When it comes to major conferences in the affiliate marketing industry, Sigma Eurasia and Affiliate World Dubai immediately make it to the must-visit list. These aren't just meetings of like-minded individuals; they are powerful platforms for networking, deals, and trends that set the direction for the development of the industry. Of course, we couldn't stay on the sidelines!
Our teams from OctoClick (advertising network) and OctoCPA (affiliate network) traveled to Dubai to ride the wave of new opportunities, exchange insights with colleagues, and see how productive networking can be when it's happening amid skyscrapers and perfect roads.
This time, our team was energetic and ready for action. We sent those who love and know how to create affiliate cases (and aren't afraid of 12 hours of nonstop communication).
The team included CEO Alexey and owner Max — people who know exactly where they are taking the business. Dima, Head of Affiliate at OctoClick, and Lana, Team Lead at OctoCPA, kept their fingers on the pulse of affiliate trends and enthusiastically searched for new clients. And Nik and Kolya — our managers who know how to strike up a conversation even with the most reserved webmasters and advertisers.
What came out of it? We're sharing impressions, insights, and the results of the trip!
Our teams from OctoClick (advertising network) and OctoCPA (affiliate network) traveled to Dubai to ride the wave of new opportunities, exchange insights with colleagues, and see how productive networking can be when it's happening amid skyscrapers and perfect roads.
This time, our team was energetic and ready for action. We sent those who love and know how to create affiliate cases (and aren't afraid of 12 hours of nonstop communication).
The team included CEO Alexey and owner Max — people who know exactly where they are taking the business. Dima, Head of Affiliate at OctoClick, and Lana, Team Lead at OctoCPA, kept their fingers on the pulse of affiliate trends and enthusiastically searched for new clients. And Nik and Kolya — our managers who know how to strike up a conversation even with the most reserved webmasters and advertisers.
What came out of it? We're sharing impressions, insights, and the results of the trip!
Dubai: Expensive and Luxurious, But How Is It for Work?
For some of our team, this was their first trip to Dubai, and the impressions were vivid, though somewhat mixed. Dima, for example, admits that as a tourist, he wasn't particularly eager to visit, but he was still curious to see this famous megacity with his own eyes. The fact that just a few decades ago this was all desert is truly striking. Now, it's a city of the future, where everything shines, is expensive, and high-tech, but in his opinion, it's slightly lacking in soul.
However, as a place for work, Dubai is definitely a winner. The infrastructure is convenient, it's not hot in the winter, and sometimes even pleasantly cool. Getting to the conference is no hassle, and the polite service is noticeable everywhere. Taxis are a whole other story: the cars are comfortable even in the economy class, and the wait time is only a few minutes. When it comes to transportation organization, it's top-notch.
In terms of conferences and networking, Dubai is quickly becoming the center of the affiliate world. Lana points out that here you can easily meet both advertisers and webmasters, many faces are already familiar, and new contacts are established simply and quickly.
Kolya, who was in Dubai for the first time, is still processing his emotions: besides the amazing atmosphere, he was able to meet a large number of partners in person, with whom he had previously only interacted online. When it comes to international events, the city is truly ideal.
However, as a place for work, Dubai is definitely a winner. The infrastructure is convenient, it's not hot in the winter, and sometimes even pleasantly cool. Getting to the conference is no hassle, and the polite service is noticeable everywhere. Taxis are a whole other story: the cars are comfortable even in the economy class, and the wait time is only a few minutes. When it comes to transportation organization, it's top-notch.
In terms of conferences and networking, Dubai is quickly becoming the center of the affiliate world. Lana points out that here you can easily meet both advertisers and webmasters, many faces are already familiar, and new contacts are established simply and quickly.
Kolya, who was in Dubai for the first time, is still processing his emotions: besides the amazing atmosphere, he was able to meet a large number of partners in person, with whom he had previously only interacted online. When it comes to international events, the city is truly ideal.
Expectations from the conferences: what we came for and what we got.
