APLF-Leather and Materials+ 2022 will be relocated from Hong Kong to Dubai, UAE, from 30 March – 1 April 2022 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) as the Hong Kong government’s announcement in August 2021 stipulated that the current regulations under the Prevention & Control of Disease Ordinance will be extended until March 31, 2022. This has meant continued disruption to both exhibitors and visitors for the APLF fairs, as inbound travel to Hong Kong is subject to testing and lengthy quarantine restrictions. Hence, APLF’s project in Dubai was born, so as to continue its mission of “Serving the Global Leather and Fashion Industries”. The location of Dubai between Europe and Asia also makes it an ideal location for APLF whose mix of exhibitors and buyers come from approximately 80 countries worldwide. At the same time, there are many excellent international flight connections to and from Europe, The Middle East, Africa, Asia and direct flights from the US and South America. The composition of visitors may well be different from the usual mix seen in Hong Kong, but Dubai as an international globally important commercial hub and being the location of the World Expo 2020 will provide sufficient visitors and buyers for a successful international leather and fashion accessories fair. APLF’s Marketing and Visitor Promotion team will adjust the visitor promotion strategies to complement the Dubai venue and at the same time work closely with Informa Markets’ regional offices, as well as associations, and institutions, to ensure both quality and spread of visitors. “This special edition of APLF in Dubai will figure as the most important meeting of international leather stakeholders, suppliers and buyers since our last edition in 2019,” says Frank Boehly, Director of APLF and President of Société Internationale du Cuir (SIC Group). “The industry needs APLF as an annual platform and our proactive decision to relocate the fairs from Hong Kong to Dubai shows our determination to continue serving the global leather industries. I am sure with the support of everyone, both our exhibitors and buyers will have the same, if not higher satisfaction as they have experienced in the past in Hong Kong.”
