The Arab SMEs Summit is UN-ESCWA’s annual gathering connecting Arab-region small and medium enterprises with investors, policymakers, and development funders. Its fourth edition runs November 18–20, 2026, in Baghdad, Iraq. Registration is open now for SMEs, startups, professionals, and media via the official portal — with no published closing date for general attendees.
At a glance
| Deadline | No published closing date for general attendee registration — open now. Speaker/exhibitor slots may follow an earlier, organizer-set deadline; confirm on the portal. |
| Eligibility | SMEs, startups, entrepreneurs, investors, business incubators, innovation institutions, policymakers, university partners, and media — across the Arab region |
| What you get | Access to ministerial policy dialogues, investor-entrepreneur meetings, startup pitch competitions, and thematic sessions on finance, digital transformation, and market expansion. Not a direct cash grant to attendees. |
| Geography | Open to SMEs across the Arab region; hosted in Baghdad, Iraq |
| How to apply | Register via the official portal (link below) |
| Official link | asmes-2026.unescwa.org |
Who’s eligible
The summit is open to SMEs across the Arab region looking to expand beyond their home market, alongside entrepreneurs, investors, business incubators, innovation institutions, policymakers, university partners, and development-finance institutions. Registration categories cover SMEs, startups, professionals, and media. (asmes-2026.unescwa.org)
What you get
Registration gets you into ministerial policy dialogues, entrepreneur storytelling sessions, startup pitch competitions, and investor-entrepreneur dialogues, plus thematic tracks on financial access, digital transformation, AI adoption, strategic partnerships, and regulatory reform. This isn’t a grant program — no per-attendee funding amount is disclosed. What is disclosed: across its first three editions (Amman 2022, Morocco 2023, Doha 2024), the summit’s network mobilized more than $300 million in partner commitments for regional SME support. (Mirage News)
Named institutional partners include AGFUND, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, ITFC/AFTIAS, the International Labour Organization, UNESCO, UNICEF, IOM, UNFPA, UNDP, UNDRR, UN Volunteers, and the International Trade Centre.
How to apply
- Go to the official registration portal: depar.unescwa.org/ASMES2026-registration
- Select your attendee category (SME/startup, professional, investor, or media).
- Complete the registration form. General attendees can register any time before the event; speakers and exhibitors should check the portal for any earlier submission deadline set by organizers.
Fees and visa logistics aren’t published on the pages available at the time of writing — confirm those directly on the registration portal rather than assuming.
Key dates
- Summit dates: November 18–20, 2026
- Location: Baghdad International Fair, Baghdad, Iraq
- Registration: Open now for general attendees; no published closing date
No public info-session or results-announcement dates are available at the time of writing.
FAQ
Is there a deadline to register for the Arab SMEs Summit 2026?
No closing date is published for general attendees as of this writing; check the official portal for the current status.
Is the Arab SMEs Summit free to attend?
Cost details aren’t published on the summit’s public pages; confirm directly on the registration portal.
Who can register?
SMEs, startups, entrepreneurs, investors, incubators, innovation institutions, policymakers, and media across the Arab region.
Is this a funding program?
No — it’s a convening summit, not a grant. It does bring together the funders and partners behind more than $300 million in prior regional SME commitments.
Where and when is it held?
November 18–20, 2026, at the Baghdad International Fair in Iraq — the summit’s fourth edition, following Amman (2022), Morocco (2023), and Doha (2024).