Conferences in Dubai attract participants from all over the world, and for us, it was an opportunity to address several objectives at once. First of all, it's a great platform for finding new partners. Dubai is easily accessible for both European and Asian participants, and for Russians, there are no visa complications like there are when traveling to Europe. So, logistics are definitely in favor of this location.
Therefore, even before the flight, we had an idea of who we would meet and what goals we were pursuing. One of the priorities was expanding our partner network. OctoCPA focused on finding new webmasters, while OctoClick aimed to establish connections with advertisers and discuss potential deals.
Additionally, the trip gave us the chance to meet in person with those we had only known online before. We met with existing partners, introduced them to our products, and discussed possible collaboration formats. For example, Kolya was focused on in-person meetings with advertisers, and as a result, he managed to find buying teams with whom negotiations are now underway.
Well, at least we gathered a solid number of contacts, and now the key is to convert them into productive partnerships.
It was not only useful but also exciting — a fun atmosphere and a great opportunity to make a bold statement in the industry.
Therefore, even before the flight, we had an idea of who we would meet and what goals we were pursuing. One of the priorities was expanding our partner network. OctoCPA focused on finding new webmasters, while OctoClick aimed to establish connections with advertisers and discuss potential deals.
Additionally, the trip gave us the chance to meet in person with those we had only known online before. We met with existing partners, introduced them to our products, and discussed possible collaboration formats. For example, Kolya was focused on in-person meetings with advertisers, and as a result, he managed to find buying teams with whom negotiations are now underway.
Well, at least we gathered a solid number of contacts, and now the key is to convert them into productive partnerships.
It was not only useful but also exciting — a fun atmosphere and a great opportunity to make a bold statement in the industry.
Sigma Eurasia vs. Affiliate World Dubai: What’s the Difference?
Overall impressions of both conferences were positive, but each had its own unique features. Sigma Eurasia had a more compact space, which sometimes led to queues, especially at the entrance.
What stood out was the large number of companies offering payment solutions and processing services, which turned out to be quite useful for our needs.
In terms of layout, Sigma felt less formal, but with vibrant and creative booths. For example, the Chilli Partners booth was a pink delight, and Battery Partners gave away the best pink cloud-shaped sunglasses. A lot of attention was drawn to the cars at the entrance, with almost everyone stopping to take photos. Alcohol was available, but the demand for it wasn’t massive. On the other hand, the coffee queues became a popular spot for networking.
What stood out was the large number of companies offering payment solutions and processing services, which turned out to be quite useful for our needs.
In terms of layout, Sigma felt less formal, but with vibrant and creative booths. For example, the Chilli Partners booth was a pink delight, and Battery Partners gave away the best pink cloud-shaped sunglasses. A lot of attention was drawn to the cars at the entrance, with almost everyone stopping to take photos. Alcohol was available, but the demand for it wasn’t massive. On the other hand, the coffee queues became a popular spot for networking.
Affiliate World Dubai, on the other hand, impressed with its space and scale. Here, we were able to meet more international partners, strong buying teams, and webmasters. The organization was top-notch: fast entry, convenient navigation, and spacious halls. What I liked was that we got to see many new solutions and services that we had never heard of before. Overall, AW felt more global, with a larger number of companies, opportunities, and lively international networking.
In the end, both conferences left a lot of impressions. Some left with merch, others with contracts, but the most important thing is that the trip was 100% worthwhile.
In the end, both conferences left a lot of impressions. Some left with merch, others with contracts, but the most important thing is that the trip was 100% worthwhile.
What Didn’t Work: Nuances That Could Be Improved
Despite the overall positive impression, there were a few downsides. Sigma Eurasia was memorable for the congestion at the entrance – the doors were too narrow, and there was not enough staff, which created long queues. Inside, it was stuffy, and the air conditioning couldn't handle it, so much of the networking happened right outside.
Affiliate World, on the other hand, suffered from excessive ventilation – drafts were noticeable in many areas. Plus, the smoking area was inconveniently located, requiring a long detour to return to the hall, which wasted time.
