under a single, unified brand identity across the GCC. The significant alignment aims to streamline operations, enhance market presence, and foster a cohesive vision for innovation and sustainable packaging solutions across the region.
BOBST Drives Packaging Innovation, Growth at IGE Algeria
BOBST has announced its successful participation at the Industry Grand Expo (IGE) 2025 in Oran, Algeria, where the company presented its latest technologies and industrial solutions for packaging excellence and sustainability. Over the four-day event in late October, BOBST experts also delivered a series of presentations on topics aligned with IGE’s core themes of innovation and standardisation.
FESPA Event App Goes Live, Promises Enhanced Experience
The official FESPA event app is now live and ready to help attendees get the most out of FESPA Middle East 2026. The application is designed to streamline planning and engagement for visitors at the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC).
The FESPA app helps delegates plan their visit by giving a comprehensive overview of the exhibitors and other attendees, as well as the event agenda. In addition, it features a scheduling and personalised diary function for meetings and conference sessions.
MRC, Omniya Sign MoU to Boost Kuwait’s Sustainability Goal
Metal and Recycling Company (MRC), a leading eco-industrial company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with fellow Kuwaiti entity Omniya, a nonprofit focused on plastic recycling, to support national sustainability efforts.
Under the agreement, Omniya will be responsible for collecting plastic waste directly from the source. MRC, in turn, will process this collected waste through its advanced facilities in line with global standards, enabling its safe reuse across various industries.
MMG Acquires London Lites, Scales Premium DOOH Market
Dubai-based media company Multiply Media Group (MMG) – a subsidiary of 2PointZero Group PJSC (formerly Multiply Group PJSC) – has announced the full acquisition of London Lites, a new generation of digital out-of-home (DOOH) media owners in London, renowned for its landmark locations. The transaction marks a major milestone in MMG’s international expansion strategy, establishing an immediate and scaled presence in the UK’s high-growth digital outdoor market under the Backlite UK brand.
Saudi Signage & Labelling Returns Amid Surging Demand
The future of visual communication and sustainable packaging in the Middle East will converge in Riyadh as the flagship Saudi Signage & Labelling Expo prepares for its third edition, co-located with the second edition of Saudi Paper & Packaging Expo. The highly anticipated events are scheduled to run from 20-22 April 2026 at Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center (RICEC), bringing together over 14,000 industry professionals to explore cutting-edge solutions and foster strategic partnerships.
PERURI, Sudan’s SCPP Sign MoU to Boost Security Printing
PERURI, Indonesia’s state-owned currency and security printing enterprise, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sudan Currency Printing Press Co., Ltd. (SCPP) to bolster high-security printing capabilities and infrastructure.
The MoU was signed at the PERURI head office in Jakarta on 11 December 2025. The collaboration establishes a framework for joint operations in banknote production, the manufacturing of high-security documents, and commercial printing services.
Saudi Xerox Introduces Two State-of-the-Art Lexmark Multifunction Printers in the Kingdom
With Xerox acquiring Lexmark, Saudi Xerox has taken a powerful step forward. Saudi organizations can now benefit from the combined strengths of two global leaders in print and managed print services, gaining access to advanced technologies, greater reliability, and top-of-the-line solutions for their clients and their own operations.
International:
11-4201 Cloud Dancer is Pantone Color of the Year 2026
Pantone, a global leader in colour expertise, has introduced PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer as Color of the Year 2026. A billowy white imbued in serenity, Cloud Dancer encourages true relaxation and focus, allowing the mind to wander and creativity to breathe, making room for innovation.
1000th Speedmaster CX 104 Heads to China’s Hoifu Group
HEIDELBERG’s Speedmaster CX 104 has earned the ‘bestseller’ tag in its product portfolio, with an impressive price-performance ratio as a key driver of its widespread customer appeal. The 1,000th press in this series has rolled off the production line and is destined for Hoifu Group, a rapidly expanding Chinese packaging printer with around 2,500 employees. The 14-unit special configuration, equipped for UV printing, will soon start operating at Hoifu’s new site in Yancheng, where it will be integrated into the company’s end-to-end Prinect-based workflow. This strategic investment gives Hoifu Group an opportunity to tap into new markets in the premium packaging segment, especially the luxury food, beverage, and tobacco industries.
Additive Industries Gives Fillip to High-Stakes Industries
Additive Industries, the Netherlands-based manufacturer of metal 3D printers, has introduced the MetalFab 420K, its latest flagship model. This new system is a highly automated and modular metal 3D printer that integrates a powerful configuration of four 1-kilowatt lasers, specifically engineered to boost productivity and meet the stringent quality demands of high-stakes industries such as space, aerospace, automotive, and high-tech sectors.
Canon Confirms Colorado XL Global Roll-Out in 2026
Canon has officially confirmed the upcoming global launch of its highly anticipated Colorado XL large format printer series, slated to begin rolling out early next year.
The new series – comprising the Colorado XL7 roll-to-roll printer and Colorado XL7 hybrid printer – announced by Canon in September, is a platform of 3.4m printers that extends the proven advantages of Canon’s UVgel technology to the 3.2m graphics market for the first time, combining it with extensive automation and a modular design that will enable customers to extend their application possibilities into markets such as packaging and décor.
Sappi and UPM to merge European graphic paper businesses
Sappi and UPM-Kymmene have announced the signing of a non-binding letter of intent to form a non-listed, independent 50/50 Joint Venture for graphic paper. This Joint Venture will bring together Sappi’s European Graphic Paper business with UPM’s Communication Papers business in Europe, the UK and the US. The transaction will be subject to the fulfilment of a number of regulatory and other conditions, including shareholder approval. The parties intend signing definitive agreements during the first half of calendar year 2026 and expect to close the proposed transaction by the end of calendar year 2026, once all conditions precedent are fulfilled.
