ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East RACE 2026
RACE 2026 united the Asia-Pacific and Middle East airport community in Bangkok for ACI's regional assembly, conference and exhibition — the primary forum where GCC airport operators, regulators and technology suppliers shape policy, procurement and partnership priorities for the year ahead.
What is ACI RACE?
RACE — the ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Regional Assembly, Conference & Exhibition — is the flagship annual gathering for airport operators, regulators, governments and aviation suppliers across APAC and the Middle East. Co-organised by ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East with host airport operator Airports of Thailand (AOT), it combines a members' assembly, multi-track conference, exhibition floor, and structured networking.
For Gulf airport companies, RACE is one of the few events where senior DXB, AUH, DOH, RUH and regional authority delegations appear in the same programme as Asian hub airports — making it a high-signal venue for benchmarking and supplier discovery.
RACE 2026 Bangkok — theme and programming
The 2026 edition ran 12–14 May 2026 under the theme "Airports as Engines of Shared Prosperity" — framing airports as drivers of social and economic development across APAC and the Middle East, not just transport nodes.
Programming included the regional assembly, conference sessions on industry direction, an exhibition with booth bookings for technology and service providers, speaker faculty, sponsor tiers, and a post-conference tour. Official materials are on aciapmid-race.com.
- Regional assembly for ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East members
- Conference programme with industry leaders and regulators
- Exhibition — technology, BHS, IT, GSE, security and airport services
- Networking hub and delegate registration platform
- Participating companies list from prior editions for planning
Venue and logistics
Conference sessions were held at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen's Park (Thai Chitlada Grand Ballroom, 2/F), 199 Sukhumvit Alley 22, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110.
AOT coordinated priority immigration lanes at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) for participants 11–13 May, plus an airport welcome desk. Taxi from BKK is typically 35–60 minutes (THB 300–500); Airport Rail Link + BTS is a budget alternative (~THB 68, 1.5–2 hours).
Who attends
Delegates include airport CEOs and COOs, aviation regulators, government ministries, airline airport affairs teams, and suppliers across baggage, IT, security, GSE, terminal design and retail. Middle East representation is structurally strong because ACI's regional scope explicitly includes the MID chapter alongside Asia-Pacific.
Key themes
Audience mix
GCC airport procurement at RACE
RACE is where Gulf airport operators compare notes with Changi, Incheon, and emerging ASEAN hubs on the same stage — useful for validating whether a supplier's APAC install base translates to Gulf heat, peak-hour throughput, and regulatory context.
Before the next RACE, build your meeting list from the published exhibitor directory and cross-match each company on Aviation Souk for GCC references, certifications, and product depth — so booth conversations convert to RFQs with evidence.
- Prioritise BHS, CUSS/CUPPS, biometrics and security vendors with dual APAC + GCC installs
- Use assembly themes to align internal capex narratives with regional policy direction
- Capture speaker slides on capacity and terminal design — inputs for KSIA/Riyadh-style programmes
- Schedule BizZone-style meetings with vendors already on your approved list
Venue & logistics
- Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen's Park — conference venue for RACE 2026
- BKK priority lanes for registered participants (11–13 May 2026)
- Taxi recommended; BTS Phrom Phong (Exit 6) nearest skytrain stop
Travel tips
- Allow extra time for Sukhumvit traffic during peak hours
- Thailand offers visa exemption for many GCC nationalities — verify before travel
- May is hot season — plan outdoor transfers accordingly
Frequently asked questions
When was ACI RACE 2026?
12–14 May 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand.
What was the RACE 2026 theme?
Airports as Engines of Shared Prosperity.
Where was RACE 2026 held?
Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen's Park, with AOT as host.
Who organises RACE?
ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, with the host airport operator (AOT in 2026).
Why should GCC airport teams follow RACE?
It is the main APAC+Middle East airport operator forum — shaping policy, partnerships and supplier visibility for the regions Gulf hubs compete with and partner alongside.
Related categories
Suppliers to know
Going to ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East RACE 2026?
Describe what you’re sourcing — Souk surfaces ranked supplier shortlists per category and flags which exhibitors at this show are worth your meeting time.
Find a part · get quotes →