Additionally, both conferences lacked the "edgy" performances – as Dima noted, there could have been more flair, but perhaps the country itself doesn’t lend itself to such a format. However, the merch, drinks, and food were on point, so the organizers definitely put effort into the comfort of the attendees.
And of course, in any event like this, there are irrelevant contacts – Kolya noted that there were quite a few at AW, but that’s just an inevitable cost of mass networking.
Affiliate World, on the other hand, suffered from excessive ventilation – drafts were noticeable in many areas. Plus, the smoking area was inconveniently located, requiring a long detour to return to the hall, which wasted time.
Additionally, both conferences lacked the "edgy" performances – as Dima noted, there could have been more flair, but perhaps the country itself doesn’t lend itself to such a format. However, the merch, drinks, and food were on point, so the organizers definitely put effort into the comfort of the attendees.
And of course, in any event like this, there are irrelevant contacts – Kolya noted that there were quite a few at AW, but that’s just an inevitable cost of mass networking.
Who Was Present at the Conference and How Productive Was It?
As expected, the main audience consisted of CPA networks, direct advertisers, payment solutions, and services. At Sigma Eurasia, the majority of partners were Russian-speaking, while Affiliate World had a more diverse international crowd.
Kolya noted that he managed to connect well with sources, services, webmasters, and teams. No time was wasted, and no one was sitting around without networking.
Lana summed it up by saying: each conference was very productive. Each of us brought back 200–250 contacts, which is already an excellent result. The contacts were split roughly evenly between advertisers and teams. There were new connections that are already proving beneficial, as well as pleasant reunions with old acquaintances. For example, a couple of former colleagues now work in top affiliate teams, and it was great to catch up with them in person.
Dima pointed out that the largest groups of participants were CPA networks and direct advertisers, along with the usual presence of many payment services, anti-fraud solutions, and proxies. Overall, the conferences didn’t disappoint and proved to be a great starting point for new partnerships and deals.
Kolya noted that he managed to connect well with sources, services, webmasters, and teams. No time was wasted, and no one was sitting around without networking.
Lana summed it up by saying: each conference was very productive. Each of us brought back 200–250 contacts, which is already an excellent result. The contacts were split roughly evenly between advertisers and teams. There were new connections that are already proving beneficial, as well as pleasant reunions with old acquaintances. For example, a couple of former colleagues now work in top affiliate teams, and it was great to catch up with them in person.
Dima pointed out that the largest groups of participants were CPA networks and direct advertisers, along with the usual presence of many payment services, anti-fraud solutions, and proxies. Overall, the conferences didn’t disappoint and proved to be a great starting point for new partnerships and deals.
How Were Adult and Gambling Restrictions Handled in Dubai?
A question that always concerns conference participants in Dubai is how to promote verticals that are not welcomed there. In practice, it turned out that gambling wasn't particularly hidden, but adult content was indeed presented in a more veiled manner.
Chilli Partners adapted the best — their color scheme and visual hints effectively conveyed the right message without making obvious references. We also took the restrictions into account and focused on booth design: octopus tentacles in the shape of a heart became a unique marker that attracted the right audience. Many people approached us for dating services, and during the conversation, they learned that we also worked with adult content, which led them to recommend us further.
Chilli Partners adapted the best — their color scheme and visual hints effectively conveyed the right message without making obvious references. We also took the restrictions into account and focused on booth design: octopus tentacles in the shape of a heart became a unique marker that attracted the right audience. Many people approached us for dating services, and during the conversation, they learned that we also worked with adult content, which led them to recommend us further.
Dima noted that although the topic wasn’t officially advertised, private conversations about it were perfectly normal. Some people immediately said that adult content didn’t interest them, but there were many others who were actively looking for new traffic sources and openly discussed any verticals.
