The Access and Handling Confex 2025, organised by Construction Machinery Middle East magazine, concluded on a high note last week at Lapita Resorts, Dubai, marking its most successful edition to date.
Bringing together the Middle East’s leading manufacturers, rental companies, contractors, and technology providers, the event drew record participation with 16 exhibiting brands and 20 machines on display, alongside a packed conference programme that explored the latest trends in access, lifting, and material-handling technology.
Building on its heritage as the former Access and Handling Summit, this year’s Confex reaffirmed its position as the region’s largest dedicated event for the sector. The exhibition display area buzzed with activity as attendees experienced live demonstrations from global and regional leaders, including JCB, Sinoboom, Dingli, CMC, and LiuGong, among others.
From hybrid and electric platforms to advanced telematics and AI-assisted safety systems, exhibitors showcased a new generation of equipment designed to improve site efficiency and sustainability. Live demonstrations gave attendees a first-hand look at machine performance and smart control features reshaping modern fleet management.
JCB unveiled its newest 22 meter telescopic boom lift access platform, the latest addition to its expanding Access range in the Middle East, a key region for JCB’s global growth plans.
Built to reach higher and work smarter, the diesel-powered JCB T65D telescopic boom lift has been engineered to perform in the toughest job site conditions — from construction and maintenance to industrial operations. Combining power and precision, it delivers maximum uptime, minimal maintenance, and unrivalled operator confidence.
“The JCB T65D sets a new benchmark for performance, safety and efficiency, all within a familiar, operator-friendly package,” said Dan Jenner, JCB’s Middle East access sales manager. “It represents JCB’s ongoing commitment to providing access solutions that meet the real-world needs of regional contractors.”
Beyond the exhibition, the conference programme gave delegates practical insight and thought leadership for an industry undergoing rapid change. Industry experts, manufacturers, and rental executives discussed automation, digital transformation, and data-driven fleet optimisation, themes that are increasingly influencing procurement and investment decisions across the Gulf’s access and handling markets.
“The Access and Handling event continues to grow each year. We were asked by the industry to expand the exhibition and showcase the very best in access and lifting equipment across the region. We are so pleased that we saw so many industry end-users and equipment buyers join us throughout the whole day,” said Stephen White, Head of Capital Assests and Mobility at CPI Trade Media.
“This year’s turnout and social media engagement have been exceptional and a clear sign that the market has an appetite for innovation, technology, and collaboration.”
Industry Endorsement and Community Impact
Feedback from exhibitors and delegates highlighted the event’s growing importance as a platform for networking and knowledge exchange.
As Arfat Ahmed from Sinoboom noted, the event was a “great great event” and a perfect chance to “display our machines, the key players, the telematics and everything involved in our machinery.”
Mohamed Shabeer from LiuGong noted that “”the event is a big platform to launch any product and has been highly successful for showcasing and presenting their products to the local market.”
Social media engagement from brands and visitors mirrored that sentiment. Highlights from the show floor, shared via CMME’s LinkedIn coverage, featured machine demonstrations, new launches, and interviews with key partners, drawing hundreds of reactions and comments from across the region’s equipment community.
Following the success of the 2025 edition, CPI Trade Media confirmed plans to expand the Access and Handling Confex experience further in November 2026, introducing new demonstration zones and broader coverage of warehouse automation, oil and gas, and equipment rental innovation.