Article:
The Holiday Catalog Returns: A Paper Dream in a Digital Winter
Each holiday season, the world seems to glow with digital intensity—screens flicker late into the night, algorithms predict our wants before we articulate them, and online shops race to keep up with demand. Yet in this fast-moving landscape, shoppers in many countries are quietly rediscovering something slower and surprisingly delightful: the printed holiday catalog. Once assumed to be on the brink of disappearance, it is now reclaiming a meaningful place in global shopping culture.
EXHIBITIONS
Registrations Open to Attend Gulf Print & Pack 2026
Registrations are officially open to attend Gulf Print & Pack 2026, the leading print and packaging technology exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa (MEA) region. Running from 31 March to 2 April 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the show will celebrate its 15th milestone edition with an unmatched gathering for printers, print service providers (PSPs), and brand owners.
Global Brands Tap SGI Dubai for Rapid MEA Growth
In an industry where technology cycles are compressing and customer expectations are rising, exhibitions are no longer judged by scale alone. The most valuable shows are those that consistently deliver qualified buyer access, real conversion outcomes, and a clear sense of where production, applications, and business models are heading next. For exhibitors that are seriously exploring growth outcomes in 2026, please reach out to [email protected]
Regional & International News- Arabic:
زيروكس السعودية تطلق طابعتين حديثتين متعددتي الوظائف من ليكسمارك في المملكة
من خلال الاستحواذ على ليكسمارك، اتخذت زيروكس وزيروكس السعودية خطوة قوية للأمام؛ حيث يمكن الآن للمؤسسات السعودية الاستفادة من نقاط القوة المشتركة لشركتين عالميتين رائدتين في مجال الطباعة وخدمات الطباعة المدارة والحصول على إمكانية الوصول إلى التقنيات المتقدمة وموثوقية أعلى وحلول متطورة لعملائها وعملياتها.
عودة معرض Saudi Signage & Labelling في ظل الطلب المتزايد
سيتحد مستقبل الاتصال المرئي والتغليف المستدام في الشرق الأوسط في الرياض مع انطلاق النسخة الثالثة من المعرض السعودي الرائد للافتات والملصقات Saudi Signage & Labelling Expo، بالتزامن مع النسخة الثانية من المعرض السعودي للورق والتغليف Saudi Paper & Packaging Expo. من المقرر أن تقام المعارض المنتظرة من 20 إلى 22 أبريل 2026 في مركز الرياض الدولي للمؤتمرات والمعارض، حيث تجمع أكثر من 14 ألف متخصص في الصناعة لاستكشاف الحلول المتطورة وتعزيز الشراكات الاستراتيجية.
الذكاء الاصطناعي التوليدي يحول صناعة التعبئة والتغليف العالمية، وفقًا لدراسة
يشير تقرير جديد صادر عن شركة سميثرز، الشريك البحثي الرسمي لشركة Packaging Innovations & Empack، إلى أن القيمة العالمية لسوق التغليف ستصل إلى 1.2 تريليون دولار في عام 2025، مع ظهور الذكاء الاصطناعي التوليدي (GenAI) كمحرك رئيسي للنمو والإبداع والكفاءة في جميع أنحاء القطاع. يسلط البحث الضوء على كيفية قيام الذكاء الاصطناعي بتحويل تصميم العبوات والإنتاج وعمليات سلسلة التوريد، مما يتيح للعلامات التجارية إطلاق المنتجات بشكل أسرع وتخفيضالتكاليف والاستجابة بشكل أكثر فعالية للطلب المتغير من المستهلكين.
فتح باب التسجيل لحضور معرض الخليج للطباعة والتغليف 2026
تم فتح باب التسجيل رسميًا لحضور معرض الخليج للطباعة والتغليف 2026، وهو المعرض الرائد في مجال تكنولوجيا الطباعة والتغليف في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا. سيقام المعرض في مركز دبي التجاري العالمي من 31 مارس إلى 2 أبريل 2026، وسيحتفل بنسخته الخامسة عشرة المميزة بتجمع غير مسبوق للطابعات ومقدمي خدمات الطباعة وأصحاب العلامات التجارية.
كونيج وباويير تنشر ورقة بيضاء عن دور الأوراق النقدية
نشرت شركة Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions (كونيج وباويير) – وهي شركة عالمية تقدم خدمات طباعة عالية الأمان، وخاصة لحلول الأوراق النقدية – ورقة بيضاء مفصلة بهدف زيادة الوعي بالدور الأساسي الذي تلعبه النقود المادية في تطوير مهارات التعامل مع الأموال لدى الشباب.
فيسبا الشرق الأوسط يكشف عن برنامج المؤتمر لعام 2026
أعلن فيسبا الشرق الأوسط، المنصة المتخصصة في المنطقة لصناعات الطباعة الرقمية والمنسوجات واللافتات وطباعة الشاشة العالمية، عن برنامج المؤتمر لنسخة عام 2026.
سيقام المؤتمر الذي سيستمر لثلاثة أيام من 13 إلى 15 يناير 2026 في مركز دبي للمعارض، وسيسلط الضوء على النمو المستمر والتنوع في قطاعي الطباعة واللافتات في الشرق الأوسط وعلى الفرص الجديدة والاتجاهات المستقبلية لتطوير الأعمال عبر هذه القطاعات.
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