In the end, there wasn’t a strong sense of an outright ban. Yes, there were no huge banners with obvious adult content or traditional booths with girls in semi-erotic outfits (or almost no outfits at all), but the core audience understood perfectly well who was doing what. Perhaps if there had been the opportunity to create a booth in a purely adult format, the impact would have been even stronger, but as practice showed, the right presentation and smart networking worked just as well.
Our Merch: It Sold Like Hotcakes
The merch turned out to be so in demand that we actually ran out of stock. Stickers were gone instantly, and the T-shirts disappeared on the very first day. By the second day of AW, people were already wearing them around the conference. Everyone praised the quality, but we ran out of XL and L sizes – we need to take note of that. Next time, we’ll keep in mind that the industry has many big guys, and there weren’t enough shirts for them.
Dima straight-up said: "The merch was awesome, it was almost embarrassing to give it away for free."
Corporate bombers were especially popular – many people were asking how to get them. We’ll take that into account and create a limited edition collection.
Next time, we’ll factor this in and add even more exclusive items that people will be "hunting" for.
Dima straight-up said: "The merch was awesome, it was almost embarrassing to give it away for free."
Corporate bombers were especially popular – many people were asking how to get them. We’ll take that into account and create a limited edition collection.
Next time, we’ll factor this in and add even more exclusive items that people will be "hunting" for.
Parties and Afterparties: Was There Time to Rest?
Conferences aren't just about daytime networking but also evening events where you can mingle in a more relaxed atmosphere. However, this time, there was catastrophically little time for parties – the workload was overwhelming.
Kolya summed it up by saying that the best parties were still in our hotel with our own group. He also stopped by the Sigma closing event but noted that the format wasn't ideal for networking – the loud music made it hard to communicate. In terms of entertainment, it also wasn’t that interesting.
Dima didn’t attend everything but believes it was the right decision. Meanwhile, Max and Lesha went to a party hosted by our friends at TrafficStars – it was lively, atmospheric, and perfect for unwinding. It's hard to say how productive it was business-wise, but in terms of recharging – it was great.
On the other hand, the ANS party was disappointing – expensive, poor service, and some strange moments with political undertones, which we’ll wisely leave undiscussed.
Unfortunately, Lana was only able to attend one party – work took priority. But judging by the feedback, this time, the daytime networking was more productive than the nighttime parties.
Kolya summed it up by saying that the best parties were still in our hotel with our own group. He also stopped by the Sigma closing event but noted that the format wasn't ideal for networking – the loud music made it hard to communicate. In terms of entertainment, it also wasn’t that interesting.
Dima didn’t attend everything but believes it was the right decision. Meanwhile, Max and Lesha went to a party hosted by our friends at TrafficStars – it was lively, atmospheric, and perfect for unwinding. It's hard to say how productive it was business-wise, but in terms of recharging – it was great.
On the other hand, the ANS party was disappointing – expensive, poor service, and some strange moments with political undertones, which we’ll wisely leave undiscussed.
Unfortunately, Lana was only able to attend one party – work took priority. But judging by the feedback, this time, the daytime networking was more productive than the nighttime parties.
How Did You Spend Time with the Team?
Even with a packed work schedule, we still managed to have an awesome time together. Lana put it perfectly: "The team – no joke, the dream team." We not only worked efficiently but also spent a lot of time together, which made the trip that much better. We went to Abu Dhabi, strolled along the Persian Gulf, took photos, shot content, and most importantly – supported each other and worked as a single unit.
Kolya noted that the energy and positivity of the team were truly motivating, and everything went smoothly, like a family.
Dima admitted that this was the best business trip of his life. He works remotely and hadn’t met Lana, Kolya, and Nik in person before. In the end, he found that not only are they professionals, but also just really cool, energetic people who are easy to be around and have fun with.
A special bonus – this trip became a powerful team-building experience. We weren’t just working in sync, but we also laughed, joked, and really got to know each other better. Everything was clear, positive, powerful, and most importantly – harmonious.
Kolya noted that the energy and positivity of the team were truly motivating, and everything went smoothly, like a family.
