The Institute of Corrosion (ICorr) was honoured to participate in the 19th Middle East Corrosion Conference (MECC), held on 11-13 November 2025 in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where ICorr President Dr Yunnan Gao attended as a VIP guest at the invitation of the Chairman of the Materials Engineering Association (MEA) of the Kingdom.
Widely recognised as one of the region’s premier corrosion and materials engineering events, the biennial MECC event brought together industry leaders, technical experts, academics, and innovators from around the world. Dr Gao engaged in extensive discussions with global stakeholders and met with senior figures across the Middle East’s energy and industrial sectors.
Photo: VIP Attendees of the 19th MECC, held on 11-13 November 2025 in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
A major highlight of the visit – both for ICorr and for the wider corrosion community – was the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ICorr and MEA, held during the conference. This agreement, already published on the ICorr website, establishes a framework for enhanced cooperation, technical exchange, and joint initiatives between the two organisations.
The MoU marks an important milestone in strengthening international collaboration and supports ICorr’s strategic goal of deepening engagement with global partners.
Photo: ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao (Right) and Chairman of MEA, Dr Tariq A. Alghamdi (Left), at the MoU Signing Ceremony on 12th November 2025 during the 19th MECC in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
L-R: Rashed Alhajri (MEA Education and Training Committee Chair), George Winning (ICorr Treasurer), Muhsen Elhaddad (FICorr of Qatar Energy), Dr Tariq A. Alghamdi (MEA Chairman), and Dr Yunnan Gao (ICorr President) Attended the ICorr-MEA MoU Signing Ceremony on 12th November 2025 during the 19th MECC in Dhahran, Saudi.
The conference also provided a valuable opportunity to reconnect with AMPP leadership, including the AMPP CEO, Alan Thomas, for Dr Gao to share insights on global trends and collaborative opportunities between ICorr and AMPP.
In addition to high-level meetings, MECC offered an extensive technical programme showcasing leading-edge developments in corrosion science, inspection, and mitigation. Particularly notable were sessions focused on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into corrosion monitoring, predictive modelling, and asset integrity management. These developments demonstrate the accelerating role of digital technologies in shaping the future of corrosion engineering and management.
Photo: ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao (Right), and AMPP CEO, Alan Thomas (Left), at the 19th MECC in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
Reflecting on the conference, Dr Gao said: “It was a great honour to attend MECC as a guest of the MEA and to experience the scale, depth, and technical excellence of this important regional event. The signing of the MoU between ICorr and MEA represents a significant step forward in our international collaboration efforts. The insights gained, especially in emerging areas such as AI-driven corrosion management, will help strengthen ICorr’s global outlook and create new opportunities for our members.”
ICorr extends its appreciation to MEA for the invitation and hospitality and looks forward to developing this partnership through the initiatives set out in the newly signed MoU. Further updates, photos, and follow-up activities will be shared with members in due course via ICorr communication channels
