The 3rd edition of BE in SABAH in 2026 brings draws global participants and perspectives to East Malaysia.
Long known as the “Land Below the Wind” for bucket-list diving in Sipadan and off-grid adventures in Danum Valley, Sabah in East Malaysia is emerging from the fringes and transforming itself as a ground for global business engagements.
No longer content to play second fiddle to Malaysia’s more established business events destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang or even Sarawak, Sabah is fast positioning itself as a credible East ASEAN hub on Borneo, where ideas, partnerships and investment dialogue can take shape.
That ambition was on full display at BE in SABAH 2026, the third edition of the International Business Events Forum. What began in 2024 as a local capability-building initiative has grown into an international platform this year, drawing 33 speakers from 18 countries and territories, spanning Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania.
“This year’s forum shifts from building participation to enabling sustained partnerships,” said Datuk Dr Hajah Rosmawati Haji Lasuki, CEO of Sabah International Convention Centre and organising chairperson of BE in SABAH 2026. “What is perhaps most significant is not the scale of this forum, but its continuity, because this signals commitment: to the industry, to our partners, and to the work that lies ahead.”
New synergies
Jointly organised by Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) and the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) Sabah Chapter, BE in SABAH 2026 carried the theme “Global Collaboration Through Business Events”.
The forum was officially opened by The Honourable Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister of Sabah, representing The Most Honourable Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Bin Haji Noor, Chief Minister of Sabah.
“Sabah recognises business events as part of its broader economic and development approach,” he said. “We will leverage this platform to expand cross-border collaboration and connect regional capabilities with global networks. As global expectations evolve, Sabah’s direction remains clear and focused.”
One session that struck a particularly strong chord with Sabah’s aspirations was “New Age, New Mandate: Leading Business Events with Risk, Resilience and Responsibilities (3Rs)”. With sustainability at its core, the session examined how Monaco successfully repositioned itself from a casino-centric destination into the Yachting Capital of the World – with yachting now a major economic driver.
In a video address, Bernard D’Alessandri of Yacht Club de Monaco attributed the principality’s resilience to “the long-term vision of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which prioritised sustainability, climate change and biodiversity”, showing that even small destinations can achieve global relevance with the right strategy and collaboration.