Dima admitted that this was the best business trip of his life. He works remotely and hadn’t met Lana, Kolya, and Nik in person before. In the end, he found that not only are they professionals, but also just really cool, energetic people who are easy to be around and have fun with.
A special bonus – this trip became a powerful team-building experience. We weren’t just working in sync, but we also laughed, joked, and really got to know each other better. Everything was clear, positive, powerful, and most importantly – harmonious.
Is It Worth Attending Such Events?
So, is this a useful platform for business or just a gathering of companies showing off their impressive booths? The answer depends on your goals.
Kolya is confident that attending is worth it if you know why you're going. Yes, there's always going to be some show-off mentality in the industry – that's part of the game. But if you look beyond the shiny booths, conferences are a great opportunity to find webmasters, teams, and valuable contacts. It’s harder to find them now, but top-tier partners are still here.
Lana highlights three key reasons to attend such events:
Dima believes it might be tough for solo participants or novice media buyers – the conferences are expensive, and if you're just testing the waters, it might be better to focus on something else. But if you're part of a strong team with a good spend and a clear strategy, the trip will definitely give you a boost.
As for the show-offs, they'll always be around when there's so much money at play. Expensive booths have become the norm, and parties are a nice bonus, but nothing more. They create an image of success but don't guarantee real growth. For us, we didn’t focus on big parties – our goal was productivity. Maybe the approach will change in the future if the location and situation make it more appropriate.
Kolya is confident that attending is worth it if you know why you're going. Yes, there's always going to be some show-off mentality in the industry – that's part of the game. But if you look beyond the shiny booths, conferences are a great opportunity to find webmasters, teams, and valuable contacts. It’s harder to find them now, but top-tier partners are still here.
Lana highlights three key reasons to attend such events:
- Personal interaction with partners – it’s much easier to make agreements when you meet someone face-to-face.
- New connections – sometimes, one casual conversation can lead to a major contract.
- Opportunity to make a name for yourself – even if you're not a big company, if you have something to offer, you can quickly attract attention here.
Dima believes it might be tough for solo participants or novice media buyers – the conferences are expensive, and if you're just testing the waters, it might be better to focus on something else. But if you're part of a strong team with a good spend and a clear strategy, the trip will definitely give you a boost.
As for the show-offs, they'll always be around when there's so much money at play. Expensive booths have become the norm, and parties are a nice bonus, but nothing more. They create an image of success but don't guarantee real growth. For us, we didn’t focus on big parties – our goal was productivity. Maybe the approach will change in the future if the location and situation make it more appropriate.
Results of the trip
This trip turned out to be not just a work trip, but truly amazing. We strengthened old connections, found new partners, boosted our networking, and even managed to recharge a bit.
Kolya noted that the trip was planned down to the smallest detail – everything was clear, dynamic, and efficient with no time wasted. Well, except for the train to Rostov, but as he said, that wasn’t part of the job.
Lana said on the first day, "It’s nice to come back to Dubai." There really is a special atmosphere here – the city encourages both productive work and easygoing communication. It’s hard to imagine how anyone could not be energized by the place, with fresh ideas and great connections.
What’s the main takeaway? This was an incredibly successful event – in terms of contacts, results, and even emotions. Now the most important thing is to properly follow up on all the new connections and prepare for future trips.
Kolya noted that the trip was planned down to the smallest detail – everything was clear, dynamic, and efficient with no time wasted. Well, except for the train to Rostov, but as he said, that wasn’t part of the job.
Lana said on the first day, "It’s nice to come back to Dubai." There really is a special atmosphere here – the city encourages both productive work and easygoing communication. It’s hard to imagine how anyone could not be energized by the place, with fresh ideas and great connections.
What’s the main takeaway? This was an incredibly successful event – in terms of contacts, results, and even emotions. Now the most important thing is to properly follow up on all the new connections and prepare for future trips.
#octoclick #octocpa #affiliatenetwork
