The Light + Intelligent Building Middle East 2026, which kicks off this month (January 12) in Dubai, will examine the essential role of advanced lighting solutions in supporting the Middle East’s fast-growing transport systems.

Major projects, including the $30 billion King Salman International Airport in Riyadh and the expansion of Dubai World Central, highlight the scale of upcoming infrastructure demands.

In Dubai, the expanding urban mobility network further illustrates this need, facilitating 850,000 passenger journeys daily on the Dubai Metro, where lighting plays a critical role in maintaining safety, visibility and user comfort, said the organisers.

Abdul Muhsin, the Show Director, said: “As the Middle East continues to invest in next-generation transport infrastructure, lighting has become a strategic enabler, not just for visibility but for safety, energy efficiency, passenger wellbeing and operational resilience.”

As part of its flagship THINKLIGHT conference, the expo will feature a dedicated project perspective session which will bring together global experts to discuss lighting design in transport settings such as airports, metro stations and bus terminals.

Moderated by Martin Lupton, Co-Founder of Light Collective UK, the session features Ksristina Allison, President of the Society of Light & Lighting and Environment Lighting Lead at WSP UK, and Kaori Hiroki, Senior Associate at Loop Lighting.

Speaking ahead of the event, Kush Suneja, Founder of Spatial Vibes Lighting, emphasised lighting’s influence on human behaviour in complex transport hubs.

“Lighting is clinically proven to be linked significantly to our stress levels, sleep and overall well-being, influencing the way we navigate high complexity, dynamic environments. Simply put, lighting is that invisible presence affecting our every decision in movement,” he added.