Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the difference between “World Petroleum Council” and “World Petroleum Congress”?

• Which countries are represented in the World Petroleum Council?

• Which cities have held a previous World Petroleum Congress?

• How many people are expected to attend the 20th World Petroleum Congress?

• Why should I attend the Congress?

• Can my company sponsor the Congress?

• In which venue will the Congress take place?

• What is the main theme for the 20th World Petroleum Congress?

• Who decides the issues to be discussed in the Congress?

• Who are QMDI?

• Who are IES?

• What is the difference between the “World Petroleum Exhibition” and the “Global Business Opportunity Centre Exhibition”?

• How large is the exhibition?

• How many people are expected to visit the exhibition?

• Can my company be one of the exhibitors?

• Can I visit the exhibition?

• What is the difference between Exhibitor and Exhibitor with Social Events registration?

What is the difference between “World Petroleum Council” and “World Petroleum Congress”?

The World Petroleum Council was founded in London in 1933. It is an international, unbiased, non-political organization that provides a forum for global issues on energy and petroleum and related matters. The mandate of the World Petroleum Council is to promote the management of the world’s petroleum resources for the benefit of mankind. It aims to encourage the application of scientific advancements, technology transfer and the consideration of economic, financial, management, environmental and social effects on petroleum issues. Sixty National Committees currently comprise the decision-making body of the World Petroleum Council, representing over 95% of the world’s major oil and gas producing and consuming nations. Both OPEC and non-OPEC countries participate in the World Petroleum Council. As a neutral forum, the World Petroleum Council has been given United Nations accreditation. Every three years, the council grants the organisation of a congress, namely the World Petroleum Congress, to one of the member countries. The World Petroleum Congress is considered to be the Olympian event of the oil and gas industry. For further information on the World Petroleum Council, please visit their website: www.world-petroleum.org

Which countries are represented in the World Petroleum Council?
Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Libya, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Uruguay, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Vietnam. Check for updates of the list of member countries at www.world-petroleum.org

Which cities have held a previous World Petroleum Congress?

How many people are expected to attend the 20th World Petroleum Congress?
Following the records of past events, it is expected that the Congress will be attended by over 4,500 delegates including 600 speakers and presenters and 650 accredited press representatives. In addition, it is expected that the exhibitions will attract over 500 exhibiting companies covering 35,000 square meters of exhibition space.

Why should I attend the Congress?

• It is the only global petroleum event and the world’s largest oil & gas congress
• Its audience features a high level and number of decision makers as delegates, exhibitors and trade visitors
• It only takes place every three years
• It benefits from an extraordinary media coverage
• It is a very prestigious and significant international event
• It enjoys the presence of key government delegations, national oil and gas companies and major operators
• It enables its participants to reach a large number of existing or potential clients or partners in one week
• It features the only global oil and gas exhibition in the world, with the presence of most of the NOCs and IOCs

Can my company sponsor the Congress?
Oil and gas companies, either national or international, who wish to demonstrate their support to the world’s largest oil and gas meeting, are welcome to sponsor the World Petroleum Congress. Tailor-made sponsorship packages have been assembled to enable the most prestigious companies in the world to reach the unique audience of the largest and most significant oil and gas event in the world. Please view the Sponsors section of this website for more information.

In which venue will the Congress take place?
The Congress, and the World Petroleum Exhibition and the Global Business Opportunity Centre exhibition, will be held at the Qatar National Convention Centre. View the Venue information on this website.

What is the main theme for the 20th World Petroleum Congress?
The theme for the 20th World Petroleum Congress is: Energy Solutions for All - Promoting Cooperation, Innovation and Investment. The 20th World Petroleum Congress will focus on the solutions aimed at providing global access for all, to reliable, affordable and sustainable energy, in both the near and long term future.

Who decides the issues to be discussed in the Congress?
The congress programme is put together by the World Petroleum Congress Programme Committee (CPC). It consists of a group of senior oil and gas experts elected by the World Petroleum Council, from different countries. Currently representatives from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, UK and the United States, are included.

Who are QMDI?
Qatar MICE Development Institute (QMDI) is a joint venture company owned by Qatar Foundation. The Qatar Organising Committee has appointed QMDI as the Sales, Marketing & Exhibition Management contractor for the 20th World Petroleum Congress.

Who are IES?
IES, International Exhibition Services, is an Italian company specialising in the organisation of oil and gas exhibitions worldwide. IES has been appointed by QMDI as the exclusive international sales agent for the 20th World Petroleum Congress, specifically to promote and sell the exhibitions of the 20th World Petroleum Congress.

What is the difference between the “World Petroleum Exhibition” and the “Global Business Opportunity Centre Exhibition”?
The exhibition of the 20th World Petroleum Congress is made of two sections. The World Petroleum Exhibition (WPE) is the section dedicated to domestic and international companies. It is accessible to any company in the world involved and/or interested in the oil and gas sector. The Global Business Opportunity Centre (GBOC) is the area reserved for all the national committees of the World Petroleum Council. Every National Committee receives a free allocation of space on the GBOC area (9 sqm per National Committee) and can then choose to purchase additional space. The GBOC makes the World Petroleum Congress a significant oil and gas exhibition in the world, as it enjoys the presence of most of the largest National Oil Companies in the world. Though the GBOC has a demarcated area, it takes place in the same exhibition hall as the World Petroleum Exhibition.

How large is the exhibition?
The size of the combined Global Business Opportunity Centre and the World Petroleum Exhibition is expected to reach 35,000sqm at the 20th World Petroleum Congress, with over 20% occupied by the GBOC. This will make it one of the largest oil and gas exhibitions in the world, and certainly the most prestigious event. It is expected that 100% of this space would be booked well in advance of the Congress.

How many people are expected to visit the exhibition?
It is expected that the 4,500 delegates attending the Congress, plus some other 10,000 professionals will visit the exhibition.

Can my company be one of the exhibitors?
Oil and gas companies, and their main suppliers, are welcome to be exhibitors at the World Petroleum Exhibition. Please view the Contact Us section in this website.

Can I visit the exhibition?
In addition to the congress delegates, who will gain automatic access to the exhibition, any professional is welcome to visit the exhibition. The entrance to the exhibition is free of charge at anytime. Visitors will need to get accredited at the registration desk.

What is the difference between "Exhibitor and Exhibitor with Social Events" registrations?
All exhibitors and their staff must be registered and display the Congress badge during all times, including move-in and move-out periods. Exhibitors, who will not take part in any technical sessions or social events, are entitled to have a number of free exhibitor badges, according to their stand size. In this case, please refer to the Exhibitor's Manual. In addition there is an additional fee of 500 Euros, per exhibitor, for those who besides attending the exhibition, also wish to attend the Social  events of the Congress.