Beyond Automation: How AI Is Shaping Personalized Attendee Journeys in the UAE 

Why UAE Events Expect Personalization by Default 

Events are defined by the participation of people who want things to be easy, interesting and enjoyable. In the UAE, when you think about events, they have raised the bar and set the standard for the types of experiences people want from events. In addition to having the highest expectations, events are now being delivered with an AI and a contextual experience in the future.   

The future of event management in the UAE will see AI being embedded in not only how event managers operate but also how each attendee will be taken on a journey throughout the entire experience starting with the time before the event to when they engage after the event. Event experiences will no longer be a one-size-fits-all approach, rather there will be event experiences that are tailored to the individual and provide a personal experience for each attendee. 

AI-Powered Content and Agenda Personalization 

In an area where audience expectations are defined by top-of-the-line hospitality, relevance is not optional. Personalisation powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) addresses this need and creates a personalised, individually tailored content experience unique to each attendee.  

Hyper-Personalised Agendas  

AI analyses (as signals) the attendee’s behaviour, content accessed, industry role, past sessions attended, and even regional tastes/preferences, to generate session recommendations that are aligned specifically with each attendee’s interests.   

Lower Drop-Off Rates and Improved Session Fit   

As each attendee’s agenda will be aligned with their individual goals, the higher the engagement in all sessions will be. Because attendees are able to receive an agenda that is aligned with their desired goals, there are significantly lower rates of drop-off due to feeling empowered as opposed to overwhelmed.   

Strong Cultural Compatibility with UAE Attendees   

As part of their culture and business practices, the UAE has an expectation of hospitality, personalised attention and proactive service; therefore, the AI recommended sessions provide an elevated level of expectation for a ‘curated’ agenda as opposed to a ‘generic’ one.   

By doing so, the result is that attendees navigate the site with clarity and confidence and with the belief that the site has been thoughtfully organised to provide for their needs. 

Intelligent Networking and Matchmaking 

Events in the UAE benefit significantly by attracting cross-border, multinational and industrially diverse participants. Networking is one of the key value drivers for these events and AI is able to create a formal meeting structure for networking that eliminates random chance encounters.  

AI is able to provide 2 types of AI-driven matchmaking:   

Interest-based and Role-based Matchmaking:   

Through understanding each individual’s professional history, industry verticals, products of interest and previous engagement the AI can make recommendations on other attendees, exhibitors and decision-makers who would be relevant to them.   

No More Random Encounters:   

Attendees no longer need to wander around the venue trying to find relevant connections. The AI assists them in connecting them with individuals who genuinely share similar interests.   

Higher Value Connections for Exhibitors & Sponsors:  

Exhibitor/sponsors are now able to connect with a higher quality of individuals that are of the right fit for their company. This means a greater number of leads being generated, speedier on-site qualification of leads and increased return on investment for sponsors/exhibitor.   

For events where there is a presence of buyers, investors and international attendees, the use of intelligent matchmaking maximises the experience of all attendees and gives each participant a tangible value from their participation. 

Dynamic Engagement and Real-Time Adaptation 

Personalization doesn’t finish when guests check in. Rather, UAE events are progressively utilizing real-time personalization to guide the participant experience from the time they arrive until they leave.  

AI-based nudges:  

Smart nudges are sent to attendees at timely points while they are on the event floor, such as ‘This session is about to start’, ‘Other attendees with similar interests to yours are attending this workshop’ or ‘Your match is here now’. These automated nudges facilitate movement through the venue to meet their aspirations and look for opportunities for networking.  

Dynamic personalisation through adaptive recommendations:  

As attendees interact with different sessions, including viewing content and visiting displays booths, and saving sessions for future viewing, AI can immediately adapt its relevant recommendations based on previous behaviour. The event experience is fluid and continuously evolving.  

Helping diverse and multilingual audiences to connect seamlessly:  

Real-time multilingual adaptation of the event and its content make it much easier for all event participants who have travelled from various countries in the GCC, Asia, Europe and Africa to participate.  

This type of continuous dynamic personalisation provides a natural flow of information. It enables attendees to feel like they are receiving assistance and support from event organisers and helps Event Organisers build world-class event experiences that promote attendee value and satisfaction. 

Samaaro Spotlight: Personalization That Adapts in Real Time 

In the UAE, personalization isn’t a feature, it’s an expectation. Samaaro is built to deliver personalization as a living system, not a static configuration. 

By continuously interpreting behavioral signals, stated preferences, and real-time activity, Samaaro shapes each attendee’s journey as it unfolds, without overwhelming them with options or notifications. 

Here’s what that means in practice: 

• Contextual guidance, not content overload 
  Attendees see sessions, networking suggestions, and prompts that are relevant to where they are in the journey, not everything the event offers. This mirrors the UAE’s service-first expectation: proactive, precise, and respectful of attention. 
• Adaptive engagement across the event floor 
  As attendees attend sessions, interact with booths, or save content, Samaaro adjusts recommendations and nudges instantly. The experience evolves with the attendee instead of forcing them into a pre-defined path. 
• Human interaction stays central 
  AI informs timing, relevance, and sequencing, but it doesn’t replace hospitality, concierge-style support, or face-to-face engagement. Technology stays invisible; the experience feels intentional. 

This personalization layer sits on top of Samaaro’s broader AI-driven event operating model, where intelligence informs planning, engagement, and post-event decision-making across the entire event lifecycle, not just attendee-facing moments. 

For organizers, this translates into: 

• Higher session relevance without manual agenda curation 
• More meaningful networking outcomes for international and cross-sector audiences 
• Better engagement signals for sponsors and exhibitors without intrusive tactics 

Samaaro enables events to deliver personalization at scale while preserving the high-touch, premium experience the region is known for. 

Personalization Is Now the UAE Standard 

The UAE’s Event Landscape has consistently operated ahead of global expectations and is currently pushing those boundaries with AI-driven personalization. People attending events in the UAE do not just want automation; they desire experiences that have been designed from an individual’s specific needs, goals, and behaviour.  

The use of AI as a major focal point is aiding attendees through all aspects of their event journey, from agenda curation to intelligent networking and real-time engagement. As Brands in the UAE continue to implement this sea change, these Brands will provide a deeper and more immersive experience for attendees, while setting the standard for excellence in events in the UAE.