The 5th edition of the Middle East Tyre, Auto & Spare Parts Expo (METAS 2026) concluded today at Expo Centre Sharjah after three days of intensive trade activity, drawing over 19,000 professional buyers and generating approximately USD 210 million in tentative cooperation orders across the three-day event.
Organised by Inter Commerce Expo Corp. (ICEC), METAS 2026 brought together 51 exhibitors — 44 Chinese companies from eight provinces alongside seven enterprises from the UAE and <a href="https://jordangazette.com/jordan-ahli-bank-wins-gold-at-2026-jordan-diversity-trailblazers-awards-2/”>Jordan — marking the event’s evolution from a China-centric platform into a truly international gathering. For the first time, exhibitors from Jordan joined the show, signalling METAS’s growing appeal across the region’s automotive aftermarket ecosystem.
“The UAE, and Sharjah in particular, remains the unshakable gateway for Chinese automotive brands to reach buyers across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia,” said Fa Wenyan, CEO of Inter Commerce Expo Corp. “This is more than an exhibition. It is a multi-purpose platform — 100 Chinese business delegates have travelled to Sharjah to invest, build distribution networks, and grow long-term business in this region.”
High-Level Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony was attended by Abdalla Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Xian Yi, Deputy Consul General of China in Dubai; Diaby Vacaba, Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to the UAE; Isaac Annanias Moyo, Ambassador of Zimbabwe to the UAE; and Zerihun Megersa, Consul General of Ethiopia in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
Shandong Matchmaking Conference: USD 6.8 Million in One Day
A highlight of METAS 2026 was the “Shandong Quality World Wide — Shandong Automotive & Auto Parts Industry Promotion and Precision Sourcing Matchmaking Conference,” held on August 4 as part of the expo. Organised by the Department of Commerce of Shandong Province under its “One Industry, One Policy” Foreign Trade Excellence Programme, the event connected 51 handpicked Shandong manufacturers with over 120 pre-screened buyers from more than 100 countries and territories across the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and South Asia.
More than 90 structured one-on-one negotiation sessions were completed, yielding over USD 6.8 million in tentative cooperation orders on-site. Discussions covered customised product development, bulk supply, exclusive regional distribution, consignment via overseas warehouses, and cross-border logistics.
Shandong, which produces over half of China’s total tyre output, sent manufacturers spanning the full automotive aftermarket value chain — from tyres, wheel rims, and braking systems to NEV three-electric components (battery, motor, electronic control), automotive electronics, and complete vehicles.
“Shandong’s complete industrial ecosystem guarantees reliable delivery cycles and product compatibility with local road conditions,” noted one overseas buyer, adding plans to expand procurement categories and establish long-term fixed supply chain partnerships.
International Participation Expands
Liu Ju’an, General Manager of Hualun Inter Tech FZCO, a UAE-based partner, observed: “METAS has grown from a China-focused platform into a truly international event. Welcoming exhibitors from Jordan alongside our UAE-based partners demonstrates that Sharjah is increasingly seen not just as a gateway to regional buyers, but as a destination where the global automotive trade community comes to do business.”
The event also featured the Shandong Enterprises Going Global Roundtable, VIP buyer business matching sessions, new product launches, and industry forums.
Looking Ahead: METAS 2027 and UAE–Shandong Trade Delegation
METAS 2027 — the 6th edition — has been confirmed to return to Expo Centre Sharjah. In a significant step toward deepening bilateral trade ties, a delegation of automotive business leaders from Sharjah and the UAE is scheduled to visit Shandong Province, China in September 2026 for trade visits, factory inspections, and bilateral economic cooperation discussions.
