PiFA Plans Middle East Debut at GPCA Forum 2026

29 October 2026: The Plastic is Fantastic Association (PiFA) plans to make its Middle East debut at GPCA Forum 2026, taking place on 22-24 November at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, UAE. The association aims to build relationships with raw-material suppliers and broaden discussion about plastics and packaging across the regional value chain.

In its announcement dated 26 October 2026, PiFA describes the planned appearance as a step towards expanding its international network. Its priorities include recruiting members and developing partnerships with businesses at the beginning of the plastics supply chain.

GPCA Forum 2026: dates and exhibition stand

The 20th Annual Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association Forum will run for three days. The organiser’s official exhibitor directory lists Plastic Is Fantastic at stand G-20, confirming the association’s place in the exhibition.

PiFA says visitors can meet its team there to discuss the association’s activities and possible cooperation. Its planned appearance adds an association-led outreach programme to a regional plastics events calendar that also includes ArabPlast 2027 in Dubai.

Why PiFA is targeting the MENA region

Dominic Fiel, PiFA’s Executive Director, will attend with Sladjana Davidovic, whom the announcement identifies as Regional Campaign Manager MENA. Her remit covers developing the association’s presence in the Arab region.

“To sustainably change the perception of plastics worldwide, we need to involve all stakeholders across the supply chain,” Fiel says in the announcement.

PiFA identifies the Middle East and North Africa as an important region for reaching raw-material producers. Rather than concentrating only on finished packaging, the team wants to involve suppliers in discussions about materials and their applications. 

Professional dialogue across the value chain

The association’s own website sets out a mission to improve public perceptions of plastics through communication and industry cooperation. It identifies Fiel as a board member and executive director.

In its account of the association’s formation, ALPLA describes how its Plastic is Fantastic consumer campaigns developed into a shared industry initiative. The packaging manufacturer says it began those campaigns in 2021 before opening the effort to other plastics companies. That history helps explain PiFA’s membership approach: it wants companies across the supply chain to participate in joint communication, rather than speak only through separate campaigns.

For Dubai, PiFA says it will focus on professional dialogue, engagement with policymakers and exchanges across industries. Its fact-based communication message describes an advocacy objective, not an independent assessment of any packaging material.

Forum theme and audience expectations

The forum’s official theme is “Persistence with Purpose: Built to Endure.” Its programme priorities include supply-chain resilience, competitiveness and circularity, giving PiFA a setting for conversations with chemical-industry executives and other stakeholders.

GPCA’s media-partner information describes the Annual Forum as targeting 2,500-plus attendees. That is an audience target, not a confirmed attendance total for the November 2026 event.

https://www.pif-association.com